A Canadian writes…

I feel the same way about Canadian healthcare. I had a bleeding ulcer and had to be rushed for an emergency scope - it cost me nothing out of pocket. When I had my son, it cost me nothing out of pocket. When I took my Dad to the ER 6 times in a year for ICU intervention - it cost us nothing out of pocket.

Yes, it costs us taxes. But, there is no way that what I pay in taxes in a year could cover our medical needs. I go for a yearly checkup, take my son to a wellness visit, and so on. I’m hearing how expensive it is to get decent health insurance, so why would you put yourself, at greater expense, in the hands of a for-profit-insurer? Give me socialized medicine, thanks.

An American responds…

Want to know something? I had almost exactly the same experience here (mother nearly died of heart failure multiple times last year). Ulcer, new daughter, etc.

Last year: $8000 in deductibles, $5500 worth of insurance premium through my job, and her medicare part B supplement plan. Rx came to about $2500. Got laid off for a period of time right when my wife was having a baby. Now I am $85,000 in debt.

Capitalism and insurance don’t work well together.