Here is a breakdown of how the system in Ontario, Canada works. Keep in mind the medical system in Canada is regulated by each individual province and territory, so there are some variations on which procedures are covered and which are not.
First of all, Canada's health care is not "free". It is the single biggest expenditure our taxes pay for. I am not sure how much the total cost of Canadian health care is right now, but I have been told that half our income tax goes directly toward funding it. Since the tax system in Canada is determined by income level, this means that the poor of the country contribute nearly nothing toward funding health care, and the richest among us pay the most. At my current income level, I am paying close to 25% income tax which means that 12.5% of my annual salary goes toward health care. Additionally, I have an additional "health care tax" which amounts to around $800 a year. Again, this is determined by income level which means most of the poor are exempt. In addition to these two taxes, I pay for supplemental health insurance which covers such things as perscription drugs, dentistry, eye examinations, and such things as glasses. None of these kinds of expenses are covered by the government unless you are over 65, have specific medical conditions that the government outlines, or on social assistance (that's right, welfare bums once again are exempt from paying anything). My supplementary health insurance is partially funded by my employer, however I still pay another $800 for it as well. I can assure you that a 36 year old American does not pay even close to what I do for health coverage, as mine is over $6000 a year.
The other side of the problem is that due to the socialized structure of our system, the government only pays a set rate for specific health care procedures. As a result, we constantly have a shortage of doctors due to the majority of the ones graduating in Canada move down to the U.S. to practice. This means the only option for some people seeking medical care is to line up at the Walk-In Clinic and hope you get to see someone that day, or wait in line at the hospital's emergency room. My sister moved to downtown Toronto when she graduated Ontario Veterinary College and got a job at a Toronto animal hospital. She could not find a doctor that would accept her as a patient in the two years she lived there. She ended up relocating to Prince Edward Island for a year and had the same problem there. In northern Ontario, it is near impossible to find a local doctor to accept you, and you have to often make a couple hours drive to the closest hospital if you require treatment.
Now, does this sound like a world-class system to you? It certainly doesn't to me.
