Which do you prefer the United States (US) Healthcare System or Canada’s Socialized Healthcare System? This is one of the most common questions I am asked when people find out I was born, raised, and lived in Canada for 30 years. It may appear to be a simple question and it is not. I think that both systems have their advantages and disadvantages. I will offer my perspective on this question.
I was born in the city of Montreal, which is in the province of Quebec, Canada. Health care in Canada is a publicly-funded system, guided by the Canada Health Act. By 1961, all 10 Canadian provinces agreed to participate. When I grew up, it never occurred to me that healthcare was not accessible to everyone in the world. I took it for granted. If anyone in my family was sick, we went to the doctor, showed our identification card, and voila, free healthcare! I saw the doctor every year for prevention and I could access any emergency room when needed. The older I got, the more information I obtained about the fact that care was, perhaps, free at the point of service, however everyone was paying for my g health care through their income tax. And that tax is not inexpensive In fact an average registered nurse in Quebec can expect to pay an average of 44% in both federal and provincial income tax according to Canada Revenue Agency (2011) and Revenue Quebec (2011). In other words, there is no such thing as “free” healthcare, even in a socialized healthcare system. What I admired most about the system was the emphasis on prevention. In my opinion the most previous gift of a society is health and in order to have health, there has to be a strong prevention plan.
I moved in the US in 1997 and my family was both happy and concerned. Many would say, “Be sure not to get sick because it’s going to cost you a lot of money in the US”. Everyone would have a horror story to share about that. What my experience demonstrated was that, as a nurse, I was able to afford healthcare insurance, obtain the same level of “curative” care that I had in Canada, and get it at a less expensive price, considering that income tax is lower in the US?. I realized I prefer this US system.
The reality is, that unlike many in the US, I have access to insurance, can afford the insurance, and I am healthy. Since I believe that a healthy society is crucial, there has to be a way to offer preventive medicine and affordable care to everyone. This statement is not an endorsement of the current Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) as written. However, it is my position that the current system is not optimal for all US citizens and reform is essential to ensure the viability of our great Nation. Yes! I have been a proud US citizen since 2008.
So when someone asks me, “Which do you prefer, the US healthcare system or Canada’s socialized healthcare system?”, my response is “Both”. They both provided the opportunity for me to have a healthy lifestyle—from prevention to curative care-- when needed, at an acceptable price for me. The question that we should ask ourselves is. ”What will it take to ensure that all US citizens are offered the proper healthcare (including prevention) services so that we remain healthy and productive? And don’t let anyone lead you to believe it could be free, because it cannot. Healthcare is not free, but it is a worthwhile investment for any Nation.
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