More than 52,000 Canadians travelled abroad for health care last year, study finds

National Post ^ | March 17, 2015 | Daniel Katz

[george76]

The number of Canadian patients who travelled abroad in 2014 to receive non-emergency medical treatment increased 25% from 2013, according to a study conducted by the Fraser Institute, a Canadian independent research and education organization.

In 2014, 52,513 Canadians travelled beyond our borders to seek medical treatment, compared with 41,838 in 2013. The numbers suggest that the Canadian health care system could not comply with the needs and demands of a substantial number of Canadian patients

...

why Canadian patients left the country to pursue treatment elsewhere. The reasons include a lack of available resources and equipment in their home jurisdiction; and the desire for more advanced health care facilities and technology.

The study suggests that another reason could be the long wait-times within the Canadian health care system and suggests this as another possible reason for patients leaving. In a 2014 study by the Commonwealth Fund, a private American health care reform and international health policy organization, Canada had the second-worst overall ranking among the health care systems of 11 industrialized nations and ranked last in the wait-time category. Only the American health care system ranked worse overall.

[jennings2004]

But, but, but my Demoncrat friends give me anecdotal stories of just how great the Canadian health care system is...they would not lie, would they? They would? Who knew?

[oh8eleven]

Only the American health care system ranked worse overall.
BS BS BS. No matter what medical problem I might have, I would NEVER go to another country for treatment.

[artichokegrower]

So 12 million Mexicans came to the USA for health caee. The only difference is they didn’t pay for it.

[indthkr]

Obamacare bump for later....

[Gay State Conservative]

Having been employed in the US health care industry for decades *and* having had a hip replacement I've studied this very issue...not deeply but not superficially either.

In my research I found (among other things) that according to British Columbia's official provincial health care website a citizen of BC is considered to have been well served if he/she gets a new hip within 6 months of it being determined that a hip replacement is indicated.

OTOH...a few years back I was told by my primary care doctor that I might be a candidate for a hip replacement.Long story short...I,an ordinary middle class American...was in the recovery room of a world famous hospital sporting some new titanium *ELEVEN BUSINESS DAYS* after my visit to my primary care doctor.

[grumpygresh]

“Canada had the second-worst overall ranking among the health care systems of 11 industrialized nations and ranked last in the wait-time category. Only the American health care system ranked worse overall.”

The article conveniently did not mention which other countries the Canadians fled to for health care, but it is likely that they came to the US. So why would Canadians want to go to a country with “worse” health care at any price?

[DUMBGRUNT]

I would NEVER go to another country for treatment.

A co worker of Tex/Mex heritage,did the vacation/hair transplant trip; he was so proud!
It looked great, for about six months.
He went back a few times for remediation.No joy.

Now he wears a hat inside all the time! (Sometimes he has to remove the hat; people snicker)

[Squawk 8888]

To all- please ping me to Canadian topics.

Canada Ping!

[Snowyman]

Not necessarily, “Select Country’

http://www.patientsbeyondborders.com/

[hinckley buzzard]

I have seen statistics from a couple years ago about the thousands of Canadians who received care annually at Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, Leahy Clinic, all at their own expense and glad to have it. I'm sure that other facilities especially along the border are equally well attended. If they go to other countries as well, probably some, but idk.