American vs. Canadian Healthcare: An Honest Comparison

By Ian Welsman

Current Events Journalist

The world seemed captivated by the assassination of a wealthy CEO, whose name was largely unfamiliar prior to the incident.  The murder of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was believed to be acceptable by 41% of American young adults [1].  But why? And what does this have to do with Canada?

Canadian healthcare is known for being “free”, as citizens pay provincially-regulated taxes for their healthcare. While the USA does have basic public healthcare subsidy programs in Medicare and Medicaid, a majority of Americans rely on private insurance companies instead.  However, these companies are allowed to deny requests for coverage, leaving people with sudden, unexpected bills in the thousands of dollars.  So when the CEO of such a company was assassinated, civilians had mixed reactions. 

The incident has left people wondering when the wealthiest country in the world pays for its citizens to receive healthcare.  Even often dismissed third-world countries such as Ghana and Botswana have implemented universal healthcare practices successfully.  What prevents the United States from doing the same?

A commonly cited criticism against universal health is the long wait times present in countries with universal health care. However, critics fail to recognize that many low-income citizens of America choose to skip going to the hospital to avoid paying large costs.  While Canadian patients may experience longer wait times, low-income people are not forced to avoid getting treatment for serious issues.  

Defenders of the American healthcare model also argue people pay more money over time through taxes than if they paid upfront. While this can be true for some, taxes are based on a percentage of income, as a billionaire and a minimum wage worker both paying 100$ for a service takes vastly different tolls on their wallets.  Though not without flaws, Canada’s taxation system attempts to adjust for income, relieving some strain on low-income Canadians. Thus, defenders of the universal model argue that the Canadian system is more equitable for all.  

Regardless of the nuanced disadvantages of either system, one thing is clear: people are desperate for change.  Unfortunately, it took an assassination for many to recognize this problem.

[1] https://www.axios.com/2024/12/17/united-healthcare-ceo-killing-poll