Health Care For All Washington Help Line
Canadian Doctors Helping American Patients
How it Started
There has been much publicity in the past about Americans who cross into Canada to obtain cheaper medications. However we hear nothing about the hundreds of uninsured Washington State residents who receive regular medical, dental and other health care services in Canada.
During our signature campaigns for I-725 and I-245, we were in contact with thousands of voters all over the state. We were astounded at the phenomenal number of Washingtonians who pay cash for Canadian health care services that would otherwise be unaffordable.
As a result of this surprising discovery, we began two projects. First we created a database of Canadian doctors, dentists and psychologists willing to accept referrals of low-income and uninsured Americans. As Health Care for All - Washington becomes more visible throughout the state, we experience a steady increase in the volume of calls from Washingtonians who can't wait for health care reform to get medical attention. Second we are gathering testimonials from both American patients and Canadian doctors. These testimonials provide very useful documentation of the frightening shortcoming of the current American health care system and the high quality of Canadian medical care. Such stories do get the attention of the press and lawmakers, and help in our effort to educate them and the public. As citizens of the wealthiest nation on earth, Americans should be embarrassed to rely on a foreign power to provide basic medical services for its growing uninsured population.
Do you Need Help Finding Affordable Health Care?
For information about Canadian providers and clinics willing to accept American patients on a cash basis, please contact the Health Care for All - Washington Help Line at 206-323-3393 or 1-877-903-9723. This is not a referral service and Health Care For All makes no guarantee about the competence or qualifications of providers listed with our information service.
How You Can Help
- Spread the word about our Help Line for low income and uninsured Washington residents with urgent medical needs.
- Become a Help Line volunteer. Help us process calls and research providers and clinics to build our information base.
- Help us collect testimonials. For example if you or someone you know has gone without health care due to cost, has been denied care by an insurance company or has faced bankruptcy or other financial hardship to pay off medical bills, contact us as 206-323-3393 or 1-877-903-9723 or e-mail us at bpjking@comcast.net.
Background: Why Health Care Costs Less in Canada
Many Americans are crossing into Canada for health care. Not only are prescription medications much cheaper there, but may Canadian doctors charge 50% or less than the customary fees in Washington State. For many low income, uninsured or underinsured Americans, going to the doctor in Canada is the only way to access affordable health care. The large price discrepancy highlights the failings of the American health care financing system, as well as the relative strengths of the Canadian system.
In the U.S. we spend 39% more on health care than any other country and we receive less care - fewer doctor visits, fewer hospital and nursing home days and fewer high tech procedures than residents in most industrialized countries. Health care is so expensive in the U.S. because we squander billions of dollars every year on administrative inefficiency and duplication. More than 30% of every health care dollar goes to some form of unnecessary administrative expense:
- Claims processing
- Managed care paperwork
- High CEO salaries in the insurance industry
- Marketing costs for insurance plans
- Lobbying costs
- Profits and stockholder dividends
Canadian physicians have much lower practice overhead, largely due to much simpler billing procedures and much lower malpractice insurance expense. Canadian physicians use a single standardized billing format and have no need to hire additional staff to verify patient eligibility, prepare multiple complex billing forms, collect co-payments and deductibles, obtain treatment pre-authorization or dispute treatment denials with insurance companies. Moreover Canadian patients who suffer malpractice have no need to sue for high damage awards to cover future medical expense - they are already guaranteed lifelong coverage under the Canadian Medicare program.