Tony Hwang wrote:
Kurt Ullman wrote:
In article ,
Tony Hwang wrote:

Where I am up here in Alberta Canuck land, we don't pay anything. No
premium payment. Our system is not perfect but everyone is taken
care of. I understand U.S. spends more than us per capita on health
care.
And many are left out? That is something I don't understand.
To me health care is service for the public, not profit generating
business.
You pay. It is just that your premium is hidden in the taxes.

Hmmm,
Our tax rate is lowest in Canada and no sales tax here as well.

Well, when I was traveling to Sask servicing coal analyzers during last
trip since plant was in an outage there was significant OT; the plant
chemist who had oversight of the analyzers as part of his job
description and had gotten quite familiar over the years. Invited to
supper one evening; pay packet had arrived that day. W/ the OT, total
withheld was 50% of gross--that's pretty daggone expensive. Then afaik
all are responsible for GMT which while I no longer know what rate is,
ain't just a percent or two...

And, since this was pretty close to the US border, it was common that
when kids had anything routine such as vaccinations, earache, etc., they
simply took them to Minot or Williston as it would be so long before
there was any opportunity to have them seen in Estevan or Weyburn and
there were no services in Coronach/East Poplar where the plant was
actually located. All in all, the system didn't seem particularly
anything to wish for even then.

Why then your tax does not cover those who don't/can't have coverage?

Something about roughly half to two-thirds of the uncovered are either
undocumented or the well young that choose to spend their dollars
elsewhere. Any critical need patient will get treated simply by showing
up at the emergency room. A major reason for the high per capita cost
is that there is a large fraction of the above groups that simply use
emergency room services as their family doctor; the most expensive way
possible to get services but they mostly choose to not use conventional
services of their own volition.

It's complicated but single-payer gov't controlled isn't going to help
in any way I can see.

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