Beware private health-care - it's all about profits

CBC British Columbia - Private health-care debate heats up

Private care advocate pleased
Dr. Brian Day, who owns the largest private surgical clinic in Canada, says the government is simply responding to the wishes of Canadians who've grown tired of an expensive system that doesn't deliver.

"For many years now, we've been under this impression that we've got this wonderful system, but the truth has come home to roost," said Day.

LINK: Cambie Surgery Centre

Day could become the next president of the Canadian Medical Association. He is one of six candidates running for the position. The voting begins later this week.

John Lennon sang, "You don't know what you got, until you lose it..." and Canadians are going to be singing the same thing if they don't take steps to fix what they have for a healthcare program, rather than lose it to for-profit, private healthcare and insurance interests. If you think healthcare under the US private care system is "wonderful," you really have another thing coming.

Here's a little personal experience to help you understand. I was in a car accident. I needed to be checked out to be sure I wasn't messed up too bad. I could feel I had whiplash. So I went to the Emergency Room of a small local hospital, I checked in, waited an hour, had my blood pressure and pulse checked, saw a doctor for 10-minutes (tops), who wrote me a perscription for pain killers and sent me home. Cost? $620.00 for the visit, $50 for the meds.

A yearly check in with my regular doctor averages at least $500. I pay $100 a month in health insurance, but NONE of this activity is covered. If I wanted it covered, I'd pay $2-300 EVERY MONTH to the insurance companies.

Dr. Day happens to run a private clinic, where people who can pay, do pay to get to the front of the line for their treatment. I have a couple of questions for you to ponder tonight:

1. Do you think he'll charge LESS if the government suddenly supports his private practice?
2. Do you think it's in his interest to tell the public that Canada's current system is a good one?

Just remember the $1200.00 a year this American pays right now to cover only the most extreme health emergencies before you dismantle your current system. If you believe poor access is bad, what will you think of no access at all? Many Americans face that reality every day.