I'm sure glad we have a privatized/insurance ran healthcare system to keep costs and spending down.

[Peter1x9]

If we switched to a socialized system we would be overburdened with healthcare costs and our economy would be completely screwed.




:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

And remember, this chart is merely the percentage of each country's total GDP. We have a MUCH bigger (albeit decaying) economy than the majority of those countries listed. I hate to think what the total dollar amount is that our country spends on healthcare every year. Just imagine what we could do with all that extra money if we had a socialized system. What gets me about all the proponents of our healthcare system on the right is that our system shifts a large part of the premiums on American businesses, giving them a huge (and unfair) disadvantage vs other countries with a socialized system.

Edit:
Here's an excellent post related to the business aspect of it: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1386954

[medeak]

1. just got $7400 bill from ER for simply passing out

and doc out of town. Am waiting for those lower costs

[Donnachaidh]

4. Just got a 22 thousand dollar bill for an ankle sprain

And that was the 3rd trip to the ER because of it...granted, the meds cost the most - but damn!

[medeak]

2. son just returned from Turkey...after this graph...

seriously thinking of retiring there!

[Uben]

3. I'm just over-joyed!

I get a $5,000 deductible and 50% of the next $10,000 for a mere $2100/mo.! Where can you get coverage like that for only $25,000 a year in premiums? Wait..........

[murphyj87]

5. You'd have to make $120,000...

You'd have to make $120,000 to pay $25,000 in taxes in Canada, and that's total taxes, including Old Age Security Pension at age 65 ($525 a month over and above Canada Pension - Canada Pension is like your Social Security and OAS is over and above that), Guaranteed Income Supplement, Family Allowance ($100 per month per child under 18), subsidized university tuition, and about 20% of that is for universal health care with no out of pocket costs for any physician and hospital care, no deductibles, no copays.

If you only made $60,000 a year, you'd be paying $10,800 a year in total taxes for exactly the same benefits, Old Age Security Pension at age 65 ($525 a month over and above Canada Pension), Guaranteed Income Supplement, Family Allowance ($100 per month per child under 18), subsidized university tuition, and about 20% of that is for universal health care with no out of pocket costs for any physician and hospital care, no deductibles, no copays.

[Peter1x9]

6. And of course our Reich wing media would never even think about reporting this.

It's sad just how screwed we are and what's even sadder is that most of us don't even know it.

[murphyj87]

7. Actually...

Actually that's the absolute maximum a Canadian pays for taxes for that income, assuming an absolute minimum of deductions. If you assume an average or larger amount of tax deductions, the amount of tax would be much less, but those benefits remain the same, regardless of income or age.

It should also be noted that we can get 70% of Canada Pension at age 60. If we wait to age 65 for Canada Pension we get 100%. If you figure it out, however, it is financially advantageous to take 70% of Canada Pension at age 60 compared to 100% at 65 until you become 75 years and 2 months. It takes 10 years and 2 months for CPP at age 65 to overcome the $36,000 advantage of starting CPP at age 60.

The majority of Canadians retire at ages between age 55 and 60 and take Canada Pension at age 60. My company pension plus Canada Pension gives me an amount equivalent to someone making about $17.50 an hour. When I get Old Age Security at age 65, my pension income will give me an amount equivalent to someone making about $22.00 an hour. Needless to say, not having any out of pocket costs for health care leaves more of that in my pocket than I would have, even if I had the same benefits (and of course I wouldn't have them since OAS has no American equivilant, and my company pension would be much less if I were an American) if I were an American.