Mary Cross, Canadian Health Care

Dear Editor:

As an American living in Canada, I am very glad that the people of the United States are trying to reform US health care. However, I am appalled at how opponents of reform are totally misrepresenting Canadian health care.

The false claims about the Canadian system seem much more like what American health insurance companies do than anything anyone I know has experienced in Canada.

When I had a lump on my breast, it was diagnosed quickly and removed immediately. When my husband had an accident far away from home, he received the surgery he needed even though it was 12:30 at night. He got excellent care while he was recuperating in the hospital.

Canadian health care is not perfect and it can be improved. But people receive the care they need and no one is turned away. I can think of countless times people I know needed health care here, but not one matches the scary stories Americans are being told.

From what I hear from my family in North Dakota, the United States could learn and gain a lot from the Canadian system. In Canada, people get the health care they need. You’re just covered. In the US, with insurance companies in charge, millions of people can’t get the care they should. When an insurance company can deny you health care, the system obviously is broken.

Remember Canada is a democracy. When politicians here try to Americanize health care, they get voted out.

Those who are pushing the wild distortions of the Canadian system must have some ulterior motives. Their stories sure have little connection to what really happens here.  So, good luck reforming US health care. Please disregard the false stories and scare tactics.

Mary Cross
Saskatchewan