re: #97 Obdicut

But this isn’t actually true. Why do you think it is?

The time to see a general practitioner in single-payer systems is less. for most, than in the US, and the care give by GPs is better. The time to see a specialist in the US is less than most— but we’re still not the leader.

And in terms of quality, we’re not the best by a number of measures.

[Link: theincidentaleconomist.com…]

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What is your basis for saying that care in single-payer countries is worse, and that there are ‘lesser services’?

The problem is that health insurance is a naturally broken market. There is no incentive at all for a health insurance company to insure, or to provide benefits for, an actually sick person, at least not without making their insurance incredibly expensive.

This makes it different than other forms of insurance. The free market behaves very badly in naturally broken markets.

So patients crossing into the US for medical services isn’t an indicator of problems with the Canadian health care system?

Wait times for surgery aren’t an issue?

Medical clinics at border cities aren’t there to service a real need?

MRI’s in Canada can entail a 21 week wait. Not so good.

Canadian politicians often forgo the health care system for American and/or private care.

I could go on and on.

There is no Garden of Eden in Canada when it comes to medical care.

There are some good things and there are some not so good things.