How about that

[Dennis McGuckin]

Correction. No quite free. Doctor's fee $200.
Home visit is $113.The revised law creates a two-track approach to procedural safeguards for medical practitioners to follow, based on whether or not a person’s natural death is reasonably foreseeable. This new approach to safeguards will ensure that sufficient time and expertise are spent assessing MAID requests from persons whose natural death is not reasonably foreseeable, while easing procedural safeguards in those cases where natural death is reasonably foreseeable.

This approach to safeguards differs from the previous law, under which only persons whose natural death was reasonably foreseeable were eligible for MAID. New safeguards now apply to persons whose natural death is not reasonably foreseeable. These safeguards seek to address the diverse source of suffering and vulnerability that could potentially lead a person who is not nearing death to ask for MAID.

[Rodney Mills]

Dennis and others.

Sorry mates, but when it comes to things the government of any country provides, be it ambulances, school lunches, or trips to Southend, "There is no such thing as a free lunch." or free medical, or any other service provided. You have paid for it in personal income tax, sin tax (cigs and booze) etc. The personal taxes, be it income tax, sales tax are way higher in your countries were you get "free" services, than the US.

What little "free" services we in the States do get, like yours comes out of the general tax fund. In other words you pay for it one way or the other.

It kind of looks to me, that the US takes less tax and provides minimal services, and we get most of our pay to disburse as we see fit. The reverse seems to be the rule in other countries. The governments keep most of ones check and pays the bills and gives pocket money to the worker. Canada seems to be somewhat in the middle.

Nothing wrong with either of the three systems. I like most Americans prefer our system. You prefer yours, nothing wrong with that

In the States if a party raises taxes and they hurt, they will be looking for a knew job comes the next election. I suspect, if a party in your countries removes some services, and they hurt, that party will be unemployed at the next election too.

I have to say many years ago when I lived in Canada, I was impressed with Ontario's health program, and I was in hospital while there, and had no complaints. My Canadian cousins seem happy with it. Though my English cousins, with the exception of my brother are whinging about their service or "lack of it".



Cheers, Rodney

[Dennis McGuckin]

True Rodney,
By saying it is free, I was compering it to other countries like Sweden.
I know we have paid for it with our tax money.
But I do believe that it's use, more than the money, is worthwhile.
You only have to look in some senior health care homes to understand that.

[Ivan Cloherty]

Yes there is no such thing as a free lunch, we pay (well most of us do) for our NHS treatments thro our NHIC (National Health Insurance Contributions), so far being in my 80's I have never found it wanting and have been treated well when needed. Those of us who contribute support all those who have never paid, but get treated the same as soon as they set foot on our shores, then we have the indigenous blodgers who never have and have no intention of ever working are entitled to the same treatment; so the system has its failings and being brought down by those who have done nothing to support it, but can afford to smoke a couple of packs of fags a day at circa £12 per pack of 20, although not working

[Keith at Tregenna]

£12 a pack ?

K.

[Dennis McGuckin]

My understanding of the US system is.
If you can afford to pay your medical bills that's fine.
However, if you haven't got the money or insurance coverage, you are in trouble.
I know when we used to holiday in the US that was the case.
My wife had a bad turn.
If we had not had insurance my bank account would have taken a beating.
And that was just for a few hours.
At least here, everyone is entitled to the same coverage.
That to me is a democratic society.

[Doc Vernon]

I keep a Gun under my Pillow for when the time is right for me!
No worries!
Cheers

[happy daze john in oz]

Here in Oz we have Medicare, currently at about 2% of income.
Private insurance for all medical is encouraged and if working and do not have nay you pay an additional 1% on Medicare.
Once on State Pension or nay form of gov benefits then you are covered.
But if you need elective surgery and do not have private cover there can be a long wait.
However all Cancer and Heart conditions will be dealt with cover or not.


Glasses and teeth can be covered by private but a ta cost.

[Ivan Cloherty]

£12 a pack ?

K.

That's what I am informed, not being a smoker I took it as verbatum, never bothered to check, perhaps I should have googled it, whatever it is it would be better spent on food for the kids.

[Ivan Cloherty]

#55, A bit difficult to pay into a system when you are on zero hours contracts.

Lewis my seafaring colleague, you who will notice that I did say bludgers who do NOT want to work