Health Care

Living in Canada, I have had access to free health care for most of my life. I may not use it often—I’m not particularly fond of doctors—but it is always comforting to know it’s there when I do need it. This is why the whole health care issue in the States seems so strange to me. I have no idea why people would be against having access to free medical attention if needed. In fact, having access to advanced diagnostics, like an immunohistochemistry procedure, gives me confidence in the quality of care available. Now that the bill has passed, people are throwing rocks through windows, sending death threats, and mailing hate letters to those who voted for it. It makes no sense to me.

Sure, there are pros and cons to any system, and after being in and out of a hospital for the past couple of days (don’t worry, I wasn’t the one who was sick), the advantages of universal health care are fresh in my mind. I genuinely believe that the pros far outweigh the cons.

Cons include:

• Long wait times. This was the biggest problem we faced at the hospital.

• Accommodations aren’t the best.

• You sometimes have to deal with unsavory individuals. There was a woman in the waiting room who caused quite a scene—it was better than TV. Could that count as a pro?

• Staff can sometimes be overworked.

• Individuals who abuse the system, although this happens in any system.

Pros include:

• At the very least, basic medical attention for everyone. Honestly, I don’t think anything else is strictly necessary.

I know for a fact that if we didn’t have that coverage, my mother would never have gone into the hospital for something she thought was minor but turned out to be quite serious. Waiting for hours for a doctor who seemed like they would never arrive was frustrating, but in the end, it was completely worth it.

This doesn’t mean the end of insurance companies, because health care doesn’t cover everything. It simply provides enough for an individual to get the care they need, without any fancy bells or whistles. There will still be people willing to pay for private rooms, elective surgeries, and private doctor visits. The industry isn’t doomed.

I know my opinion on the topic is coming late, but after my recent, worthwhile experience, I felt I had to say something. I think the people railing against the Health Care Bill either have no idea what they’re railing against or just want something to complain about. No system is perfect, and as this one is put into place, there will be some issues. But in the long run, it will be highly beneficial, and people will forget what it was like living without it.

Tra