I live in Canada and am very satisfied with publically funded health care. Each province funds the healthcare system a little differently although ultimmately it's all through taxes, each province also has a different system by which individuals pay more specifically for healthcare. I'm in ON and we have a healthcare premium on our provincial taxes. For me it's $700 / year. I think that's a good deal. For that I get unlimited visists with the family Dr. of my choice, a top notch psychiatrist who I see every two weeks, an addictions Dr. who I see everyweek for group counselling, and privately every 3 weeks. I've been in both privately funded adn publically funded rehabs. The publically funded one was better, and had a shorter waiting list than the private hospital. The two time's I've needed referals to specialists - a neurologist and and a haemotologist, I got to see them quickly, less than a week for the neurologist, and about 3 weeks for the haemotologist. I've been IP for psych issues 2 times at a top psych hospital. One time I was in for 7 weeks, and this time I'm in for 4. I don't have any insurance company questioning or balking at my treatment.

I've received excellent medical care whenever I've needed it. Partly that's where I live - I'm in a major urban centre with lots of facilities, and i have an amazing GP. In Canada GP's kind of act as gatekeepers to the other facilities so your GP is important - my GP is on the facullty of the medical school in town and so she knows a lot of the top dr.'s hence her referals are awesome.

The system is not perfect. Yes there are Dr. shortages - especially family dr's. and if you live in a remote area, then your acess is going to be limited. Surgeries are prioritized by need so elective surgeries can have long waiting lists. Psychologists are not covered at all, so if you want to have one you have to pay out of pocket.

My biggest complaint is that medications are not covered, unless you're receiving social assistance or are over 65 in which case they are. Some people have supplemental health insurance through work, whcih covers meds, but a majority don't which can be a real burden.

Yeah the system isn't perfect but compared to what I hear about the US system, I'm perfectly content with public healthcare.

--splitimage