The Pros And Cons Of Health Care In Canada

    The United States is considered by most as the greatest country in the world. It has the largest military, the largest economy, freedom of speech and religion, one of the first “successful” democracies and of course, the American dream. Yet, the most dominant force in the world, is also the only westernized industrial nation without a Universal Healthcare system. Clearly, something has to be done, America should have universal healthcare for all citizens. There are too many people in the country that is falling victim to the expensive private insurance companies.

As Americans we should all be afforded access to healthcare. Access to healthcare is an individual right according to the human rights amendment. The human right to health guarantees a system of health protection for all. The human right to health means that everyone has the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, which includes access to all medical services, sanitation, adequate food, decent housing, healthy working conditions and a clean environment (What is the Human Right to Health and Health Care, 2015). However there are strengths and weaknesses to every healthcare system and the U.S. Healthcare system is not exempt. I plan to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the U. S. Healthcare system (What is the Human Right to Health and Health Care, 2015).

One of the most talked about subjects regarding health care in Canada is the time it takes to be seen by a physician. For acute illnesses, an

The waiting time for medical services is long in both countries. The waiting time is mostly determined by the number of medical doctors and facilities available in relation to the population. According to the report done by the American Medical Student Association (2011), it was discovered that the doctor-to-patient ratio in the U.S. is more than in Canada. As a result, the survey discovered that about 42% of patients in Canada had to wait for about two hours compared to the U.S. whereby 29% had to wait for two hours. Also, 43% of Canadians compared to 10% of Americans are forced to wait for about four weeks to see a specialist. In addition, the same study discovered that 37% of Canadians compared to 34% of Americans found it difficult to access medical services during weekends and holidays. As a result, 47% of Canadians compared to 50% of Americans felt that it would have been possible for them to be treated on a regular basis than on an emergency basis if medical personnel were available (American Medical Student Association, 2011).

When someone has health care they will feel more comfortable with going to the doctor. They could get treated for serious illnesses. Free healthcare can prevent death. Going to the doctor is very important. Getting monthly check-ups and getting teeth as well. But why would someone go to the doctor or the dentist if the simply can't afford it? Having universal health care make it more affordable to go and get checked out. Universal health care will save lives and prevent health issues and complications. This will prevent deaths and illnesses. Universal health care can be provided in many different ways such as single-payer system. Or in other ways like setting up universal health care so that a single organization so the government would be responsible for collecting health care fees and also health care payouts.

America has a very disorganized and fragmented healthcare system while Canada has a very structured and established system. Since there is no healthcare system in the world that is considered perfect all countries implement polices that they believe will be the most beneficial for their residents, The United States’ and Canada’s systems are both constantly being reformed to fit the current needs their residents however there are strengths and weaknesses for both of the systems.

If the US were to adopt the single-payer system, as exists in Great Britain under the National Health Service (NHS), "a single-payer system would be setup such that one entity a government-run organization would collect all health care fees, and pay out all health care costs.... In a single-payer system, all hospitals, doctors, and other health care providers would bill one entity for their services. This alone reduces administrative waste greatly, and saves money, which can be used to provide care and insurance to those who currently don't have it" (What is single payer, 2012, PNHP).

The U.S. spend billions of dollars every year on preventative care such as heart disease, cancer, AIDS and many more disease; millions more are spent on trying to find a cure for disease such as MS, MD, AIDS, cancer, polo and so many more. The advantage to the U.S. would come by way of universal health care as it is today. With different measures of insurance coverage, a person benefits more by having the freedom to choose which health care and insurance needs are suitable for them, rather than being confined to only one group (Chernichovsky & Leibowitz, 2010).

Canada is a country composed of many different people from many different cultures including some native indigenous people, much like the United States. Similar to many other countries, Canada is attempting to become more culturally conscious and provide culturally-competent healthcare. According to Leininger and McFarland (2002), “there is an urgent need to integrate the many cultures of Canada into a harmonious, functioning society using sound cultural care research-based data in practice” (p. 494). Although the movement towards transcultural nursing care began in the 1960s when Leininger visited Canada to promote the study of transcultural nursing, it is still a work in progress as there are not a great number of nurses prepared by formal education to promote and develop transcultural nursing care (Leininger & McFarland, 2014). Canada’s current health care system is “publicly financed, but privately run” and based on the five founding principles that mandate the health care must be universal, portable, comprehensive, accessible and publicly administered (Cackett, Ferguson, & Irvine, 2005). The ten provinces within Canada are individually responsible for funding, developing and assessing the provisions of hospital care, providing salaries to health professionals and determining reimbursement for physician services (Cackett, Ferguson, & Irvine, 2005).

One main reason being if everyone is required to have health insurance, the middle class people will be paying taxes to support the subsidies of the health insurance cost for the lower class. Not only will it negatively impact the middle class individuals it it also forcing the lower class people to pay for health care coverage that can not afford even at subsidized rates. In many cases even with subsidized rates the whole cost of coverage is not paid in full.

This plan would result in a dearth of money needed for the government funded program as employers chose high deductible private plans over the federal one. This would result in a lower standard of health care and not allow all the benefits of a single payer system. Most industrialized nations around the world have implemented national health care systems to properly protect their populace. It is past time that the United States do the same.

Moreover, the benefits of expanding coverage outweigh the costs for added services. [4] Safety-net care from hospitals and clinics improves access to care but does not fully substitute for health insurance. These findings are supported by much research, although some cautions are appropriate in using these results. People with health insurance are protected against uncertain and high medical expenses and are more likely to receive needed and appropriate health care. In addition, having health insurance is associated with improved health outcomes and lower mortality, so employees with health insurance are more likely to be productive workers. You do not pay income tax on health insurance benefits so it is more valuable per dollar than the same amount in taxable pay. [5]

Since the beginning of human civilization, our health and well-being has sustained a high level of importance, because one’s physical and mental condition are things that are necessary to care for. The issue however remains in how our governments should assist in this care and how involved they should be in the world of doctors, drugs and healthcare companies. Many have strong opinions on this complex issue, and governments have attempted many different strategies which have been met with a sweeping range of results, from the corrupt health care companies which can be seen in the US to systems which have been denounced as communism to everything in between. Personally, I believe that completely universal healthcare is the best for society as a healthy population increases economic productivity, the system allows you to contribute incrementally over time and your wealth should not influence your access to care.

Amongst many of the Unites States government run systems, healthcare is essentially a money making machine with little regard to the well-being of those in need. Our current system, widely known as ObamaCare, is an individual mandate system. The individual mandate system has historically been proposed by republicans, most notably Bob Dole and Mitt Romney, as a combat to the single-payer system. Single payer health care has been implemented by the majority of developed nations throughout the world. Despite being the world's largest economy, the United States healthcare system is ranked 37th by the worlds health organization (2), as it directly causes an estimated (by Reuters) 26,000 annual deaths as a result of lack of coverage (3). Given the context, I am inclined to support the idea of a complete reform to our current system, and pursuing a single-payer system in the US.

With accessible access to free health care, it would improve public health in the United States. The rate of new developing medicine is improving the life expectancy every year for humans around the world. But if U.S citizens are not able to gain access to these medicine because of the lack of health care, what good does it do for them? In an article “New Study finds 45,000 deaths annually linked to Lack of Health Coverage” David Cecere explains, “Nearly 45,000 annual deaths are associated with lack of health insurance, according to a new study published online today by the American Journal of Public Health…The study, conducted at Harvard Medical School and Cambridge Health Alliance, found that uninsured, working-age Americans have a 40 percent higher risk of death than their privately insured counterparts, up from a 25 percent excess death rate” (Cecere). Citizens are dying at an enormous amount, because of the lack of health care they receive. With the growing population, the United