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My mom (residing in Canada) was diagnosed with breast cancer about 10 years ago. It took 4 months to get a biopsy/lumpectomy, and then she had to "wait" for her first dose of chemo and radiation.

After month 14 of waiting (with me raising hell, trying to get them to come to the US and get it done and then wrangle out a tax write-off from the ordeal), they told her it could be another year before treatment...so after some back and forth with government idiots, they managed to fight their way into a (new at the time) program which sent cancer patients from Canada to the United States if they agreed to cover the cost difference (it worked out to $700).

As soon as they got approval, they contacted a hospital in Michigan and set a date for treatment 9 days later.

My parents pay an obscene amount in Canadian federal and Ontario income taxes for what they make. Plus they pay an additional provincial "health-care fee" every year to supplement government health revenue to the tune of around $2400 for 4 people, and their employers deduct from their salary a certain amount to pay an Employer Health Tax. Oh, and there is a sales tax, both federal and provincial amounting to 13% (down from 15% thanks to the current Conservative Party in power).

It is great if you are a welfare bum or other variety of social parasite, but if you work hard and make enough to pay taxes, the Canadian health-care system is enormously inferior to the American system. I've had direct experience with both, and everyone who actually pays for it comes out behind.

My parents pay an obscene amount in Canadian federal and Ontario income taxes for what they make. Plus they pay an additional provincial "health-care fee" every year to supplement government health revenue to the tune of around $2400 for 4 people, and their employers deduct from their salary a certain amount to pay an Employer Health Tax.

That's strange. The maximum Health Premium in Ontario (created in 2004) , based on a personal $200,000 income is $900. It goes down to zero at $20,000 a year . Employer health tax ? Employers pay a payroll tax that goes to health care. Less than 1% of the payroll above $400,000/year (first 400k is exempt) . Employees pay nothing , unless they have a separate health plan provided by the employer. Which would include drugs, dental, eyeglasses etc.

btw, my ex-wife had both her knees replaced last year. She first appointment for her knees was in February , had the first knee replaced in June , the second in September. But then , she wasn't much of a wrestler.