First thing I noticed, Canada's population is about 1/10 of the US population, and France is about 1/5. I think if you're going to compare the systems in different countries, they need to be of comparable size and population. It would be considerably easier to care for a pop. that is 10-20% of the size of the US pop.
I see that as a lame excuse. If you have 1 million people with 500 people in charge of it, what would be the difference with 2 million people with 1000 people in charge or 10 million people with 5000 people in charge of the system. Same ratio.
Drug research costs money. For every miracle drug that works, there are dozens that don't work, and the researchers need to be paid for their services. Once the hard work is done, I'm sure it's not hard for someone to steal or reverse engineer the drug combo, and sell it for much less b/c they don't have to pay the research costs.
I completely agree with you there. No doubt about it. IIRC, Viagra was developed for something like heart treatment, but the testers all got erections and the drug did not work for what it was designed to do. :lol:
At the same time, why should I be required to pay for the R&D when the same drug is sold elsewhere for pennies on the dollar. If I pill I take costs a buck each, why should those in Canada only pay a quarter, and those in Mexico pay a nickle? If we all paid the same, all costs would be even, the drug companies would recover costs sooner, and we would all benefit.
On Cuba, the only thing I will ask is, if it's so great, why are they risking their lives to get here on inflatable rafts and cars turned boats. Oh, and the inhaler costs about $.65, not $.05.
Lets compare healthcare system to healthcare system. Those that run from Cuba are not coming here for our health system.
As for the cost differences, I'll give you that. I did not care enough to check the currency differemces.
Why is death such a bad thing?
It isn't, but I prefer to live. I like looking at the sky at night. I like to hold my wife. I enjoy the sunshine, the clouds, the rain, snow, etc. I would like to enjoy that for as long as I can.
At what point do you say that it's not worth the cost to save someone's life? A bone marrow transplant can cost $100,000 to $250,000. I didn't see them taking people who can't afford BMTs to Canada or Cuba...why? You know why brain surgery costs so much money? Years and years and years of school, and malpractice insurance.
Can you put a price tag on your life? What is your life worth?
As for BMT's, how do you know that they do not do BMT's in Canada? Many other countries are just as advanced in medicine as we are and some places are more advanced.
People here want the best, but if you mess up, it'll cost you. I don't remember Michael Moore attacking ambulance chasers or the court system, which is a big reason of high health care costs.
I know ambulance chasing lawyers are scum. The sad part is, our system breeds those types of people. As long as insurance companies are making money, there are going to be people that are going to try to get some of it.
I'll stick with my insurance, pay my copay, and see the doctors I want to see.
Never forget what you have just said. My insurance companies, like many others give you a list of doctors they allow you to see. As a matter of fact, my insurance company even dictated what hospitals I could visit.
Tom
