Greg Pilling

This morning I took my son to the doctor for a checkup regarding his surgery from 6 months ago. The checkup proved that everything was fine, he had healed nicely and the surgery had been a success. The doctor examined him, then a medical intern had a look.

After that was done, the doctor asked what I thought about Canadian health care since he figured the USA would have a system like that soon (I am Canadian). I told him thatI personally did not know any friends or relatives in Canada that would trade their medical system for the US system, and that I think the Canadian system is cheaper (after counting extra taxes, co-pays, hidden medical costs, etc).

I then mentioned the scare tactic that has been in the media – that the government would be rationing care, unlike the GENEROUS insurance companies now that will authorize anything the doctor wants. The good doctor responded by spontaneously combusting bursting out loud in laughter at the absurdity that he got free reign over his patient’s care.

He assured me that almost every procedure was a fight with the insurance company. Profit seeking companies would never put the bottom line ahead of patient health, would they?