I've often heard it said: The advantage of the socialized Canadian health care system, is its proximity to the United States.

And to the non-socialized, private system just across the border in the U.S.

For example, if you're a Canadian and you have a brain tumor. With limited surgical facilities available, your care is free in Canada, but your surgery is scheduled two years from now. So you wait, for a very anxious two years, and hope the cancer doesn't spread and become malignant.

Or, if you're Canadian and you have the money, you can come across the border and pay out-of-pocket for an American surgeon to remove it in a matter of days or weeks.


That's the advantage of the Canadian system, the best of both worlds. In less dire circumstances, you have free medical care. But when it's life-threatening, you can always go to the U.S., and pay for what you need.