Here in Canada, Universal healthcare has been ingrained in our society for decades. Unfortunately, due to right wing governments coming to power and pressures from private companies, there is mounting pressure to implement a two-tier system here i.e. private and public. To some extent this has happened in a no. of provinces; the provinces are responsible for administering and regulating their health care system. A lengthy period of what the right wing governments have called fiscal responsibility has eroded the necessary funding that needs to be injected into the system to compensate for rising costs. That being said, I have practiced in the US, Germany, and Switzerland, and have concluded that the US has the least humane system.
Peter Drzymala Occuptional Therapist Acute Spinal Cord Injury Unit Centennial Pavilion - 9th Floor Vancouver General Hospital Vancouver, BC Tel.: 604.875.5804 Pager: 604.667.7441 Fax: 604.875.5811 -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Elayne Haley-Ververis Sent: Saturday, February 02, 2008 9:37 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [OTlist] universal healthcare Please keep writing on this topic! I'm an American and an OT student. I live in Nashville, TN, which is largely George Bush/right wing country. I desperately want to see universal healthcare of some type - any type, at this point - in the United States. Michael, you are so right in that universal care is more humane - to say the least. I've been in both "lucky" and "unlucky" situations here as far as the ability to receive healthcare. For example, I was married to a cardiologist for years which entitled me to not only excellent healthcare, but "professional courtesy" to boot. Once divorced (with three kids), I could not buy health insurance. I was out of the work force for 15 years (its incredibly hard to maintain employment when your spouse works 70 hours a week. Also we relocated after residency and then after fellowship, away from family, etc). I couldn't even buy it despite having enough money! I had become depressed over the divorce and took medication for two years and so became ineligible. Depression - along with everything else - is considered a "pre-existing condition" and so tough luck. Now I'm a student and can buy student insurance, but its not very good. It only covers up to $10,000 and after that I'm on my own. Believe me, $10,000 would not go far here in the US. My story would not get much sympathy here where over 40 million people are without health insurance...... many of whom are seriously ill and unable to buy needed medication. So I'm not complaining! I'm only telling my story because many people (here in the US, anyway) think that the uninsured are simply too lazy to get a job. Not true. So....I would love to hear what you in Canada have to say about universal healthcare. The general view here among those against it is that universal healthcare means substandard health care. -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
