Canadians, Europeans, help me out here! (Health care crisis in US)

I know that the audience here is not just US-ians like myself.   We have regular contributors from Europe and from Canada. So please, help a poor, benighted US-ian out here.

How do you like your single-payer health care over there?

Specific questions below the flip.

OK, here are my questions:

1.) How much wait time do people have for ESSENTIAL health care services? Like treating acute diseases, and chronic diseases in an acute, uncontrolled stage? (I'm thinking of cancer here but diabetes and heart disease come to mind.) Is there a major bottleneck in emergency rooms? Is there such a thing as "urgent care" where sub-emergency but acute illness is dealt with on a walk-in basis?

2.) How much wait time do people have to see their Primary Care Physician?

3.) How good is your respective National Health Service (whatever it's called where you are) at treating chronic, controllable diseases?

4.) Do those who have life-threatening diseases get a crack at the latest and greatest treatments for their disease? How closely do teaching hospitals and research facilities mesh with your respective health care system?

5.) Are private practices and private insurance available for those people who can afford "gilt-edged" "boutique" medicine? Or are everyone in the same risk pool, with no augmentation allowed?

6.) What happens when foreign people (tourists, students, the "undocumented") seek health care? Do they seem to burden the system or are they just a minor part of the consumer pool? Do you have to be a legal resident/citizen to get health care in your country?

7.) How long is the wait time for elective but medically advisable surgery? How long is the wait time for medically necessary surgery? How long is the wait time for emergency surgery? Do people find themselves resorting to "medical tourism" to get certain elective but medically advisable procedures done ahead of the waiting list?

8.) How are procedures that are completely elective, like non-reconstructive plastic surgery, handled in your country?

9.) Are you satisfied with your health care in your country? What would you like to see changed? (note that this is the poll question.)

I just want to non-scientifically find out, from people from other parts of the world who have "civilized" health care, what their experiences are, and perhaps see if those first-person anecdotes could be usable to help reframe the debate on health care here. Thanks for your help!

Michelle, aka Snakes on a White House.

•  Begging bowl...

  Tips, karma, dogma, karma running over dogma, etc.

  Also 'nuff respect to NYCEve, who does wonderful diaries about this subject that I can't even hope to even match, much less outdo, and to the California Nurses and to those working for Single-Payer health care (not Arnie-care!) in California.

  And save a little room in your prayers/good thoughts for my husband, who is currently struggling with a health care crisis of his own without the aid of health insurance.

  by Snakes on a White House on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 06:46:47 PM PDT

  •  Recommend up so more can see answers

    This is an important topic and so much misinformation about single payer systems is put out in the US.  People need to get educated on it.

    Many answers below provide good information.

    Good questions and diary

    by pioneer111 on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 09:14:46 PM PDT

•  For Canadians (Question #6)

  The always-entertaining Ted Rall said that Canadian emergency rooms were crawling with Americans sneaking over the border to obtain care.

  Is that true?

  by Utahrd on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 06:53:27 PM PDT

•  Question #8

  Well, I considered my vasectomy to be medically necessary.  Consequence-free sex!  Yeah!

  But what do the Canadian & European health authorities think about the trip to see Doctor Snip Snip?

  by Utahrd on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 06:57:38 PM PDT

  •  just the other day

    there was an article about how New Zealand men have the highest rate in the world of elective vasectomies.

    I assume they are paid for by the health system (haven't looked into myself - being gay it's not much of an issue.)

    by dc 20005 on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 06:59:47 PM PDT

    •  as a canadian

      i'm terrified when i think of americans with no health insurance; the system here is very good - i have had experience of emergencies (daughter injured in motorcycle crash, nephew with infantile necrosis, myself with gangrenous appendix (have a high pain threshhold; am not very sensitive to pain....)stroke, etc etc etc.  each dealt with immediately.  in general,you make an appointment with your doctor - he/she can either see you or if the doctor is busy, you make an appointment, but you will be seen.  your doctor has your info on file, ditto hospitals if local. you carry around a card which is your health number - give it at hospital reception, they take care of everything - you never usually see a bill. doctors here are not nearly as well paid - they're okay, professional income, but not filthy rich; dentists, maybe.  eye examinations every year - you can get dental if you have a dental plan (i don't...).  i don't think it's too different from yours - it's just very efficient and universal.  try it....

      by carlyle4 on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 07:20:07 PM PDT

  •  Canada

    Free.

    by sagesource on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 07:22:49 PM PDT

    •  Not Free

      We pay premiums and include the coverage in the tax system.

      However, when you do get sick almost everything is covered with no additional charge.

      The cost of our universal health coverage is much less per person than provided by private firms in the US. Nobody is turned away. You can't be denied coverage for pre-existing conditions etc.

      by paul2port on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 07:49:16 PM PDT

      •  I don't pay premiums.

        My income is under the cutoff point.

        by sagesource on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 07:51:28 PM PDT

        •  Thanks Sage

          I guess the point is that everyone is covered without regard to income. Those who have income do pay for the system.

          How's that?

          by paul2port on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 07:57:59 PM PDT

          •  Pretty good

            I am from Saskatchewan, I don't pay premiums, user fees, nothing.

            Hi, p2p - bet your main post here is better than mine.

            by willy be frantic on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:11:45 PM PDT

        •  don't pay premiums

          me neither - too poor.  but i get the same treatment as does the prime minister

          by carlyle4 on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:56:07 PM PDT

      •  We're under a group medical plan at work

        So my premiums are deducted off of my paycheque every two weeks. It's not a huge amount.

        Being under the group plan most dental work is also covered although some aspects are 'half covered' (plans covers 50% of the cost).

        We're on our own though re: eyecare.

        by FrankFrink on Mon Jan 22, 2007 at 10:30:20 AM PDT

•  Highest income taxes in the world...

  but rather excellent healthcare, is what you can find in Sweden.  However, I say this with a caveat, I haven't lived there for a decade.  But, my mom got a bone marrow transplant for leukemia without any trouble (and it saved her life), I paid nothing to give birth to my children (all other medical services has at least a small fee, but childbirth is free), and people get help when they need it. Bad stuff happens anywhere, but in general if you get help, you get good help.

  However, the news stories the last couple of years have shown that all the cuts the politicians have nade in medical services have led to longer waiting times, made it harder to see a doctor immediately, fewer open ERs, and much, much more stress for the people that still work in the field. Doctors and nurses are on sick leave for chronic fatigue! My Dad was the head of a clinic at the public hospital so I have seen this strss first-hand, when politicians' decisions rules, not the need the patients have.

  Also, there are no volunteer fire brigades, EMS, or similar, it is all paid staff, and therefore more space between the emergency stations.  It can take longer to get help when you need it.

  I found the English version of the Board of Health in Sweden, but it is so bad I won't link to it.

  by profmom on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 07:12:40 PM PDT

•  Snakes ...

  I've got a lot to say about the differences between the Canadian and American medical systems, because I experienced them both while my father (Canadian) fought cancer and my husband (American) fought Congestive Heart Failure/Diabetes/Kidney Failure. I will have time to go into detail tomorrow, but, for now, let me just say that I never, ever worried about leaving my father in the hospital overnight, while I never left my husband when he was in the hospital in the US, because I couldn't count on them not killing him before I returned. More tomorrow ...

    My two cents,
    Heather

   

  by Chacounne on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 07:23:52 PM PDT

  •  Thank you, Heather...

    I sense you need a hug...here. (((((hug)))))

    I'm not so anxious about where my husband will be treated next (City of Hope, magnificent place, great research being done there, splendid) but thankfully the hospital he was laid up in when they found out he had cancer was within walking distance, because I know precisely what you mean about that. Better than a County facility, but not great.

    by Snakes on a White House on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 07:39:21 PM PDT

  •  We should talk off Kos

    unfortunately my husband was in Canada when he suffered a stroke. He was hospitalized for 5 days with a wrong diagnosis. US health insurance paid for it all, and in fact, his care once I could get him home was less than stunning, until he developed inhalation pneumonia that caused me to take him to the ER here. Three specialists in under 90 minutes!

    by riverlover on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 07:51:30 PM PDT

•  Personal experience

  Hernia surgery, double, non life-threatening: 4 month wait. No big deal. Didn't pay a cent, not even for painkillers since they gave me a big bottle when I checked out of the hospital (day surgery).

  The medical adventures of my stepfather and mother: all free of course; my mother has two replacement knee joints; my stepfather has turned flirting with the Angel of Death into a rather unnerving hobby -- but when he's needed them he's got major procedures, brain surgery, cancer surgery, CAT scans and the like, done with very little delay (measured in days, or for the CAT scan, hours).

  Helps if you have a good doctor who understands the ins and outs of scheduling and the hospital bureaucracy, though. My own doctor now is nowhere near as good at that sort of juggling, and it shows. Still, I get reasonably prompt service even for fairly trivial matters.

  The medical lunacy was one reason that I decided years ago I would NEVER under any circumstances live in the United States. Not for anything, no sort of job, nothing. It's just too dangerous.

  by sagesource on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 07:28:22 PM PDT

•  Canada

  Canada:

  The system is quite good. In general if you need something, you get it. The absolute best thing is not having to worry about whether or not you can afford it.

  My father has had a number of heart related emergencies. In every case he when he went to emerg he was instantly hooked up and admitted, but if you walk in with a less serious problem you may have to wait (for some time) while those more serious problems are dealt with.

  I would argue that Canada's biggest problem is being next to the US. We have lost a number of doctors and nurses to the US because private hospitals there pay more. If the US went to single payer, it would really help Canada in that regard.

  1. Wait times (where they exist) are getting shorter. For real emergencies, you get care.

  2. None

  3. Depends on the patient, but the patient has no excuse regarding seeing a doctor. Remember the US has horrible life expectancy rates when considering how much they spend on health care.

  4. Yup, and it is based more on need than ability to pay - so everyone gets a shot.

  5. Nope. And I prefer it that way.

  6. They pay the "going rate" - or the amount that the provider would get from the government.

  7. Depends upon the procedure and where you are.

  8. ...

  9. Very, considering the alternatives.

  In summary, I never have to worry about paying for medical care (except dentists and medicine itself) and that makes it possible for me to work in ways (self employed)that I would not be able to if I had to always make sure I had coverage for my family.

  My family doctor is a wonderful man, but he tends to run behind on appointments. He has a sign in his waiting room "I apologize for the wait, but I spend the time that is necessary with may patients, and be assured that I will do the same with you". He is not in it solely for the money.

  by taonow on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 07:28:23 PM PDT

  •  I agree with the above.....

    I have never received a bill for medical service, and have been in hospital up to 5 weeks one time. My daughter had cancer, my son a sports injury, and no one thinks of money when sickness or accident happens. I get in to see my GP within a week for non-emergency appointments, and the doctor never rushes - because doctors' money is capped, it does not pay them to take more and more patients so they take all the time that is needed with each patient. In emergencies we always get immediate help. All tests are free, and we get whatever the doctor thinks we need. Nothing is ever questioned - the doctor's word is all that is needed.
    There are wait lists for some elective surgeries, but this is improving. Some tests like MRIs have long wait lists, especially if the reason for the test is not an emergency. A lot of the horror stories of full emergency clinics and long waits depends on where you live or bad luck in your timing.....
    On Tuesday I am going for my annual check-up, and will have all sorts of blood and urine tests done, and x-rays for lung cancer (it runs in my family) and anything else the doctor thinks I should have - all free, of course.
    I think our system is wonderful!

    by CanadaWest on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 07:52:24 PM PDT

  •  #5

    Private insurance OK now?

    This article says that private insurance is OK now?

    Well, for rich Canadians (or rich people anywhere); there will always be private health care.  They just get on a plane and fly to India or the US or wherever.

    by Utahrd on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 09:00:42 PM PDT

    •  Ruling only applies to the province

      of Quebec, at least for now. And Quebec hasn't actually implemented any private insurance program to date. Will be interesting to follow.

      Otherwise, there is some private delivery in Canada -private MRI's, that sort of things, as well as for things such as cosmetic procedures, elective surgeries etc.. not covered by the public system.

      by FrankFrink on Mon Jan 22, 2007 at 10:36:46 AM PDT

•  Canadians and Europeans

  Do your health care systems cover being circumcised when you're an infant?  Is that considered "health care"?  Is it considered ethical in light of the child's inability to consent?

  by RealityBias on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 07:40:24 PM PDT

  •  Welcome to the Circumnavigator!

    And, as I said earlier, it's not covered in Canada if not medically necessary.

    I might add that the notice saying that it can be done if the parents are willing to pay is worded quite grimly and makes it clear that the hospitals really don't like this sort of thing. I don't remember the exact wording but I do remember running across it when my younger son was born and wondering whether anyone without a religious obsession ever went any further after reading it. I certainly didn't.

    by sagesource on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 07:48:49 PM PDT

•  From outside Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  1. Serious conditions like acute heart disease have no wait times. Emergency rooms may be crowded less important cases may be delayed. Cancer care may require some travel from rural areas to major centers. Overall the concern is with delays at the emergency department.

  2. Primary care physicians: There are shortages in some areas, mostly rural. I don't know what you mean by delays. Each physician books patients as he or she sees fit. Some work more hours than others. I've not had any problem or delay personally, nor has anyone in my extended family of about 80 in Ontario.

  3. Excellent

  4. Latest and greatest? Not all procedures or drugs are covered. The teaching and research hospitals are an integral part of the overall system. Referrals are made as appropriate.

  5. Supplemental health insurance can be purchased. In Canada an enormous political discussion relates to having a single tier v. a two tier system. Some would like to be able to buy their way to the front of the line or to better service. It remains unresolved. There are some experiments with specialty clinics. Let's face it the system is set up to treat the sickest first, to spread the risk so all are covered, and to ensure a person, her family, and friends are not put into bankruptcy by a catastrophic illness. No one does fundraisers for a person who needs cancer treatment. The medical plan provides for the treatment. On a national level our system provides better overall results at a much lower cost.

  6. If you're a visitor you may have a coordinating plan with Canada that allows some coverage. Most will buy insurance to supplement or complement. American tourists would be well advised to purchase insurance before visiting. Undocumented? There aren't very many here.

  7. There are wait times for surgery. The federal and provincial governments have made it a priority to reduce or eliminate those waits. If you have need of a hip replacement the wait is several months. Some people may go to the US to beat the wait times. I have heard rumor of some people going to other places like India but don't know of anyone who has done so.

  8. Overall? Very satisfied. When Canadians are surveyed it is health care that they value most of all government related services.

  You've got a hell of a lot of questions! There's plenty of research available.

  I wrote a diary back in August: Canada's Medicare: A Global Competitive Advantage? which has some further links you might like to pursue.

  Check out the discussion on The Next Agenda for further insight. There are some excellent diaries with even more links.

  by paul2port on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 07:44:23 PM PDT

  •  Yep

    I knew it. Nice work

    by willy be frantic on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:18:50 PM PDT

•  There are many aids in alternative medicine

  that might help your husband.

  An article that discusses a product used in other cancers can be read here. This is a series of studies for one kind of cancer, but it has other applications. You can read about another potential aid here.

  Like drugs, not all health aids help all conditions. But if you research online how to boost the body's immune response and how to lower the body's inflammation response, your husband might get some relief.

  I have had a couple of life-threatening illnesses that weren't responding to conventional medicine. The reason I'm still around is that I found ways to help myself. Maybe you can help your husband if you do some research.

  Best to you both.

  by 4Freedom on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 07:45:32 PM PDT

•  You have asked for...

  ... a major amount of input.  I will see what I can contribute.

  I live in small town Saskatchewan.  I and my family, touch wood, have been fortunate.  We have not had much need for the health care system.  I like our health care system.  Course, I haven't had to deal with any other one.

  There are two big problem here.  And they are not really medical.  One is the overall cost of health care.  It is all paid for by my taxes ( nothing really out of pocket).  44 % of my provinces budget is spent on the health system in this province.  The second is a lack of staff.  We have primarily a nursing shortage, although doctors and specialists are in somewhat short supply.

  1. Wait times are a problem.  Experiences vary.  How much wait time ?  Depends. I hear stories on both sides.  I don't hear that there is a big bottleneck at emergency rooms.  Of course triage is practiced.

  2. Personal experience - I could see my doc tomorrow, next day at the latest.  But I am small town - it is a little longer in bigger centres.

  3. Don't know - no experience

  4. We are pretty latest and greatest somewhere in Canada.  Just how close that is to where you live is the problem.  Teaching hospitals are part and parcel of the system.

  5. Private insurance gets you a semi-private room, a private nurse ( if the doc requests it ), but nothing 'boutique' as far as I know.  Private practice is not allowed.

  6. If you are brought into a emergency room they don't ask if you are a foreigner before they start treatment.  I don't know what happens when they find out you are not a citizen.

  7. Emergency surgery is pretty fast.  A co-worker was put on the list for hip replacement in March of '06 - recently told it is scheduled for March '07 - doesn't mean it will happen then.  There is 'medical tourism'.  Not sure how it works.  I do know people that have gone out of province, but no one that has gone out of country.

  8. Don't know

  9. Satisfied - increase staffing levels.

  Personal / family health care in last 25 years

  Son born 5 weeks premature - 6 days in neonatal intensive care  --- no cost

  Son broke collarbone - had to pay 18 bucks for brace used until bone set.  Private insurance didn't cover it - it wasn't a cast even though it was for a broken bone.  Otherwise no cost

  Kidney stone - they went in after it on a Sunday morning after first symptoms on Friday night ( Demerol is goooood ).  CAT scan three weeks later, as scheduled.  No cost

  I mean no cost.  Nothing out of pocket, no cheque to leave the hospital, no bill in the mail.  Just pay your taxes.

  Link to a health care report about Canada

  by willy be frantic on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:08:17 PM PDT

  •  US hip replacement...

    I know three people who've had them here.  The surgery itself has been fine.

    All of them experienced some delay scheduling it.  One of them was delayed--by insurance--for at least nine months, for reasons that were never well articulated, during which time she was unable to get around.  Literally.  She was unable to even move around her home effectively--and still they didn't let her have the surgery.

    So while it may be a "good" bad example for the Canadian experience, the US one can be as bad on the same points.  It just depends on how crappy your insurance, insurer... and the beancounters involved are.

    by ogre on Mon Jan 22, 2007 at 12:20:37 AM PDT

    •  My co-worker...

      ...is not in any pain.  She just limps.  A delay cannot be great because of continued degradation of the joint.  Her length of time till surgery may be due to triage - other, more urgent cases getting quicker placement.

      I left out of my other posts the circumstances of prescription drugs, dental and optical services.  Most places do not cover prescription drugs ( in-hospital drugs are covered ).  You are on your own, basically, for dental and optical.  Lots of employers have a plan for dental & optical.  Mine pays 80% of dental and $200 every two years for glasses.

      Welfare recipients get full dental and optical.  Interestingly this has the effect of lowering your standard of living if you move from welfare to a minimum wage job.

      by willy be frantic on Mon Jan 22, 2007 at 07:54:35 PM PDT

•  Snakes on a White House...

  ... this diary is a great idea! I don't know if the question has been asked here like that before... correct me if I am wrong of course, because I would love to read more opinions.

  Your handle is funny...

  by highacidity on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:26:28 PM PDT

  •  I've always liked your diaries and comments n/t

    by Snakes on a White House on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 08:49:22 PM PDT

    •  That is mighty nice of you to say....

      Thank you for the kind words.

      :-)

      by highacidity on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 09:29:43 PM PDT

•  Canadian here, in Montreal:

  1- Essential: no wait.  Go to emergency room, triage nurse will take your vitals same as anywhere else, and you'll get your care pretty much immediately.  There are minor delays here because of shortages of some diagnostic imaging machines, if you're in a smaller hospital you might have to wait until normal business hours when they're fully staffed.  Surgery can sometimes be delayed by a few hours because of shortages of anesthesiologists.

  2- Primary care physician: I don't normally wait more than a week unless she's on vacation, but there are walk-in clinics where I can always get same-day care.  Usually a 2-3 hour wait in a walk-in clinic.

  3- Standard treatment is normally not a problem, in fact this is the strong point of our system.  We don't wait until a problem is acute before treating it.   Some problems with experimental techniques that have not been proven and are not covered by insurance, or you might have to shop around for a specialist who believes in that method and can make it happen for you.

  4- (a) see above.  (b) Montreal has great teaching hospitals, and world-class specialists for many illnesses.  There are some gaps in specializations, for some illnesses I might have to travel to Toronto or the US.  If a treatment is proven but not available in Canada, they will pay to send me to the US for treatment.

  5- Some private clinics are now available in Montreal.  Private diagnostics, like tests and medical imaging, have been available for some time, and they can cut down on wait times considerably for non-emergency diagnostic tests.  Costs for a CAT scan seem to run around $500-$800 Can.

  6- Montreal is a prime destination for Americans seeking cheaper health care, though people are now travelling elsewhere for still cheaper care.  Non-insured are expected to pay, up front for non-emergency treatment, but the cost is usually a small fraction of what equivalent treatment would be in the US.  I seem to recall that a knee replacement could be done in Montreal for much less than $10K.  Don't quote me on that, it's been a while since I looked it up, but I'm sure there are lots of forums on the 'net that discuss this.  They are in no way a drag on the system, and some people even complain that visiting Americans get faster service than insured Canadians.  Don't know if this is true, or if it's just that the appointment was made in advance and they try to get everything wrapped up in a short time so people can go home.

  7- Wait for a knee replacement is about the worst case, with a goal of a maximum 6-month wait after which a patient will be sent to the US.  Non-elective surgery is usually done within one week unless it's an emergency, then it's usually 24 hours.

  8- Plastic surgery is usually not covered, and handled much the same way as in the US.  You pay, they cut.  You pay more, they give you better service.

  9- Overall I am satisfied and I consider myself quite fortunate to live here and have health care.  What would I change?  I was really pissed off last time I had surgery, they made me pay $7 per day for a personal TV.  I wish they would include that in basic care.  Seriously, Quebec hospitals are 20 years behind in measures for controlling infectious diseases in hospitals, you have a greater chance of getting c. difficile here than in a US hospital.  They're working on it, but sometimes the money shortages show in the quality of actual care.  It's a balancing act, keeping costs to a level that we can afford, and choosing where those health care dollars actually go.

  by Kingsmeg on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 09:28:53 PM PDT

  •  they made me pay $7 per day for a personal TV

    Omigod.

    No, seriously.  If this was something that even rose to the level of concern in American health care....

    Sigh.

    But maybe the right will deem this proof that Canadian care sucks.

    (I can understand, sort of.  But TV isn't health care.)

    by ogre on Mon Jan 22, 2007 at 12:25:55 AM PDT

•  We don't have single-payer healthcare

  But this is how it works in the Netherlands.

  We pay 6.5% in taxes for healthcare, over our income with a ceiling of €30000 a year. We are then required to buy a healthcare package with an insurer of our own choosing.

  Buying insurance is mandatory. The insurance company has to offer a basic package which has to include all treatments and medication as prescribed by the government which covers prety much everything including dental for children up to 18 years old and mental care. Maximum premium for the basic package this year was about €1050 for one year. You can buy additional insurance like dental for adults, glasses, physical therapy.
  Depending on your income you could qualify for a tax refund.
  Children up to the age of 18 are covered without premiums
  Everybody was required to sign up before april this year. Insurance companies were required to accept you without questions asked.

  I chose my insurance company because it is one of the better ones and allows me to choose my own doctors and healthcare facilities.

  I made some calculations to see what the maximum and minimum costs would be.

  I am screwed because I am single, have no kids and make more than €30000 a year.
  I pay €260 a month(taxes and premiums)and the first €300 a year are not refunded. This premium includes some additional coverage.

  A single mom with 2 children under the age of 18, who earns minimum wage, would pay about €74 a month(this includes dental for her children).
     
  Our primary healthcare physician decides whether we need tests or specialized treatment and will give you a referral. That referral and your insurance card is all you need when you visit a specialist or a healthcare facility. Upon your first visit to a new healthcare facility you have to get registered. My experience is that that procedure will take about 5 minutes. Once you are registered with that hospital, you don't have to register again when you come in for some other treatment(you would need a referral from your primary physician).

  I have been struggling with my health the last half year, so I made a lot of trips to the hospital for different tests and examinations. I never had to wait any longer than 10 minutes.  

  I have lived in the US, the health insurance I had was Kaiser. No difference in quality. With Kaiser I had to pay for my medication, which is covered here.

  Non-emergency surgery may have considerable long waiting lists. Some insurance companies will arrange for you to have those kind of surgeries in Belgium where witing lists are shorter.

  I have never been refused any treatment.
   

  by amsterdam on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 10:38:38 PM PDT

•   Canadian Doctors Help American Patients

  Washington State's Health Care Now group helps US Citizens get medical care in Canada.

  Info here:
  http://www.healthcareforallwa.org/...

  by SarahLee on Mon Jan 22, 2007 at 01:18:50 PM PDT