In other news--socialized medicine is a-coming!

[katcan]

That systems sounds great! ONLY three months to see a specialist? PLUS, you get to pay higher taxes for the government plan AND get to pay for private insurance too? That sounds FABULOUS!!! I always wanted to pay MORE in taxes for the opportunity to wait 3 months to see a specialist. AND getting to pay for private insurance TOO because the government plan doesn't cover everything--well that's just ICING on the cake!! I wonder why more people don't want to take advantage of these great opportunities!!

(The sad thing is that you sound like you think they're doing you a big favor giving you all these opportunities!)

Sorry. I should have been more specific. Three months to see a dermatologist. For a non life threatening problem. I don't know about you, but I can wait. You don't need everything NOW NOW NOW.

And my private insurance? They have never denied my claims. They don't interfere with what my doctor wants. And I don't go broke paying for it (the only reason I have two is because I am in school right now and they offer a cheap plan, which provides full coverage combined with my other plan).

And I can choose my doctor. Any doctor I like! If I don't like one, I can just go to another.

I would also like to address these "Canadians" who hate our health care (you know, I always hear about these mythical Canadians from Americans when discussing socialized medicine, but I've never had one presented to me). These are probably the same people who can afford to fly down to the States for elective procedures (you know, those people who don't want to wait three months for botox, or whatever). Seriously, our system isn't perfect (what system is?), but it's a hell of a lot better than what you've got going on down there.

[MaryMary]

Somewhereinside this tread a mentioning how good medical care in France is.
Feast your eyes and mind in here.
France Fights Universal Care's High Cost - WSJ.com
"France claims it long ago achieved much of what today's U.S. health-care overhaul is seeking: It covers everyone, and provides what supporters say is high-quality care. But soaring costs are pushing the system into crisis. The result: As Congress fights over whether America should be more like France, the French government is trying to borrow U.S. tactics.
....Service cuts are prompting complaints from patients, doctors and nurses that care is being rationed. That concern echos worries among some Americans that the U.S. changes could lead to rationing.

The French system's fragile solvency shows how tough it is to provide universal coverage while controlling costs, the professed twin goals of President Barack Obama's proposed overhaul."