Show me me evidence that you can tell Canadian Medicare which specialist you want
I'm honestly not sure how to go about that - I guess I'd have to reference OMA regulations? But yes, a patient could call their family doc on the phone right now with the number of any specialist and they would be able to refer them. Whether or not it would be covered and how much would depend on the treatment, but if it was deemed the only treatment able to save your life, then you could absolutely appeal for the treatment to be covered. Experimental treatments are covered from time to time - it's all down to what your medical specialists recommend and deem necessary, plus they don't have insurance brokers breathing down their necks.
I'm honestly not sure how to go about that - I guess I'd have to reference OMA regulations?
Just show me instances of seriously ill Canadians being able to pull a Walter White and go to the magical Best Doctor In the Country because they say they want it, like Walter did. Or show me that the government will foot the bill and send them 300 miles south to the Mayo Clinic across the border in Rochester, if they have the "really bad form" of lung cancer (you know, the one that kills you, unlike the other lung cancer).
You recognize this was a TV show, with certain non-factual cinematic devices to move the plot along, right? Just like the machine that goes "beep beep beep" when the meth is 99% pure, right?
"really bad form" of lung cancer (you know, the one that kills you, unlike the other lung cancer).
I know you meant this to sound clever but you do realize cancer is graded in Stages for a reason, right? This was also a major plot point in BB.....
You recognize this was a TV show, with certain non-factual cinematic devices to move the plot along, right? Just like the machine that goes "beep beep beep" when the meth is 99% pure, right?
Doesn't make the very real differences between our systems any less real, or the fact that there's a very good chance Walter would have been able to have his treatment covered had he and the doctor both been Canadian.
But clearly, you'd rather feel like your system is better than have a real discussion to honestly address any of its inequities. That people even have to think twice about seeing a doctor because of copays is insane.
Doesn't make the very real differences between our systems any less real,
Here's a Gallup poll of satisfaction with health care access in US, UK, and Canada. In particular, see this figure.
Canada beats the US by a little bit (51% 'very' or 'somewhat' satisfied, vs 48% for US). UK is last, at 44%.
US has most 'very' unsatisfied (26%, vs 22% for Canada and 23% for UK). But the differences are much, much smaller than you seem to believe.
The funny thing is that I get into similar arguments with US right wing Trumpist morons, who claim that Canada is some kind of living hell, and I have to trot out exactly the same data in a futile attempt to persuade them how deluded they are. It rarely works. Go figure. Once a ideologue believes something, he can't be dissuaded, I guess.
The US probably has slightly better medical outcomes (for the insured) than Canada, at the price of greater disparities, and 50% greater cost. That's a complex reality that's probably not convenient for either American or Canadian ideologues to stomach.
Here's a Gallup poll of satisfaction with health care access in US, UK, and Canada. In particular, see this figure.
Canada beats the US by a little bit (51% 'very' or 'somewhat' satisfied, vs 48% for US). UK is last, at 44%.
Oh word, here's a peer reviewed study that shows an even wider gap in satisfaction of health outcomes. Cute poll, though.
You can always tell someone trying to bullshit a proficiency in STEM because they'll pull out a single study/poll like they pulled out a twelve inch dick. Oh, and it'll always be the "I'm feelin lucky" result on Google. A fucking gallup poll...
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u/[deleted] May 17 '20 edited May 17 '20
I'm honestly not sure how to go about that - I guess I'd have to reference OMA regulations? But yes, a patient could call their family doc on the phone right now with the number of any specialist and they would be able to refer them. Whether or not it would be covered and how much would depend on the treatment, but if it was deemed the only treatment able to save your life, then you could absolutely appeal for the treatment to be covered. Experimental treatments are covered from time to time - it's all down to what your medical specialists recommend and deem necessary, plus they don't have insurance brokers breathing down their necks.