My 84yo mum went for a routine imaging test today and the cost was entirely covered by the Australian Medicare system.
The results were instantly sent to her General Practitioner who sent her a text saying that all is well on that front even without a visit (that would have been covered by Medicare anyway).
Yes, we pay taxes to have it, and it’s not even close to perfect, but socialised medical care if pretty f****** good IMHO.
To be fair, it is complex but the consumer inevitably wins.
Where I live, health insurance companies and pharmacy’s are regarded as blue chip because they’re guaranteed a stable income.
The government negotiates the price, enforces it, and reliably pays what it owes.
Business ❤️s that kind of stability.
@DyDave conservative political parties are trying to dismantle Canada's single payer Medicare. It's scary what is happening here.
Oh, they so desperately want to do it here too, but we simply won let them.
An anecdote:
A few years ago a conservative treasurer suggested- and only suggested - adding a $7 co-pay for GP doctor visits.
He had to resign from Parliament to protect his party against the vicious backlash. 😏
Wow! I was born and raised in MN, with "MN nice". Always loved Canada & Canadians and thought they were even nicer than us. Never thought any could do "vicious"! But good on you & your fellow countrypeople! We really need that spunk and drive here to send all of the fascists vulture capitalists back to their dark holes!
😂 I was born in Canada but my anecdote is about my adopted home Australia.
Canadians are super cool though! 🇨🇦
@DyDave For the most part we are.😊 @Gladari @NorthernInvader
@DyDave
Glad to hear your mum got a clean bill of health! ❤️
We sure could use socialized medicine in this country!
@DyDave of course, but in your model where is the staggering profiteering, greed, and cruelty?
Oh! There’s still plenty of that to go around!
It’s just that there’s a popularly elected buffer from the worst of it. 👍
@DyDave Canada's system isn't quite as fast (we're much bigger!) but it's just as free.
I spent the first 10 years of my life in (and largely thanks to - I was a sickly kid) the Canadian system.
It is also not perfect, but better than many alternatives 👍
@DyDave Some of the conservative party premiers and the federal party want to privatize if like the USA has. Idiots..
@DyDave