This is a complex story and some of it, such as whether Senator Hillary Clinton’s health        care proposals have merit, is a matter of political, social, and economic        opinion. We don’t have a name for the writer of this eRumor or whether it was        really written from Canada or not, but we can look into some of the        specific topics it raises. First, health care polices and prices in        Canada may differ        from province to province. The national government sends health care        dollars to the provinces but the provincial and territorial governments each establish        their own guidelines. Some of the topics in the eRumor are personal and about people in the        writer’s family and we can’t document those. Other topics are        commentary, but here are some of the issues raised:Canadian health care is not free and is        funded mostly by taxes.   Most Canadians pay an annual health care        premium that averages several hundred dollars per month. Low income        families and those on assistance are exempted. But the bulk of        health care costs is paid for by taxes. Whether the writer is really        in a 55% tax bracket or not is not known. The Canadian Federal        Finance Department estimates, however, that Canadians pay an average of        35% to 40% in income taxes. There are long waiting lists for treatment in Canada.  Even the most enthusiastic of Canadians        admit that the health care system can be sluggish when it comes to getting        treatment. It’s technically illegal for doctors and hospitals to        provide private care for anything that is covered by the government health        care system, but there is a growing industry of private hospitals where        people can pay for services that they would otherwise have to wait a long        time to get. Many Canadians do not have a family doctor.  Most Canadians do have a family doctor        but if you don’t have one, finding one may be difficult. There is a        shortage of physicians in Canada and you must find a family doctor who is        accepting new patients. In 2004 the Canadian Medical Association        estimated that about 14% of Canadians did not have a family physician. You could wait many hours in an        emergency room for treatment.  Almost anybody anywhere in the        world has stories of long waits in emergency rooms–mostly because unless        your problem is life-threatening you’ll not get the attention of those who        are facing more serious problems. But is is true that in Canada the        lines at emergency rooms are legendarily long. Immigrants get health care coverage in        Canada.  According to the Canadian        Government, immigrants are eligible for health care coverage under the        Canada Health Act, although in some provinces there may be a 90-day        waiting period. Drug addicts get free needles but diabetics must pay for needles in        CanadaThe Canadian government began        needle exchange programs in several areas of Canada in the 1980’s. The goal was to fight the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C by reducing the        number of contaminated needles being used. Medical supplies for        diabetics, however, including needles are covered by the health plan. Updated 10/8/07
 Prompted by Senator Hillary Clinton’s health        care proposals, the writer of the eRumor says all is not well in Canada        where a universal health care plan has been in effect for a long time.  