True News: 'Canadian Health Policy Failures' - An Interview with Dr Brett Skinner

[happinesson]

This news came as a complete shock! Take a review on the policies cause health is wealth.

[genghisdon1]

shocking that the rich have a greater share of the tax burden!? LOL...you lost me at that point.

This dude is pedalling a load of BS.

[AnnRKey]

The fact is that health is very much out of the hands of individuals. Most are born healthy, some are born very unhealthy. Universal health care should be desired among any nation calling themselves civilized. The burden should be spread across all citizens. Why would a for profit insurance company take on the risk of those born unhealthy? The goal in a free market system is to maximize profit, is it not?

[mike6459]

a dog in canada can get a hip replacement surgery in one week while it takes a Canadian citizen a week just to get to see his family doctor...takes another month to see a specialist,,, a week to get the xray back and another 4 months to get the surgery...open heart surgery...you'll probably die before your scheduled surgery. Canadian health care is great for surgeries that take under an hour to do...cataracts and hernia...in and out of the hospital in 4 hours

[45a14]

Props to Steph for putting out more Canadian Content!

Keep it coming!

[Masstransit09]

cont.

If taxation for healthcare is proportionate to wealth, this could indeed be one of the only ways that wealth is distributed in a society.

For business owners to continue to run their businesses and in turn increase their profit margins, it has to be on the backs of the lower classes. Without socially responsible heathcare, people who already have little economic power will no longer be able to serve their white collar masters, thus reducing those businesses' viablility in the first place.

[Ibringthetruth1]

@Masstransit09

shutup you communist jackass.

[damphoud]

@Masstransit09

You're assuming that forced taxation is morally valid. Although one may make a lot of money, how am I able to forcefully take their money for my benefit, and not call it stealing?

[Masstransit09]

One of the fundamental tenets of the capitalist philosophy is the idea that wealth in the hands of the upper classes will "trickle down" to benefit the population as a whole, right down to the least wealthy and most vulnerable people in that society. IN FACT, this "trickling down" is a myth, as it has been proven that very little, if any, of capitalists' wealth ever does benefit anyone in the society, except for the upper class. (continued)

[nurbSoldier]

@Masstransit09

Strawman. The actual belief is that entrepeneurs will do a lot of the work and lead others. Entrepeneurs tend to mean small business people.

[quallupiluit]

I don't want to be left dealing with a greedy life insurance that will do all it can to avoid paying me a cent for my treatment, like we all can see it's happening in the USA. Sorry buddy, we know where you are coming from.

[tannagra]

So he says the US pays 50% more per person for healthcare, I suppose thats ok if you're a rich suit like this Doctor, otherwise it could be iffy.

Saying that in the UK the healthcare is creaking under the load, due in part to lots of 'cosmetic' and 'lifestyle choices' being done on the NHS and soon somethings going to give.

[FreeBornJohn1600s]

this video is a complete joke. what a load of rubbish. totally biased

[rileyyielding]

excellent video. Am I my brother's keeper? Not at the point of a gun. Why should someone who remains healthy (at least some of which is based on the activities of the guy who remains healthy) have to pay for someone elses' health care?

[2minstral]

I don't care what this joker says about Canadian Health Care. I have lived in Canada for 49 years and have never had to wait for any sort of health related care. You have to put things in real perspective, and not a general tunnel vision mindset as you are doing here.

The US insurance companies are at the heart of trying to dismantle the Canadian health care system and also fund FREE books on why it is not a good system. LMAO!

[2minstral]

A few examples of the care I received.

Severed Achilles tendon - immediate care and operation.

Chest pains - immediate care and hospitalization.

Asthma attack - immediate treatment.

Meningitis - Immediate treatment and isolation.

[2minstral]

Those who need hip replacement surgery are put on a waiting list, but if the problem is chronic they are treated very quickly. An aging baby boom generation will need more hip replacements but the health system is dealing with that as we go forward. When it comes right down to it, Canadian care is far superior to US care where Americans must PAY over and above the taxes that the IRS collects. Canadians do not. The insurance co's are NOT part of our system but they are trying very hard to kill it

[2minstral]

I forgot to mention, that when I walk into a hospital I do not worry one bit if I am going to be seen or not based on my income or if I have insurance. There are NO extra bills, no additional worries, and no Insurance companies denying my coverage.

We take care of each other here in Canada.

[lnd3005]

Do you have health insurance?

[2minstral]

We don't need Health Insurance, we have single payer Health Care. It is covered through the taxes the government collects from our salaries, and we pay the same percentage as you do to the government. The program is at the Provincial level not the Federal level. (Canada has 10 Provinces and 3 territories.) Everyone is covered regardless if they work or not.

There is no additional taxation or Insurance companies involved.

[lnd3005]

So, you don't have health insurance?

Do any Canadians have health insurance?

[2minstral]

What are you reffering to? We have a medicare system in every province and territory. We don't need additional health insurance.

[lnd3005]

Are you saying you don't have health insurance? Like you, singular.

You've said "we" don't need it. But I don't know who "we" is, and I didn't ask about needing it, but having it.

Do any Canadians have health insurance? In addition to, or as a substitute for, the public plan?

[2minstral]

We means all Canadians are covered by our Medicare, or healthcare plan.

Canadians do not need additional health insurance coverage nor is there a substitute plan. All our medical requirements are provided for. The exception is the pharmaceutical prescriptions. We pay for those. I guess you could call that additional health insurance where the Ins company pays 80% of the drugs required. However if you are not well off for cash, the government can cover your pharma requirements also.

[lnd3005]

Do you, personally, have health insurance, apart from the public plan?

To your knowledge, do any Canadians have health insurance, apart from the public plan?

[6669Tara]

@lnd3005

many Canadians don't have health insurance. Canadians just pretend this doesn't exist as it isn't publicized. Or perhaps, Canadians without insurance just don't go to the doctor even if they need it...

[6669Tara]

1) there are many Canadians without health coverage (including me) and will often get turned away from doctors even if they can afford to pay what the docs charge for a 5-minute visit ($100 in Quebec, for example for an out-of-province Canadian)

2) many people have extra health insurance from private companies to pay for things that are not covered

3) in many provinces, you have to pay (public) health insurance premiums on top of your income tax

Canada is more complicated than Canadians think

[2minstral]

@6669Tara

HAhahahahahaha, you obviously do not live here. ALL Canadians have Provincial health care coverage.

There are no aditional fee's here, unless you need a company insurance paper filled out by a doctor or disability forms filled out. ($30.00 at most) and hospitals are NOT allowed to refuse you, it is the law.

The insurance companies are trying their best to dismantle our health care. You must work for one.

[6669Tara]

@ 2minstral

Disrespectful response. Not sure why I would say I live here if I don't. I have extensive work experience in both provincial government and health research. If you've had success with our system, congratulations. But don't negate other people's valid experiences simply because they don't fit into your world view. For the record, the best medical care I have received was in the US, when I was a graduate student there in the 90's. Now I'm poor, in Canada and have no insurance. Funny.

[2minstral]

So, I'm curious, what do you need insurance for?

Are you on unemployment benefits or welfare? Not that this matters anyways.

Which Province are you in?

[lindabebe835]

Nicely done. Another great vid. Sure glad I came across the subscription.

[godseyeview]

nice suit

[zeusvalentine]

I am a Canadian - the wait times are horrible, but you will get treated (eventually). People do waste the hospitals time by going for nonsense things - broken toe, sore neck - you name it.

do Americans not have to wait for the ER? for specialists?

I feel like maybe Americans who have insurance don't ever have to wait in line - at least that how it sounds

[SaggyBallsMcCain]

2 - 6 weeks to see a specialist unless it's urgent. ER wait times are out of hand, in some rare cases people dying while in the waiting room. The wait times are mostly due to people using the ER as a primary care physician. That's one of the many reasons why we need reform in the US.

[nickbrass]

well the wait times are less, but they have to pay straight out of their own pocket...

watch the documentary "sicko" shows alot about the health care system

[RuBbErRoOmChAoS]

Stef,do you ever give misinformation? I bet you say no.

[stefbot]

It's a trap! :) But really, no, I don't have any advertisers, don't take any funding, the show relies entirely on voluntary donations from anonymous people...

[Chainedorlo]

Great video, you need to do more of these.

[DeeperBlueX16]

so, essentially

most people dont need health care, so theyre happy with it and get teh "omg canada health care is so awesome we love u heres my money"

and people who need it get fucked over, but since its a minority no one listens to them

so the government wins, by preying on minorities.

right?

[R0CC08U775734k]

lol at stef wearing a suit.

[lindabebe835]

What? I think he looks great in the suit!

[VCADD]

National Health Care--So much more than just a finger in the ass.

[BlueRaven89]

hole 5 continued: to find an example of free market health care, you need only research the past before the government stepped in. When quality health care was affordable and people didn't need insurance to cover routine check ups, before endless regulations, before government mandated HMOs, before restrictive licensing, the distortions medicare and medicaid, etc. And private charity covered emergency situations for the poor rather sufficiently as well.

[SaggyBallsMcCain]

If you're talking about pre-New Deal America I can list of tons of health statistics to refute that claim that more people were cover and got better quality health care but I'd rather you look them up for yourself.

[Chainedorlo]

One, that period of time did not have the technology that we have right now. The New Deal didn't change much of our health care system, WW2 did.

[CSMIRROR]

Let's all talk about the way they are dressed rather than what they talk about.

[SaggyBallsMcCain]

All you need to know about the Fraser Institute is that it called the science that found tobacco / cigarettes dangerous for you "junk science", Considers climate change a myth and they couldn't get basic math right on their tax "freedom" day proposal.

[jaminunit]

Hi Stef! I love you videos. thanks for every thing.

I just wanted to say that I work for a tv network and would like to give you some tips on lighting. a good idea for you would be to get 3 cheep lights and set up a Key, Fill and hair light. This is called a 3 light set up (youtube it.) it will make your videos look as good as the amazing information you put out :)

[Rev01t]

Let me get this straight. The Fraser institute, a free market capitalistic group, analyzes a non-free market system and comes up with the conclusion that this system is bad? Wow, amazing.

[stefbot]

I guess imagining bias is easier than rebutting facts...

[Rev01t]

Well of course it is. And doing your own, biased research is also easier than hiring an unbiased, 3rd party to do the research. But it's less compelling of an argument.

[StrafingMoose]

I wonder how you could have a "3rd" party in a question with only two answers...

[Xtro2005]

@stefbot survey says yes. 9 our 10 shills agree.

[Xtro2005]

@stefbot ever wonder if the bias they assume of your sources by nature of them being capitalist is nothing more than projection?

[Darusdei]

@Rev01t surprise surprise, half truths and white lies...

[bigheb774]

The system right now where insurance covers all medical expenses is the product of a quasi-socialist "mixed" economic model of healthcare, not the free market.

[Rev01t]

Do you have any examples of a country that uses an entirely free market health care system?

[saxrider]

@Rev01t , there are no pure systems of any kind. There are no pure free market countries, there are no pure socialist countries, there are no pure fascist countries, no pure democracies, no pure capitalist societies, no pure totalitarian societies.... you need to go read. Then perhaps you could ask a better question.

[Rev01t]

So, you're trying to insult me to avoid the fact that you have no examples to support your uneducated opinion. Fool.

[bigheb774]

Completely free market? No. However, the United States healthcare system prior to the implementation of Social Security and Medicare was paid for out of pocket and hence was governed by the price mechanism. Under this system, more people could afford healthcare, and those who could not were provided for by charity organizations and church hospitals. Compare this system to the failures of the mixed system in America now and the socialism of Canada. And apply the laws of economics to healthcare.

[Rev01t]

Cm'on dude. a: social security was what.. the 30's? Before modern medicine. b: if your utopia was true, then why was FDR running on a platform of socialized medicine? The people were vastly in favor of a socialized system of medicine and this is one of the reasons he was elected.

[Jcolinsol]

Let me say this to you.

You can generate all the data in the world, it will help generate a scientific model of what reality may be, but it will only be a best guess. All you have is perception, and perception is a guess.

I don't think you can defend service provision via a coercive institution, when experience is subjective.

[SaggyBallsMcCain]

Are you seriously going to compare pre-New Deal America to the America of today?

[bigheb774]

Sure. Why not? Complexity doesn't change the laws of physics, so why should it change the laws of economics? Unless you are suggesting a manufacturing economy to service economy is analogous to quantum mechanics to classical mechanics?

[SaggyBallsMcCain]

To equate the laws of physics and economics as one in the same shows how simple minded you are. If the rules, laws and theories that govern economics were are beautify as the ones that govern all types of physics we would be able to predict the economy as well as we can predict things like the effect gravity and quantum mechanics. Thus we wouldn't be having this conversation. Stupid comment.

[bigheb774]

Insulting me only detracts from your position.

If you are going to argue that the laws of economics change on a whim and that supply and demand randomly flip and sometimes make weird spirals, turn into imaginary numbers, ETC. then how is the government suppose to plan healthcare in the first place?

[bigheb774]

Economics and physics differ in that economics is a social science, but no economists aside from Marxists have ruled against the Law of Supply, the Law of Demand, and the Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility. The idea of free market medicine and the failures of government-planned medicine derive themselves from these fundamental principles among others, so unless you can disprove the entire discipline of economics I would suggest you try to throw some craftier insults at me.

[SaggyBallsMcCain]

Proof for government planned medicine

Brazil, Canada, Columbia, Mexico, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Bhutan, PP China, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Austria, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, UK, Australia and New Zealand.  All countries with universal health care and right now all of their economies with the exception of a few have stronger fundamentals than we have in place right now.

[bigheb774]

All of which ration care in some cases and oversupply in other cases because the government cannot properly calculate, nor does it care to calculate, the point of market equilibrium for healthcare services.

And, to be honest, comparing it to the corporatist American system and considering it better isn't much of a win for socialism.

[SaggyBallsMcCain]

So the free market system doesn't outright deny claims? It's how insurance companies make profit. If I have the choice in only having 40k in health benifits a year vs. having a claim outright denied by an insurance company and getting no care. I'll take the rationed care.

We can go into the effect that healh care related bankrupcies have on our economy as well but we don't have to go into that. Your arguments have more holes in them than swiss cheese, I suggest you rethink your position.

[bigheb774]

If you took the care to read, the system we have now is not a free market. So no, my answer would be that a free market system would not outright deny claims. Do car insurance and fire insurance companies outright deny claims on a daily basis? Of course not. And under a free market system, health insurance would actually be "insurance", so it would function in a similar manner.

You slap down an arbitrary list of states as your argument and call /my/ argument full of holes? Nice try buddy.

[SaggyBallsMcCain]

Actually fire, flood, storm claims get denied all the time. Show me a country and or a study with a "true" free market system then we'll compare and talk until then your free market hypotheses need real data and peer review then and only then they might be valid theories.

[bigheb774]

And we appear to have made a complete cycle. I will continue to take note that the American healthcare system before care was paid for by insurance (a change triggered by government intervention) is an example of a market under less government intervention that performed better for consumers than the markets of today.

Show me how socialism can provide healthcare and consistently maintain market equilibrium prices and maybe then you might have a valid theory.

[SaggyBallsMcCain]

no market can have equilibrium because of dynamism this includes "free markets". I'm drunk and yet you've not said one thing that has yet had a valid point that didn't have holes in it's logic large enough to drive trucks through. That's sad because I've been talked into some pretty dumb situations when I'm drunk... this is not looking for you.

[bigheb774]

Sticks and stones, bud. You've already revealed to have "holes" in your speech considering you haven't said what holes are in my logic, yet you have repeated that comment multiple times now. Not once have you actually given any real evidence to back up your position nor dismantle mine, and I don't deem it necessary for me to continue this discussion.

Have a fun hangover in the morning, bud.

[SaggyBallsMcCain]

Hole 1 : You stated that the laws of the economy are like laws in physics and that they didn't change. I debunked that by showing that laws of physics can make accurate predictions when obviously the market can't be predicted to the degree physics can.

Hole 2: market equilibrium. You can't have it due to dynamism , it's a free market utopia, just isn't possible and there is no data to support that it is.

Hole 3: fire, flood, car ins don't deny.

Katrina, State Farm & FL, Punta Gorda, etc.

[BlueRaven89]

@ "hole 1": the market cannot be predicted because the market is just an abstract word that represents millions of people acting in their own interests through exchange. Your right we can't predict what millions of consumers and producers will do every second simply because it is impossible to collect that much information. This is the same calculation problem that pesters and dooms every socialist government to failure or mediocrity.

[SaggyBallsMcCain]

who stated anything about a socialist government? By the way regulations are great for keeping all systems in check, thus the need for more economic regulations even though this topic is beyond the scope of the health care debate.

[Chainedorlo]

"Regulation" is your religion and no "regulation" isn't an issue of more or less. It's what it's about. We need more market regulatory agencies like the UL. The other ones are run by rent seekers; they also have bad regulations that harm the economy and waste resources. Btw, you "progressives" should talk about what kind of regulation you want and if you don't, I would suggest you guys shut up.

[BlueRaven89]

continued: that does not disrupt the fact that we can identify general and inescapable economic laws such as scarcity, supply/demand, subjective valuation of goods, and various economic forces such as the role of time preference in spending/investing. All of which when explored give us a great view of what makes an economy tick, to where we can predict when government interferences will screw things up. In that statement you exposed your complete ignorance on the subject.

[SaggyBallsMcCain]

I never stated that economic laws can't provide a solid guise as to what the market can and will do, I simply stated that when you compare them to a physics models isn't even effin' close. Also government interference doesn't always disrupt the market but again the economic debate is beyond the scope of the healthcare debate even tough to a degree they're intertwined.

[SaggyBallsMcCain]

Hole 4: General fear for the economy with government run insurance.

I have a list of 27 countries many of them having better fundamentals within their economies than we have.

Hole 5: Free market cures all.

I asked you to show me a case with any country with "true" free market principles in their health care system or any other part of their system and you failed to do so simple because they don't exist and they don't exist for a reason, they don't work.

[BlueRaven89]

@ hole 5: Yes most governments and the special interests they represent have put their stupid hands in to the health and insurance markets extensively. This does not mean their interference was warranted. Governments always act irrationally and respond to bogus rhetoric and special interest forces. To imply the opposite and use that claim as proof is laughable. Power corrupts, and politicians are too dumb to see through the inaccurate rhetoric they are fed supporting such policies.

[SaggyBallsMcCain]

"Governments ALWAYS act irrationally?" People who speak in absolute truths about things they don't agree with or like are steeped in ideology and no matter what the facts are they'll never divert from that ideology. What I stated there if there isn't any valid data on it you can't speak to the free market as absolute truth. I'm also stating that if it's such a great idea at least 1 of the 195 countries on this planet would have implemented the idea somewhere in their history but they haven't.

[BlueRaven89]

Practically always. Sorry I haven't the room and time to speak clearly enough to avoid the nitpicking of a dumb drunkard. But government as a coercive monopoly lacks the incentives to provide affordable and quality service. I speak of the merits of the free market because I've done the extensive research. Youtube isn't posting half my comments and its pissing me off, so I'm bailing.

[SaggyBallsMcCain]

"government as a coercive monopoly lacks the incentives to provide affordable and quality service" That isn't necessary true but is to a degree. That's why special interest groups/money and the lobby needs to be taken out of government. This way government can't be bought and then the incentive becomes the vote to keep their jobs although that might be drunken wishful thinking. By the way Medicare has 2% over head private insurance has 20-25% so your thinking isn't all that accurate.

[Paul1953H]

If you want to see a free market at work, go onto Ebay or Craiglist. Show me any big box store or corporation that can match those prices......

[SaggyBallsMcCain]

So the free market system doesn't outright deny claims? It's how insurance companies make profit. If I have the choice in only having 40k in health benefits a year vs.. having a claim outright denied by an insurance company and getting no care. I'll take the rationed care.

We can go into the effect that health care related bankruptcies have on our economy as well but we don't have to go into that. Your arguments have more holes in them than swiss cheese, I suggest you rethink your position.

[Paul1953H]

Don't you get it Saggy??? Individuals in the free market can choose NOT to sell insurance to high-risk people because it would NOT be a mutually beneficial business relationship.

Why the hell should insurance companies (funded by the taxpayer, don't forget) be forced to abandon its business model to cover more people?? This is going to put a major barrier up against any new insurance companies trying to start up and will lead to monopoly.

[SaggyBallsMcCain]

Thus the reason why I personally like single payer. This way insurance companies can do whatever it is they like and people that want more than the government funded coverage can pay for supplemental coverage.

[ExquisiteDoom]

Except that it won't work, it will drive the private insurance business into near bankrupcy; which was the sector that was supposed to help pay the taxes for the healthcare scam in the first place. Driving costs where the sky is the only limit. But who cares right, rationning and allowing the government to take over the health of the citizens can't be a bad thing. You wouldn't let the mafia do it, but somehow when the government pulls off the same dirty tricks it's okay.

[SaggyBallsMcCain]

also keep in mind that the first half of 2009 in California alone there 21% of claims were denied or 31 million claims.

[bigheb774]

If you even bothered to read, you would have an answer to your question. No, a free market system would not outright deny claims. Do you see people with car insurance or fire insurance being repeatedly denied claims? Of course not. There is no government intervention highly interfering with its sale, unlike health insurance. What we have now is not a free market.

You present an argument which is nothing but an arbitrary list of countries and you call /my/ argument full of holes? Nice try, bud.

[randyguitarman13]

Suit looks very suave on Stef, I like it...

[summergiles]

Canadians are also "Americans".

[IndividualAutonomy]

I like the suit stef. Do what you want though.

[JacobSpinney]

Beautiful production quality, Stef. :) One minor suggestion, thumb tack some bed foams to the wall behind the camera to cut out the echo.

[rheographics]

the suit.. looks like fdr is upgrading .. Lol

[FlailingJunk]

Are you people seriously freaking out about a suit?

[Fcherrug]

When Dr. Skinner mentions medical technologies (MRI, CT devices, ect) if he took into account the proportion of these devices used in research as opposed to being used in medical practice? Still astonishing figures nonetheless!

[StrafingMoose]

When I heard Brett mention that almost 100% of the provincial budgets might be spent on healthcare and nothing left for education, policying and such, in some twisted way, that might be some light at the end of the tunnel for us free market thinkers. Provincial government bankruptcy! Sweeeet.

Anyways, good video Stef and don't mind the comments about the suit; just wear something because I don't think I could stomach the real Naked News :P

[whiteire]

somewhere upwards of a navy blue T-shirt seems like a good idea... but something about the suit is 'too much'.

[umalim]

I just wrote a paper bout privatization in Canadian healthcare system and I used Dr. Skinner research paper "Paying More, Getting Less 2005: Measuring the Sustainability of Provincial Health Expenditures in Canada"

[TheStig000]

Stef just wants to pwn statism in style.

[TheAtheistRising]

Stef, do you wear a full suit when you do these videos? I just had a really weird image of you in a suit jacket and some stylish summer shorts.

[DaveDoggOwns]

Next time, no suit. It's overkill.

[sniffsnarff]

oh! I figured it out. You're wearing shorts, aren't you?....haha! You're probably not even wearing shoes!

the old news anchor trick.

[hughtub]

@sniffsnarff Ties are obsolete. They do nothing but just sit there or swing around. He should go with the suit but no tie, to totally break with the obsolescence of that old form of clothing that sacrifices functionality for status quo.

[sniffsnarff]

Wow?!

Why the suit?

Who died?

nice video. 5/5*

[RuddODragonFear]

The suit suits you, Stef. You should do more True News wearing a suit.

[neptune26]

Stef you look like you could feature in an episode of 24.

[datalorez]

Nice suit!

[Stargazer5781]

Great interview Stef! :-)

[HymerSchmidt]

Looking spiffy.