[mhurron]

> My friend told me that the average wait time in Canada for an endoscopy is 9 months

Wait times for specialist visits that are not life threatening are just as long in the US as in Canada.

There is a persistent myth in Canada among people who have never had to get in depth medical care in Canada and the US that the Canadian system makes you wait until you are dying but in the US you just wave some bills and you see the specialist that day.

(US) Mother-in-Law has to schedule months (4-6) in advance for colon cancer screening because they find polyps every time, not just because of age. Cost - IIRC ~$50 with insurance.

(Canada) Father complained about shortness of breath walking to work (Wednesday), saw his doctor (Thursday), was checked in to the hospital that day, had a angioplasty. (Saturday). Why? Was life threatening. Cost - $150.

I'll take Canadian health care over the US squeeze for money every time.

[specialist]

Geography is also a factor. In both US and Canada.

In the US jurisdiction is a factor, with local legislators enabling fruitcake care providers and pharmacists to impose their neolithic values onto their patients.

The only measure I care about is cost per capita and life expectancy.

Canada is cheaper and their people live longer. That's not an accident.