This was a reply to another thread but I decided to post it as a new thread. Re the Public Option

[Monk06]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8734514&mesg_id=8735829

I live in British Columbia. We have universal
health care mandated by the Canadian government
and managed by the provincial (state) gov't.

The provincial governments cannot opt out of
universal health care without giving up federal
funding for health care under the CHCA

That is the secret of the Canadian system, Provinces
cannot opt out without paying a very high fiscal
penalty. Plus universal health care is universally
supported by the majority of Canadians that is why
even Harper's gov't has to tow the line even though
they would like to destroy the 'socialist' Canadian
health care system.

The result is a 'Liberal' BC government that is actually
a corrupt right wing gov't bought and paid for by real
estate developers has to hold it's nose and sing the
praises of universal health care.

I live in this contentious environment where the provincial
medical associations are once again trying to destroy
universal coverage.

But while they struggle to turn back the clock the majority
of Canadians (84%) are happy with the present system with its
problems delivering adequate service and will not give it
up for anything like the situation in the US.

My case is a good example of what you can expect under
Canadian health care

I am 58 years old, I have emphysema and brochiactisis, (severe COPD)
I am on permanent disability paid for by the govt. I receive $664 per
month disability payments, I pay no medical premiums and have unlimited
access to primary and specialty care and all my emergency hospital costs
are free. In addition all of my medications (Advair and Spireva) as well
as other drugs, Xrays, CT scans, blood and other tests are free and available
within five blocks of my house in Downtown Vancouver.

I have not paid a dime for medical coverage or drugs, treatment or consultations
in my life and I am 58 years old. Furthermore as my health diminishes, as it will
with my disease, I will pay nothing.

You folks in the US will never experience this unless you make it illegal for insurance
companies to be involved in health care. Insurance companies are not in the health care
business they are in the,"thanks for the cash now fuck you" business.

Used car dealers have higher ethics. Atleast, when you buy a used car you come away
with something.

On edit the BC Provincial Budget is $39.1 billion in 2009/10, draw your own
comparisons with your own state from that.

[Monk06]

1. BTW have to go to bed I will reply to posts tomo

[ej510]

2. K&R!

Our politicians including Obama is bought and for by big Pharma and the health insurance industry.

[HughMoran]

3. You believe that Obama is paid for by big Pharma & ins.?

[ej510]

8. Yes! He wanted that trigger bullshit and supports the pile of shit legislation

coming out of the house. Obama is an extremely intelligent man he knows this bill sucks, but he's a politician and he needs to raise money for the corporacrats.

[HughMoran]

9. OK, got it

Just wanted to make sure you were as detached from reality as your statement implied.

[Wapsie B]

4. This is the kind of story that needs to be out there, a story of what actually happens

and not the scare tactics by insurance companies down here.

"Insurance companies are not in the health care
business they are in the,"thanks for the cash now fuck you" business."

How very true. It's organized crime in this country.

[OnionPatch]

5. Happy to k&r

In my field, I work with a lot of Europeans and Canadians and I always ask them about their health care system if there's an appropriate opening in conversation. I have yet to encounter a single one who isn't happy with their system. Most express pride in their system. Many have stories like yours and most shake their heads and express sympathy for Americans for our inadequate health care system.

[HughMoran]

6. Let's hope the PO is our foot in the door to a system like yours

My prediction:

- in 5 years all the "told you so" people will be saying it's a failure, others will argue the opposite

- in 15 years private insurance will only be for rich people who can afford a "Cadillac" plan

[Monk06]

7. As Kennedy said, "Pass a bill any bill and amend it later", That's what Tommy Douglas

did the first health care bill in Saskatchewan covered
only hospital care not doctors visits.

From that within ten 15 years we had a Universal National
Health care system.

Expand Medicare and go from there and use the the interstate and
transport clauses of the constitution to force states to comply.

Make it a condition of receiving any Federal funding including
military funding including military payrolls, that everyone in
the country gets the same affordable, single payer coverage.

[CTyankee]

11. That is why the RW is scared sh*tless about hcr. They KNOW it will be like Medicare,

a program too popular to do away with.

I hope and pray that we are hearing the death rattle from the RW on hcr, that this is the last gasp of a dying beast that is the U.S. "health care" system.
As such, I am very much a "foot in the door" vote on hcr.

[Sinti]

10. K&R n/t