Yes, I realized they paid for it as they weren't Canadian citizens paying into the system.

It would be interesting to know if Alaskans who can get to a Canadian doctor/hospital easier than an American one, still do so.

Wait--I thought people in Canada had to wait in long lines for health care, even if it was an emergency! You mean they have TWO tracks, one for urgent care and one for non-urgent? Uh...isn't that what single-payer advocates who cite the Canadian system have been saying ALL ALONG?

Non-urgent is a relative term, especially if you're waiting a month or more for a possible cancer diagnosis.

Since I've known people in the US who have medical insurance and have waited longer than that just to get their appointment for their tests, your statement makes me no sense to me. I've known people with insurance who have waited 2-5 months for various life-saving procedures right here in the good, old USA.

Of course, if you don't have insurance, this is all moot because you're going to be waiting much longer for that diagnosis in this country, if ever.

And don't even get me started on a recent experience of my FIL where local doctors and hospital staff basically said he was at the end of his life and would probably just die and who, after moving to an out-of-town hospital and actually getting aggressive treatment for the condition is now finally home and doing fine.

I think you sincerely believe that people in this country always get great care with little wait or fuss. Sorry but that's just not accurate.

You speak from personal experience.

My personal experience has been the exact opposite.

The latest being a few months ago when I took my daughter into ER at 6:00 am and by 10:00 am she was in surgery with the top gyn surgeon in the Harbor.

My neighbor went to her doctor with complaints one day, the next she was seeing a specialist, and within a week had begun treatment for cancer. She's now cancer free.

I can recount many instances of outstanding care.

Your experience is foreign to me, as apparently mine is to you.

Thank God your FIL had the option of seeking a second opinion without having to petition permission from a government oversite panel, and was able to choose and obtain the aggressive treatment for his condition.

So can Sarah Palin.

In Canada.

Twice. At age 5 and under. 40 years ago.

Yeah, everything has changed in Canada since she grew up and became a Republican.

Yup. Things change in 40+ years.

You are straining this to a point past being ridiculous.

What father would hesitate to take their child to the nearest accessible hospital when they fear their child's life is in danger?