Gene45

First I am a Canadian.

I can accept the need for some kind of process to make sure everyone gets covered. We have such a system, however, the Supreme Court in Canada has stated in a ruling that having insurance is not the same as having access to health care. This was in the Chaoulli decision in Quebec where a doctor and a patient were suing for the right of a patient to pay for his own treatment.

Not only is there a universal insurance system, but the governments control all the hospitals and funding to doctors offices. Waiting lists are common, for everything, surgery for a bad knee, or an MRI for a brain tumor.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court said that people are dying because of waiting. But still, legally, in nine provinces people are prohibited from paying for their own treatment, or any part of it. The government monopoly must be protected, even if it causes the deaths of people.

There are powerful lobby groups and political parties that have made this the "third rail" of politics. No one will touch it. I think the major force behind it is the public sector unions who would lose power if there was a competitive system.

So, a universal system need not restrict access to care like we do. Apparently in France there are no wait lists.

If you look to Canada as a model, it should be on how NOT to do it.