I remember reading about that.
So you'll definitely find all this interesting too.
Some quotes from Harvard researchers regarding an international study
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/CanadaAM/20060530/canada_us_healthcare_060530/ they conducted:
"The data is clear and really irrefutable: Canadians are healthier than Americans and they have better access to medical care."
"We pay almost twice what Canada does for care, more than $6,000 for every American, yet Canadians are healthier, and live two to three years longer."
"No one ever talks about the fact that low-income and minority patients fare better in Canada. Based on our findings, if I had to choose between the two systems for my patients, I would choose the Canadian system hands down."
"The take-home message is: When you compare Canada to the United States, Canada is spending a lot less money to get better results."
In Canada's system, the Federal government plays no direct role in healthcare beyond funding and regulatory oversight.
Instead, each Canadian Province acts as the insurer that reimburses doctors and hospitals for services rendered.
Also this:
-Canadian healthcare is privately delivered, same as in the U.S.
-Doctors in private practise are self-employed, same as in the U.S.
-Doctors (and/or nurses) that run their own clinics are business partnerships, same as the U.S.
-Hospitals are nonprofit corporations, same as nonprofit hospitals in the U.S.
No death panels. No government bureaucrats deciding who does or doesn't get care.
By Canadian law, every citizen is covered for ALL medically-necessary hospital and physician services, on a prepaid basis, as determined SOLELY by doctors and hospitals.
Canadians are even covered for emergency care OUTSIDE of Canada.
Canadians can't be denied care because of pre-existing conditions, either.
Canadians get more comprehensive healthcare because Canada's system by law, covers ALL preventive, emergency/primary, diagnostic, and follow-up care.
No co-pays. No deductibles. No being limited to authorized providers. None of that.
Instead, every Canadian has a little plastic insurance card that entitles them to care at any doctor or hospital of their choice from coast to coast.
They don't sit around filling out insurance forms or worrying about the bills either.
Since it's all prepaid by taxation, Canadians show their cards, get their care, and walk away without having to pay a cent or worry about getting a bill in the mail.
On top of which is this:
Canada has the best advanced economy in the world -
http://www.economywatch.com/economy-business-and-finance-news/Canada_the_best_advanced_economy_in_the_world_28-07.html Canada's fully recovered from the global financial crisis -
http://www.thedollartimes.com/canada-has-recovered-recession-jobs-losses Canada continues to create more jobs than the US:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/09/need-a-job-try-canada-whe_n_640555.html and
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/08/canada-economy-jobs-idUSN1E76701920110708 (Compare the dates on those two articles. They're almost exactly a year apart.)
Compared to Americans, Canadians work less, live longer, enjoy better health, and are wealthier -
http://www.macleans.ca/canada/national/article.jsp?content=20080625_50113_50113 So much for all the propaganda nonsense about single-payer healthcare being bad/evil/wrong.
So much for all the damned lies that it's too expensive, too.
All anyone has to do to see the truth that single payer truly works is look north.