Poll shows we have more access to health care, longer waiting times
The U.S. health-care debate is dominated by dark warnings about the flaws of the nationalized Canadian system. But apparently somebody forgot to tell Canadians that their system is a socialistic nightmare. A new Ipsos-McClatchy online poll shows that Canadians, overall, are happier with their health-care than Americans are with theirs, at least when it comes to access: almost two-thirds of Canadian respondents say that they have access to the care they need at a price they can afford, compared to less than half of U.S. respondents. One U.S. warning, however, may be true — most Canadians say they have to wait a long time to see a specialist, and they’re often kept waiting for appointments. On the other hand, of course, it’s easier to have shorter waiting times if nobody gets treated.