When a "die-hard conservative Republican" woman moves to Canada and encounters the universal healthcare there, cultures clash.

July 24, 2012

When a “die-hard conservative Republican” woman moves to Canada and encounters the universal healthcare there, cultures clash.

marcelle42:

piddlebucket:

rabbleprochoice:

mediumtrip:

rabbleprochoice:

abaldwin360:

by Vyckie Garrison | Reality Check

When I moved to Canada in 2008, I was a die-hard conservative Republican. So when I found out that we were going to be covered by Canada’s Universal Health Care, I was somewhat disgusted. This meant we couldn’t choose our own health coverage, or even opt out if we wanted too. It also meant that abortion was covered by our taxes, something I had always believed was horrible. I believed based on my politics that government mandated health care was a violation of my freedom.

[…]

Fast forward a little past the Canadian births of my third and fourth babies. I had better prenatal care than I had ever had in the States. I came in regularly for appointments to check on my health and my babies’ health throughout my pregnancy, and I never had to worry about how much a test cost or how much the blood draw fee was. With my pregnancies in the States, I had limited my checkups to only a handful to keep costs down. When I went in to get the shot I needed because of my negative blood type, it was covered. In fact I got the recommended 2 doses instead of the more risky 1 dose because I didn’t have to worry about the expense. I had a wide array of options and flexibility when it came to my birth, and care providers that were more concerned with my health and the health of my baby than how much money they might make based on my birth, or what might impact their reputation best. When health care is universal, Drs are free to recommend and provide the best care for every patient instead of basing their care on what each patient can afford.

I found out that religious rights were still respected. The Catholic hospital in the area did not provide abortions, and they were not required too. I had an amazing medically safe birth, and excellent post-natal care with midwives who had to be trained, certified and approved by the medical system.

I started to feel differently about Universal government mandated and regulated Health care. I realized how many times my family had avoided hospital care because of our lack of coverage. When I mentioned to Canadians that I had been in a car accident as a teen and hadn’t gone into the hospital, they were shocked! Here, you always went to the hospital, just in case. And the back issue I had since the accident would have been helped by prescribed chiropractic care which would have been at no cost to me. When I asked for prayers for my little brother who had been burned in a camping accident, they were all puzzled why the story did not include immediately rushing him to the hospital. When they asked me to clarify and I explained that many people in the States are not insured and they try to put off medical care unless absolutely needed, they literally could not comprehend such a thing.

read more

This is a long read but worth it. A lot of Americans have huge misconceptions about socialized healthcare, and this article goes a long way in dispelling some of the myths.

[snipped for length]
God, just read the whole thing. It’s awesome.

Love,

Rabble

“midwives and doctors were both respected, and often worked together”’

… wait, does this mean in the US they don’t? What even?

A very large number of ob/gyns look down on midwives and the people who choose them in the US. Really, a lot of doctors look down on and make their disapproval known for any patient who chooses to use a midwife, doula, have a home birth, etc.

To see just how gross this attitude is check out My Ob said WHAT!?

Love,

Rabble

Back in ‘88 my mom was made fun of by her sisters for having a midwife. my mom knew what she wanted and didn’t care but that’s such a prevalent thought process, it is so bizarre.

Not only is this an interesting article, but it also lead me to read 30 pages of My OB said What?

I would like to move to Canada, but 1) I like my job and my life here, and 2) I get super anxious about walking on ice or slippery snow (snow with traction is fine). So, probably not.