Universal Health Care
By Emily, age 20, Newfoundland
Sweet Designs Featured Writer
With all the controversy surrounding socialized medicine in the United States, I thought this would be a prime opportunity to tell you about my experience with it in Canada.
I've been living in Canada for almost 7 years, and my favourite part has got to be the health care. It appears to be free because so much money is taken out of taxes every year to pay for health care. It may sound crappy, but in reality, it's quite convenient. When I go to the doctor's office, I don't have to worry about whether I have enough money to go. I just make the appointment and show up with my health card.
If I wake up in the middle of the night and have to go to the emergency room for any reason, I don't have to worry if my insurance company will pay for anything that needs to be done there. No matter what test, how much money I make in the span of a year, nothing. A relative of mine was just diagnosed with cancer and has begun treatment. They have started her on some very rigorous, very expensive treatment. If she lived in the United States, she wouldn't be able to get the treatment she needs because of her age. But she lives in Canada, where it doesn't matter how old she is; she will still receive treatment.
Don't get me wrong, socialized medicine has its cons. Unfortunately, some people abuse the system and there are some long waiting times, but despite popular belief, there are no death squads in Canada. Nobody gets to decide if you live or die.
So my best advice to the United States right now is to embrace socialized medicine. There are 45 million people uninsured down there right now because insurance is just so expensive. So say yes to universal health care!
