Wendell Potter comes clean about Canadian health-care.

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Text of tweets:


Amid America's #COVID19 disaster, I must come clean about a lie I spread as a health insurance exec: We spent big $$ to push the idea that Canada's single-payer system was awful & the U.S. system much better. It was a lie & the nations' COVID responses prove it. The truth: (1/6)

Canada's doing much better than the U.S. when it comes to #COVID19 testing & treatment. On a per capita basis, more Canadians are being tested & fewer getting sick & dying. This may shock Americans who still believe the lies I told about the Canadian health care system. (2/6)

Here’s the truth: Our industry PR & lobbying group, AHIP, supplied my colleagues & me with cherry-picked data & anecdotes to make people think Canadians wait endlessly for their care. It’s a lie & I’ll always regret the disservice I did to folks on both sides of the border. (3/6)

In Canada, no one gets turned away from doctors due to lack of funds. In America, exorbitant bills are a defining feature of the system. What about quality of care? When it comes to #COVID19, there's been ~ 21 deaths per 100,000 in Canada, versus 34 per 100,000 in the U.S. (4/6)

Remember, in Canada there are no co-pays, deductibles or co-insurance ever. Care is free at the point of service. And those laid off in Canada don’t face the worry of losing their health insurance. In the U.S., millions are losing their jobs & coverage, and scared to death. (5/6)

You learn a lot about a healthcare system when a global crisis hits & different nations have different results. Canada’s single-payer system is saving lives. The U.S. profit-driven corporate model is failing.

I'll regret slandering Canada's system for the rest of my life. (6/6)

[lame54]

1. It's a start

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. I have never seen a medical, doctor, or hospital bill in Canada in my entire life

Have not had to fill out any paperwork re finance or money for any kind of healthcare in Canada.

[Nevilledog]

3. Sure, rub it in.

[Disaffected]

5. I have, sorta.

In Alberta they used to send out a "bill" to anyone who received a medical procedure (over a certain amount IIRC). Thing is though, the "bill" was not payable and was only sent out so folks could see first-hand what their medical care was costing and hopefully remind them to help reduce costs by taking good care of themselves.

The practice was stopped however after a while as the mailout overhead was deemed not to be worth covering.

It should be noted however that not all medical care in Canada is completely covered - prescription drugs taken outside of hospital are a not covered except for private insurance, senior coverage is co-pay and, private clinics are available for some procedures such as cataracts and joint surgery. It's starting to look though that prescription drugs will also be covered at some point in future.

[guillaumeb]

4. Many insist that single payer could never work in the US.

It is nonsense, but some myths persist.