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On 25-Nov-2004, ospam (Larry Cable) wrote:

The other item to note is that we spend vast amounts on catastrophic care for
terminal patients, especially elderly cancer and heart patients. Is that true
in the socialized medicine countries?

No - we just stick the elderly on ice flows and let the polar bears eat them.

I think one reason for higher costs in the US is that there are no limits set
by anyone other than the doctors. Also, second (and third...) opinions seem
more common in the US.

OTOH, in Canada, people are more likely to get treatment since it's not an
out of pocket cost. Hence better pre- and neo-natal care.

If you compare auto accident statistics between Canada and the US, you'll
see very similar death rates but higher injury rates in Canada. Since the
latter are determined by hospital visits, they show that Canadians are more
likely to visit the doctor after an accident than in the US, since there's
no incremental cost. This may, however, avoid later costs for untreated
injuries.

Most people will by the ribeye, and stick to the brand names instead of
shopping for their best value.

In Canada, the doctors vet patient care and do not encourage frivolous spending.
Health care dollars are limited and must be used judiciously. Just because it's
socialized doesn't mean it's unlimited.

BTW, it's a myth that all health care in Canada is publically funded. You can
buy health care for certain things and other things are not covered. Example:
a friend of mine chose to pay for cataract surgery instead of waiting on a list
for several months. That also allowed her to get special lenses inserted which
provided complete vision correction so she no longer wears glasses. The special
lenses weren't covered by government.

No one can stop you from crossing the border to the US to buy other care.

Mike