The Ugly Truth About Canadian Health Care

David Gratzer, City Journal:

Mountain-bike enthusiast Suzanne Aucoin had to fight more than her Stage IV colon cancer. Her doctor suggested Erbitux—a proven cancer drug that targets cancer cells exclusively, unlike conventional chemotherapies that more crudely kill all fast-growing cells in the body—and Aucoin went to a clinic to begin treatment. But if Erbitux offered hope, Aucoin’s insurance didn’t: she received one inscrutable form letter after another, rejecting her claim for reimbursement. Yet another example of the callous hand of managed care, depriving someone of needed medical help, right? Guess again. Erbitux is standard treatment, covered by insurance companies—in the United States. Aucoin lives in Ontario, Canada.

[...]

The author is correct but there is another side to this issue. I endured a catastrophic injury which was treated immediately and required acute and long term care which continues to this day. It cost me nothing. When my kids grew up we never had to worry - the doctor was always there and was free. When my wife carried our first child she came down with a rare kidney issue which was treated for free. I could go on. We never had to qualify or argue with insurance companies. There is not a day that goes by that I am mnot profoundly grateful for our national health program.

MORE