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Why do a lot of Canadians believe that their healthcare is free?

Haven't they ever taken an economics course? Don't they realize that there's no such thing as free lunch? Also provinces charge PREMIUMS for coverage and the federal government funds the programs through TAX revenue which naturally comes from TAXES! They would know that if their parents and taxpayers weren't paying for their healthcare.

Public Comments

1. They don't believe that, only Americans believe that. Canadians pay taxes to cover their health care system.
2. I would have to guess that many don't pay taxes.
3. Canadian health care is optional. You can buy private insurance or government insurance or opt out completely. If they choose either of the first two the cost comes out of their paycheck. Here in America we have national health care too. The poor just go to any emergency room where they can't be turned away. As we all know, the taxpayer gets stuck with the bill. Republicans need to learn that there is no such thing as a free lunch.
4. No. It has been in place so long that they probably do not even know they pay taxes for it.
5. And yet even when you count the taxes Canadians pay less than half of what Americans do for health care and their care is a better standard than the US.
6. Haven't you seen all the posts from Liberals in the USA? Many of them think it is free also. Do you know why? For them it is. They are part of the 45% of parasites who live in this country for free. Then they complain about tax cuts for the rich people who pay their way to begin with. Duh!!
7. They don't believe that it is free. Only us silly Americans make that claim. They are well aware that they pay taxes for their services. They also are well aware that they pay less for their health care than we do in America while still getting the same great service.
8. People use the word "free" when they mean "universal". It's stupid to argue about semantics.
9. well, they know that others are making more of a contribution for their healthcare than they make themselves. People who earn more KNOW it isn't free when they get the money confiscated from their check
10. I often replace the word "free" with "included". If you're getting a service, someone somewhere is paying for it.
11. Sources.
12. It is free at point of service and the cost is lower than if you paid your taxes and bought private insurance for all but the very wealthiest of the population. The system is also less expensive on an aggregate level because health care in the US costs 15% of the GDP while health care in Canada costs 10% of the GDP. The average personal income tax rate in the US is ~29% while the average personal income tax rate in Canada is ~32%. So overall they get a better deal and they know it.
13. @edna maybe you should read your own article before you go posting a link, eh? "health outcomes may be superior in patients cared for in Canada versus the United States, but differences are not consistent." "This study rated the US "responsiveness", or quality of service for individuals receiving treatment, as 1st, compared with 7th for Canada." "both countries consider changes to their systems"
14. Because although they pay through taxation, they look south to see the alternative! I am always amazed how many Americans seem not to be aware about the real healthcare issues relying instead on FOX and other sources to spread lies about the healthcare system of the USA and those abroad. I mean, if healthcare in nations with universal coverage is so bad, why do they keep it? Obama wants to make insurance more available to all and change the system so that it gives the American people value for money [1]. He also wants change so that the insurance companies find it harder to get out of paying for treatment. The system he is proposing looks similar to that which works in Taiwan where private companies are involved in providing healthcare [2]. Obama campaigned on reforming the healthcare system. He said he wanted to make insurance more available and he was elected to do this [3]. FACT - the US has higher death rates for kids both for kids aged under one and those under five than western European countries with universal health coverage [4]. FACT – American insurance companies push up prices and work to stop paying out claims on those they cover [5]. FACT - the USA spends more on healthcare PER PERSON than any other nation on the planet [6]. That means that a dead American four year old would have had a better chance of life if they were born in any western nation with universal health coverage. If you do not like the policies that Obama was elected to bring in, he can always be voted out of office in 2012. But if you disagree with the facts, please let me know. I am always willing to learn, but please provide proof. None of those who disagree with me have been able to do that so far.
15. Obviously, people who have never been to Canada believe that their taxes aren't much higher than hours. They should go shopping sometime and look at the percentage of sales and VAT tax on anything they buy there.