A colleague's real life experience with her mother's hospital visit in Canada [View All]

[zulchzulu]

Someone I work with has dual citizenship with the US and Canada and has a mother who lives in Montreal.

About a month ago, she got the news that her mother had colon cancer and it was detected that it could become malignant any time and that the colon had to be removed. Her mother had to prepare for the operation with some blood tests and some nutritional tips before the procedure could be done. Then, last week, she had the operation.

According to my friend, her mother was told that the operation would be on Wednesday. They were not sure of the exact time but would call her when it was a good time to come to the hospital. She did have to wait until the late afternoon before they made the phone call for her to come in. She was told she should bring her own towels, tissues and other items or would be charged for items used.

She did have to share a room with a few other people preparing for the operation, which would take about two hours to perform. Not exactly the luxurious single room you can have unless you want to pay for it, which was available.

She then had the operation, which went well. She was unconscious after the operation for a few hours and was lined up in a large recovery room with others. Again, not exactly luxurious conditions, but after a few hours, she was rolled into a room to recover for 5 days.

She came home this week and feels great although a little sore since she's 69 years old.

In the US, she may have had a nice room before and after the operation, but would possibly be in debt up to $100,000 or more for such an operation, especially if it was determined it was a pre-existing condition. Either way, the operation itself would have probably taken longer to be scheduled and some amount of money would have had to be outlayed for the operation, even with the best medical coverage.

The Canadian experience was essentially a no-frills, no fancy room, BYO supply medical experience that was efficient, paid for and she had a few days to relax after the operation in the hospital under professional care.

She mentioned it is kind of like staying at a Motel 6 vs. the Hilton in terms of "vibe", but you walk out of the Canadian hospital WITHOUT huge debt.

This is essentially what a single payer scenario would be like in this country.