Author Topic: Report: Thousands fled Canadian health system in 2012  (Read 2188 times)

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Offline Rapunzel

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Report: Thousands fled Canadian health system in 2012
« on: July 09, 2013, 03:05:39 am »
http://dailycaller.com/2013/07/08/report-thousands-fled-canadian-health-system-in-2012/

Report: Thousands fled Canadian health system in 2012

Posted By Michael Bastasch On 9:38 PM 07/08/2013


Thousands of Canadians continue to flee the country to seek medical treatment abroad, with the United States a common destination.

An estimated 42,173 Canadians left their homeland in 2012 to seek medical treatment elsewhere. This is a decrease from the 46,159 Canadians who fled the country in 2011 for medical treatment.

“In some cases, these patients needed to leave Canada due to a lack of available resources or a lack of appropriate procedure/technology,” according to a report by the Fraser Institute — a free-market Canadian think tank. “In others, their departure will have been driven by a desire to return more quickly to their lives, to seek out superior quality care, or perhaps to save their own lives or avoid the risk of disability.”

While the number of Canadians looking abroad for health solutions is still significant, it’s unclear whether or not the drop in the number leaving is related to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in the U.S.

“While a number of external factors may have led to a decline in the number of Canadians seeking care abroad, wait times for care in Canada also improved a little in 2012 both for specialist consultations and treatment,” Nadeem Esmail, Fraser’s director of health policy studies, told The Daily Caller News Foundation in an email.

The Fraser Institute asks doctors across Canada every year about what percentage of their patients got non-emergency care outside the country in the last 12 months. Those numbers are then averaged for each medical specialty and combined with the number of actual medical treatments performed in each province.

While the total number of fleeing Canadians decreased, some provinces saw increases in the number of patients leaving Canada.

Fraser reports: “Increases between 2011 and 2012 in the estimated number of patients going outside Canada for treatment were seen in Saskatchewan (from 1,221 to 1,380), Quebec (4,600 to 6,308), New Brunswick (526 to 997), and Newfoundland & Labrador (433 to 649).”

One reason for these departures is the long waits imposed on patients by national health planners. The median wait time for treatment after consulting a specialist fell last year to 9.3 weeks. Wait times increased in seven Canadian provinces and only fell in three — Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario.

The largest group of patients who fled Canada in 2012 — 4,594 — were those in the “ophthalmology” category. An ophthalmologist is a specialist for medical and surgical eye problems.

Thousands also left the country looking for “general surgery,” “orthopedic surgery” as well as for gynecological and urological treatments or procedures.
�The time is now near at hand which must probably determine, whether Americans are to be, Freemen, or Slaves.� G Washington July 2, 1776

Offline Rapunzel

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Re: Report: Thousands fled Canadian health system in 2012
« Reply #1 on: July 09, 2013, 03:06:08 am »
Where will they go now Obama is destroying our medical system?
�The time is now near at hand which must probably determine, whether Americans are to be, Freemen, or Slaves.� G Washington July 2, 1776

Offline happyg

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Re: Report: Thousands fled Canadian health system in 2012
« Reply #2 on: July 09, 2013, 03:09:40 am »
Where will they go now Obama is destroying our medical system?

Do you reckon this administration is trying to thin the herd? They can't come right out and kill us, but they can kill us "softly", and no one's the wiser, at least, not enough to change course. /s Congress has to move on this, asap! This bleep-footing around it uncalled for.

Oceander

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Re: Report: Thousands fled Canadian health system in 2012
« Reply #3 on: July 09, 2013, 03:20:06 am »
Not only have they fled the Canadian health "care" system, they also go entirely out-of-pocket for the health care they do end up getting - Canadian health insurance will generally not cover the costs of Canadians who have fled the suffocating arms of the Canadian health "care" system.

Offline flowers

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Re: Report: Thousands fled Canadian health system in 2012
« Reply #4 on: July 09, 2013, 04:57:38 pm »
Where will they go now Obama is destroying our medical system?
Where will we go!!!!!


Offline flowers

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Re: Report: Thousands fled Canadian health system in 2012
« Reply #5 on: July 09, 2013, 05:04:08 pm »
Do you reckon this administration is trying to thin the herd? They can't come right out and kill us, but they can kill us "softly", and no one's the wiser, at least, not enough to change course. /s .
I see a /s tag. Yet yes they are IMHO.  Get rid of the older folks, they know the real history and truth.  They cost to much anyway.  Like Obama said to that lady when she asked if he would let her mother get a pacemaker at the age of 96. He said no, give her pills make her feel better.


Offline xfreeper

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Re: Report: Thousands fled Canadian health system in 2012
« Reply #6 on: July 09, 2013, 05:16:06 pm »
When one talks to Americans, they are under the impression that Canadian health care is inferior. When one talks to Canadians, they are under the same impression about the American system. In reality, they both have their strengths and weaknesses. On balance, I have my own opinions based on being married to a Canadian MD practicing on both sides of the border and living part time in the states and part time in Canada. What I will say is the American system would never work in Canada and the Canadian system would never work in the states. That has to do with the differences in the culture and the way they each view health care as a part of their society
« Last Edit: July 09, 2013, 05:19:54 pm by xfreeper »

Offline flowers

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Re: Report: Thousands fled Canadian health system in 2012
« Reply #7 on: July 09, 2013, 05:26:53 pm »
When one talks to Americans, they are under the impression that Canadian health care is inferior. When one talks to Canadians, they are under the same impression about the American system. In reality, they both have their strengths and weaknesses. On balance, I have my own opinions based on being married to a Canadian MD practicing on both sides of the border and living part time in the states and part time in Canada. What I will say is the American system would never work in Canada and the Canadian system would never work in the states. That has to do with the differences in the culture and the way they each view health care as a part of their society
Can Canadians go to a doctor if they pay for it? Or only Canadian health care is the only option?  Can Americans go to Canada and pay to see a doctor?


Offline xfreeper

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Re: Report: Thousands fled Canadian health system in 2012
« Reply #8 on: July 09, 2013, 06:10:19 pm »
Can Canadians go to a doctor if they pay for it?

I'm not sure I understand the question. Why would they pay for it if their program covers it? If you mean outside the system, there are a few options similar to the conceirge system in America that many doctors  are going to so they don't have to deal with insurance companies. This is very small but developing trend in parts of Canada. Otherwise, as a general rule, Canadian doctors will not accept business outside of the system.

 Or only Canadian health care is the only option?  Can Americans go to Canada and pay to see a doctor?

Yes. Depending on your own insurance in the states they may or may not reimburse you
« Last Edit: July 09, 2013, 06:15:33 pm by xfreeper »

Offline flowers

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Re: Report: Thousands fled Canadian health system in 2012
« Reply #9 on: July 09, 2013, 06:26:38 pm »
Can Canadians go to a doctor if they pay for it?

I'm not sure I understand the question. Why would they pay for it if their program covers it? If you mean outside the system, there are a few options similar to the conceirge system in America that many doctors  are going to so they don't have to deal with insurance companies. This is very small but developing trend in parts of Canada. Otherwise, as a general rule, Canadian doctors will not accept business outside of the system.

 Or only Canadian health care is the only option?  Can Americans go to Canada and pay to see a doctor?

Yes. Depending on your own insurance in the states they may or may not reimburse you

I am one of the millions who doesn't have health insurance. We pay cash or go without.   So when obamacare kicks in I might be able to see a doctor in Canada if the system doesn't let me pay cash to see a doctor here?

The first question I guess I am trying to ask. Can Canadians opt out of Canandian healthcare and just go see a doctor and pay cash? I see you answered that question.
« Last Edit: July 09, 2013, 06:28:52 pm by flowers »


Offline xfreeper

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Re: Report: Thousands fled Canadian health system in 2012
« Reply #10 on: July 09, 2013, 06:38:18 pm »
I am one of the millions who doesn't have health insurance. We pay cash or go without.   So when obamacare kicks in I might be able to see a doctor in Canada if the system doesn't let me pay cash to see a doctor here?

Technically, that would be an option. You would have to decide if it would just make more sense and be economically advatageous to just be part of the system in the states. To me that would seem the case unless you were planning on being in Canada a large part of the time and are located with easy access to border crossing. Also, if I were you I would be thinking what about what would happen in the event of a medical emergency. You may be forced into the zero care system anyhow

Offline flowers

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Re: Report: Thousands fled Canadian health system in 2012
« Reply #11 on: July 09, 2013, 06:42:04 pm »
I am one of the millions who doesn't have health insurance. We pay cash or go without.   So when obamacare kicks in I might be able to see a doctor in Canada if the system doesn't let me pay cash to see a doctor here?

Technically, that would be an option. You would have to decide if it would just make more sense and be economically advatageous to just be part of the system in the states. To me that would seem the case unless you were planning on being in Canada a large part of the time and are located with easy access to border crossing. Also, if I were you I would be thinking what about what would happen in the event of a medical emergency. You may be forced into the zero care system anyhow

Thank you for your insight on this.  I know at some point I wil be forced into zero care.  Just looking for options.


Offline xfreeper

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Re: Report: Thousands fled Canadian health system in 2012
« Reply #12 on: July 09, 2013, 06:59:03 pm »
I know it's a long shot but it could still collapse before it really gets underway.

Offline flowers

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Re: Report: Thousands fled Canadian health system in 2012
« Reply #13 on: July 09, 2013, 07:02:52 pm »
I know it's a long shot but it could still collapse before it really gets underway.
It is a long shot. 


Offline jmyrlefuller

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Re: Report: Thousands fled Canadian health system in 2012
« Reply #14 on: July 09, 2013, 08:48:36 pm »
Where will they go now Obama is destroying our medical system?
At the rate they're going, they might turn their system into something more American. The Saskatchewan socialists who conjured up their single-payer system are long gone now.
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Offline xfreeper

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Re: Report: Thousands fled Canadian health system in 2012
« Reply #15 on: July 09, 2013, 09:10:25 pm »
Canadians are generally satisfied with their system and would have no interest in any system that resembles the American's

Offline olde north church

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Re: Report: Thousands fled Canadian health system in 2012
« Reply #16 on: July 10, 2013, 11:38:03 am »
Why are people under the impression they have the right to live forever?  Conservatives are always bragging about how capitalism is the best way to run a railroad.  People, like milk, have expiration dates.  Milk, however, has the date stamped on top.  Putting a pacemaker in a 96 year old is like putting 2 sets of lungs in a 10 year old with a media savvy mother, oh, umm, wait ...  People are confusing compassion with conservatism.
You want medical strides?  Prepare to pay for them.  Paying for them requires people with assets, which can be accessed.  The "96 year old woman scenario" is no different than the "if your daughter was raped" or "if your son was gay" question.  Gotchas aren't journalism whether asked by Left or Right.  They don't even go to the core values of a candidate.
My father mentioned something he saw on a visit to Germany; a two-tiered system of health care.  If you have the cash, you see the doctor.  If you have government healthcare, you wait to see the doctor.  One observation.
Like Canadians fleeing to the States, Americans with money will flee to other countries for what they consider the best healthcare.  Medical tourism is already a big business for low cost healthcare in India, Thailand and Costa Rica.  Let the money lead the care.
Why?  Well, because I'm a bastard, that's why.

Oceander

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Re: Report: Thousands fled Canadian health system in 2012
« Reply #17 on: July 10, 2013, 03:14:33 pm »
Canadians are generally satisfied with their system and would have no interest in any system that resembles the American's

With all due respect, the matter really depends on what the word "generally" covers.  Americans, too, are "generally" satisfied with their system, but as is obvious, a significant number (albeit not a majority, as the corruption surrounding the passage of Obastardcare indicates) are not satisfied, and in the case of Obamacare, it was the minority "tail" that wagged the majority "dog."

Offline xfreeper

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Re: Report: Thousands fled Canadian health system in 2012
« Reply #18 on: July 10, 2013, 04:11:00 pm »
you can do a simple google search on your own if you are interested in the facts.
here's a start: http://bcn.boulder.co.us/health/healthwatch/canada.html