Yeah, waiting a few months to get an MRI if your condition isn't serious isn't uncommon. Diagnostics like that tend to be the longest wait times -- actually getting surgery after a diagnosis is pretty quick.
On the other hand, my experience with the US is that the service is great. They'll even send you for unnecessary tests just because. And it's all pretty fast. But then you have so many people who get nothing at all. And then many of those who do get something are totally bankrupt.
There is no system that can give anyone health care and not have a triage system. So you might have to give up some comfort so your neighbors can live.
sure, it's a balancing act.
another downside to mention - wait times in walk in clinics in Canada during the flu/cold season are pretty extreme - it's free so ppl just go if they suspect anything is wrong.
I remember reading in the news they were considering charging a nominal fee, like $5 to cut down on these types of visits. On the US side you'd pay around $50 for one of those visits (unless you go to your doc) - wait time is like 10 min.
I actually wouldn't mind something similar to a Canadian system - if they can manage that without tax increases :) - plus a private "network" someone who can afford paying for a private insurance (or using straight up cash) can use.
On the other hand, my experience with the US is that the service is great. They'll even send you for unnecessary tests just because. And it's all pretty fast. But then you have so many people who get nothing at all. And then many of those who do get something are totally bankrupt.
There is no system that can give anyone health care and not have a triage system. So you might have to give up some comfort so your neighbors can live.