Reply #11: This whole medical insurance thing is shameful scam ... [View All]

I'm an American living in Canada, where we have universal coverage. I can walk into a doctor's office at any time, and not pay a cent. The bill for my treatment goes directly to the government for payment.

A friend of mine's daughter was diagnosed with a serious childhood disease a few years ago (she's fine now). The child required many hospital and doctor visits, plus expensive medication. Within days of her diagnosis, my friend received government forms in the mail (unsolicited), offering government assistance with paying for the medication.

This is how it SHOULD be. The powers-that-be here realize that a healthy populace is a productive populace, and that easy access to medical treatment is the BEST PREVENTATIVE for more serious medical conditions evolving due to lack of early detection/treatment.

The system works extremely well, and costs are kept down because there are no INSURANCE COMPANIES involved! That means no administrative costs, no overhead costs, no salaries being paid to thousands of insurance company clerks who process claims -- you get the picture.

I never thought I'd live to say this, but it's time my own country gets its head out of its ass on this issue, and drags itself out of the 17th Century!