I am a student at Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School. In our Grade 11 Social Studies class, we have been studying the issue of health care. I have learned that Canada has a universal health care system, but the United States has a user pay system of health care.
In the United States many people cannot afford health care. If they or someone in their family gets sick, they could lose their house or all of their money. The poor people don’t get cared for at all. Unlike Canada, where we are insured no matter how rich or poor we are.
For example, in the movie Sicko, a man gets two of his fingers cut off and didn’t have health care to cover the expenses. He could either get his middle finger fixed for $60,000 or his ring finger for $12,000.
It’s sad to know that he had to choose a finger to get fixed.
In Canada, this would never happen with our health care system. I’m happy to be Canadian and know how good our health care really is. When I broke my arm, we didn’t have to pay for anything; our health care insurance covered any costs. Rich or poor, you get care in Canada.
It’s unfortunate that the United States has such a bad health care system.
Hopefully they will understand and realize that adopting a universal health care system would be a good thing. It could save the lives of many Americans.
Cassy Loveday
Red Deer