[split] Free will infringement and the monetary system

[Ohr Ein Sof]

I happen to be a Canadian seeker.

I can share some personal experiences related to our Universal Healthcare (not free healthcare) and some more general opinions as well.

After loosing 110lbs of extra weight, I had to get an abdominoplasty done.  This sort of thing can become a health issue if blood circulation is impacted too much within the loose skins, but that was not the case for me.  If it is not an health issue then it is considered just plastic surgery.  Thus it makes it low priority on the queue of surgeries.  I would have waited about 2 years for something like that to be done.  So instead I chose to pay myself a private surgeon to have it done within weeks.

It is my understanding that in the USA, this would have played out similarly since health insurances generally do not cover what is considered aesthetic surgeries.  BUT with a glaring difference, in Canada you would still have gotten it "free" if willing to wait for your turn.

Now on the more general side of things, the wait times within our healthcare system are a bit longer than the USA, but never to a point where your health is threatened.  If you have cancer for example, you're going to be handled in the same way as in the USA.  It does get more murky the further away you are from being a priority.  For example, if you want to consult a specialist for a skin issue, you might have to wait a couple weeks.

But in the end, if you had a choice in between waiting a couple weeks while ensuring that everyone in your society has access to healthcare or instead waiting just a couple days if you're in the lucky ones having access.  I know what I would chose.  So I support and greatly appreciate our system.  Yes I do lose about 55% of my income in taxes of all kinds (including a 35% income tax) and about half of government spending goes to healthcare.  But I am glad to do my part so that NO ONE ever has to worry about healthcare coverage.

It should also be noted that the USA pays a great deal more money for the same health services that Canada does.  The fact that in the USA Healthcare is a for-profit adventure ensures this.

Thank you Patrick for your very informative answer. This type of discussion could help dispell fears or anxiety for some of us. Myself being one of them. Especially since I have had to "wait" for a much needed surgery due to the lack of insurance when I was unemplyed and was using our government's aid. It was horrible what I had to go through just to get a preliminary MRI only to find cyst on my spinal "cord". The first MRI was denied 6 times. I finally went before the consideration board and begged them showing them records of which they already had and either never looked at or didn't care. Finally, getting the MRI it was then an emergency to get one with contrast and rushed into surgery but I waited in utter fear of my health for over a year to get even the first MRI. This situation left me wondering about the government's ability to care for its citizens when I heard of Obama-care. When you force a patient to live in such unadulterated pain and losing the ability to walk at 42 years old, was a horrible experience and one that I will never forget as it drive me to the edge of suicide.
Thank you Patrick once more.