Helena, MT Independent Record – letter to the editor:

My 76-year-old sister has lived in British Columbia most of her adult life. In the past decade she has had two hip replacements and a knee replacement. She had excellent consultation, operations and after-care for each and leads a very active, productive life. She and her husband live on a retired teacher’s income. In the U.S., she would not have received the excellent care she got in Canada, nor could she afford to have those operations. She sent the following e-mail:

“I have been thinking of you so much lately as I fume about the way Canadian health care is pilloried in the American news. A recent poll showed that the number one thing people treasure in Canada is their health care system. Any health care system can be better, but coverage for all seems to be the least that a country can do for its people. I spoke to a doctor recently, a Canadian who was practicing in Colorado. He came back to Canada because he was practically going broke despite his supposedly high wages. The paperwork he had to deal with for many health providers was costing him so much time and office work that he was getting depressed. He also had to fudge on accurate information or his patients wouldn’t get coverage, which presented an ethical dilemma.”

Why is the U.S. the last “civilized country” on earth to deny health care for all? It is insane and immoral. Stories of Canadians (wealthy) crossing the border for better care in the U.S. are hypocritical lies. More Montanans are going north for health care and prescription drugs because of our failed system.

Bob Ream

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