An American Speaks to a Canadian
Couple about Health Care Reform…
By Tory Bunce
Recently I traveled outside the United States. While waiting in a lengthy line, I met a couple vacationing from Canada and they immediately struck up a conversation, grilling me on what it was like to have Barack Obama as my president. “What is it like to have Mr. Obama as a president?” they inquired eagerly. “I am not so happy thus far,” I answered honestly. “Why? Because your country is railroading its citizens with reforms without much debate or provocation?” they asked me quizzically. “Yes – I am overwhelmed with the changes that the health care reform laws will bring.” I admitted quietly. “Yes – so are we,” said the husband. “We have been traveling to America to get health care from the Mayo Clinic for years. What an amazing health care system you have! You see, my wife had breast cancer and we could not wait to seek the appropriate medical treatment back home because she would have perished without immediate and expert care,” the traveler explained to me tearing up. His wife batted his arm and turned to me and sighed. “Yes, it’s true – I would not have survived without the ability to get private health care outside our Canadian health care system. I couldn’t get an appointment for several months to be treated. Such a horrific, emotional and trying experience, that I had both breasts removed at the Mayo Clinic not just one so that I wouldn’t have to risk waiting back home if it happened again.” The husband turned to me squarely and bluntly asked me, “What will you Americans do when the health care reforms take effect? In our country, experience clearly shows that over time, rationing of care is justified in order to keep costs down at the risk of eliminating human life. How the government can put a price tag on a human life is beyond my comprehension but they do. I don’t see Americans being patient to receive care – they need the latest of everything – the Mayo Clinic is a good example of how a private health care system contains the best of everything – if there are dollars to spend, they will give it [the care] to you. So, if Americans cannot travel to Canada to get private care where will you go? Mexico? China? India?” I didn’t have a good answer. The alternatives were scary. My daughter has a disease that requires constant monitoring and health care professionals. The unknown weighed heavily on my shoulders that day standing in line — like Atlas holding up the world. As the line progressed, we chatted about other things and as we were about to part ways, the wife took my hands into hers, patted them and advised, “With change come challenges but perhaps the American patriot spirit, which we have all heard and learned about, will prevail in your new health care system. I can only hope so, as it also affects people like me.” Exactly.