Canada's healthcare system may teach us about how to make healthcare affordable for all of us. The discussion behind Medicare for all is growing louder, as our current system of private insurers and high administrative costs is failing us. Most doctors offices spend hours on the phone wondering why they weren't paid, or getting a precertification for services that they believed were medically necessary. In the USA, many countries are ahead of the USA with health benchmarks, while we spend more than anyone. "In 2014, Canada spent 10.45 percent of its national GDP on healthcare. The United State's expenditure was 17.4 percent." We have little to show for it. Costs are out of control, especially as the predatory nature of health insurers have forced hospitals to build huge systems to compete and be able to protect themselves. Many of the rules dictated by insurers require more people and higher levels of compliance that has nothing to do with healthcare of keeping us healthy. We have multiple public systems including Tricare, Medicaid, Medicare, The Veterans Administration as well as the private health plans. Health insurers and their activities have pushed costs up for everyone while not improving care. Patients are frustrated as out of pocket costs and band healthcare incentives force them to spend more while getting less. What is interesting is that unlike Canada, our health inflation if excessive on a yearly basis, yet most doctors are feeling the pinch, so where is the money going? Interestingly, many countries with universal healthcare systems have low out of pocket costs for consumers and patients visit their doctors more often. Yet, countries like Canada have lower overall healthcare costs. Canada, while not having a perfect system has found a way. Their system is far from perfect, but people can visit the doctor without going bankrupt or worrying about the costs. Check out this interesting article below. Canada has some public plans such as Blue Cross selling policies to augment what each Canadian has. We could certainly simplify our system to match theirs. Since most large companies self insure their employees, the transition would require that they have an incentive to pay into Medicare instead. A marked reduction in the cost of a government plan may be the answer. Medicare would need to consider revamping its pharmaceutical coverage, since it has clearly increased demand for drugs, while having no mechanism to keep costs in check. Under a capitalistic system such as ours, it will push the cost of drugs up which is exactly what has happened since the law came into effect. The political discussion is about the self interests of those who are profiting from the current mess. The discussion of Medicare for all is in our self interests. Canadian healthcare system shows how much money America could save The Great White North has found a way to provide universal healthcare with more salubrious results and trimmed national costs. Take notes, America. KEVIN DICKINSON 29 November, 2018 Americans are split over Canada's single-payer healthcare system. Some see it as a model to be adopted by the United States. Others see it as an inefficient system that will hinder America's competitive edge. Proponents of either side can, of course, regale you with stories of former neighbors, distant cousins, or one-time coworkers who fled across the border to seek that elusively greener healthcare on the other side. In truth, each system has its flaws. Canada's healthcare is universal, assuming you ignore the gaping oversight of not covering essential prescriptions; meanwhile, the U.S. has some of the best healthcare in the world, if you don't mind bankrolling a litany of unnecessary tests and treatments. But Canada dominates its southern neighbor in one healthcare facet: cost savings. Despite publicly funding universal healthcare, Canada spent only 10.45 percent of its national GDP in 2014. The United State's expenditure was 17.4 percent of GDP. Per capita, Canada spent $4,641. The U.S.? Double that. Read more