Reply #4: "if you went due to the atrocious waiting times"

[Oregone]

I haven't experienced that at all. Ive had little anecdotal experience in the ERs in BC, but I experienced similar waiting times to the US. As for private clinics, I normally get into those for general medicine purposes several times quicker than I would in the states. Different province, different problems.

But its also tough to comprehend that for family insurance for a month ($108), Ive spent over 10X that amount in the states for 15 minutes and two stitches. To each their own, I guess.

Do I mind waiting for a specialist and operation here in Canada? No. I didn't wait in the US. I couldn't afford it so I medicated myself with beer/naproxen/ibuprofen/pot

On the other hand, I think people are fooling themselves to think that rationaing/limiting services isn't a reason single payer is cheaper. The point is to help the public by keeping them from dying (or becoming an indentured servants as an alternative). But the goal doesn't always reach beyond that. I prefer this practical approach (life without chains) to the US alternatives of death or work detail for life.