[caya]

I think in general, most Canadians are very happy with our universal health care system. I have talked about this before, and I will once again say, it is not perfect - nothing is - the US system is certainly not good for the many millions who are uninsured.

We do pay higher income taxes here - but then most medical care and treatment is covered. Any Canadian cititizen can go to any doctor they want - no insurance company denying coverage, or telling you "that dr. is not in our network, HMO." You do need a referral from your GP to see a specialist, but that is a routine office visit.

When I was diagnosed with BC, my GP had appointments for me booked with the onc. and the breast surgeon at the leading cancer hospital in Canada - Princess Margaret Hospital - one of the top 5 cancer hospitals in the world, within a week. All tests were done in a timely manner - no forms to fill out, no arguing with insurance companies - my drs. and I decided what tests to do, not the government, as many US opponents of our universal system will tell you. It is just not true. And believe me, as you all know, when you are diagnosed with a life threatening illness, the last thing you need to be doing is filling out endless forms and arguing with an insurance company about your treatment coverage. You need all your strength and focus on getting your treatment, not the stress of dealing with insurance companies. And BTW, Herceptin for early stagers was approved in Canada before in the US.

My husband was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm in January 2006, (actually he was misdiagnosed in Florida, he had his first black out incident in Boca Raton, the drs. there tested him for cardio, sent us home) and within 2 hours we were talking to 2 neurosurgeons at a top hospital in the metro Toronto area - my DH had successful surgery the next morning, was in the neurology ICU for 6 days, came home , and had weekly visits from the county physical/occupational therapist for about 3 months to work with him on cognative therapy.

All this was covered by our health care system. No question about if you have insurance, what level etc. - every Canadian is covered, at all times - it is not job related. It is equal for all - the poor, the rich, the unemployed. No one has to be afraid that if they lose their job, they lose their health care. No one is stuck in a job they hate because they are afraid to lose their health care. No one is mortgaging their homes to pay for medical treatment. NO ONE.

Yes, there are sometimes delays in getting some surgeries, - but that happens in the States too, I believe, especially if you don't have insurance. I have heard of women taking older chemo treatments because they are cheaper, or not getting Herceptin, or stopping Herceptin because their coverage ran out - that would NEVER happen in Canada. There was a woman from California, I believe, who had no health insurance - she was advertising in the Canadian media for a husband, so she could get her treatment.

Yes, some people do go to the States to get hip replacements and other surgeries ... but these are the exception, not the rule. Don't let those fearmongers whip you up into a frenzy that your entire medical system will fall apart if you go universal - and again, as I have said - it is not perfect here... but it is fair and equal for all - I just think that is the morally right way to be, JMHO. The insurance companies and HMOS, who probably have powerful influencial lobbyists in Washington will lose out, not the public.

Yes our system could use improvement, and we will continue to improve it. But there would be a national revolt here if universal health care was ever threatened.

all the best
caya