If the concepts of queuing theory and attrition are familiar to you, then you won't be surprised at the efficiency of Canadian health care. Providing fewer services is cheaper, and the resultant long queues (months, sometimes years) results automatically in fewer critically ill people left to serve, and hence more savings.

I've lost multiple loved ones to precisely this "feature", and have gained a sister that almost certainly would have died in the queue -- because she happened to be studying in the US when she fell ill.

I think I personally prefer the risk, and choice, presented by a medical system with (expensive) oversupply.

I've been self employed for my entire adult life, and have not seen a doctor since I was under 18, which was a long time ago. I can't afford insurance, which is very expensive when you're not part of some large pool, and by the same token, can't afford retail, a la carte health care, which is extremely expensive if you don't have insurance (to the tune of 5-30 times as much as insurers pay for a service).

I'd take waiting months or years over a choice between no health care or extensive debt/bankruptcy.

If I was in the country illegally, or had no assets or desire for future credit, I could go to an emergency room and receive plenty of services without a need to pay a cent. As a law abiding, legal citizen with moderate assets, my options are very limited in the US. In all directions regarding healthcare, there is an absurd subsystem seemingly designed to require that one works for a large corporation which provides health benefits.

".. If I was in the country illegally, or had no assets or desire for future credit, I could go to an emergency room and receive plenty of service.."

That is simply not true. When was the last time you've been in the emergency room?

Unless you are close to death, private hospitals won't even treat you. They ship you off to the closest public hospital. Where, if you don't have the money you are the last seen. And in South Florida that can take days, depending on how busy the hospital is. And you get the minimal care to keep you alive. Period. Not to mention, the local governments pay for it. Trust me, public hospitals don't give services out of the goodness of their hearts. It's a terrible situation I know. But the solutions (universal health care) haven't work out so well.

True, it depends on the state. Either way, people with much lower incomes (or paper trails) than people like me have better care, and people with higher incomes have much better care. As far as receiving health care in the US, being self employed at about 25-60k a year seems to be a particularly bad position.

Its never good to lose a loved one, and i am sorry for your loss - but i have never experienced this issue my 30 years in Canada. im very surprised that you have had "multiple" loved ones die due to "queuing theory and attrition". From time to time there is a story in the media about someone dying in the waiting room with a burst appendix, but those are rare, and i am sure happen in the USA just as often (if not more so in the public facilities).

some points to back up what i say: -my grandfather was diagnosed with colon cancer last year. they caught it early, and the next week he was undergoing treatment.

-i was diagnosed with a rare eye condition. within a week i was in the specialists office.

-i was in a car accident. it was fairly minor, but they insisted i stay in overnight for observation. i had cat scan, x-ray, etc as soon as possible

-me and my wife have had 3 kids. we never had any delays seeing a doctor, all were born healthy, and every one of them sees a doctor on a regular basis without long delays.