My husband and I are turning 50. Looking toward the future, I'm hearing the siren call of Canada -- not just for reasons of political compatibility, but because I don't feel secure about growing old in a country without universal health care (UHC). Because we are self-employed, we might realistically have to rely on Medicare, and what I've heard about
Medicare Part D as a barometer of the program fills me with deep foreboding.
Much of my despair comes from my impression that there's no political will among the US Powers That Be to move to UHC. Stories like bonddad's
US Auto Companies Support Canadian Health System do not seem to translate into any active desire on the part of the major corporations to reform the system, and without their backing I just don't see how UHC could succeed in the US within the next 15 years, which is when I'll really need it.
Theoretically, the upside of Federalism is that individual states could have state-level universal health care initiatives, but there doesn't seem to be a strong, practical movement in this direction. If NY, PA, or the New England states get UHC it would be a definite incentive for us to move -- NJ is not likely to be in the forefront of UHC initiatives, because it's the native turf of Big Pharma.
I'd love to be told I'm wrong. Am I? Or is Canada the only prudent choice?
What do you predict?