Originally Posted by
Abster2core 
For your consideration:
Average in-hospital treatment costs are nearly twice as much in the U.S. ($20,673 U.S. vs. $10,373)
There are 9.9 qualified nurses per 1000 population in Canada as compared to 7.9 nurses per 1000 population in US (so you get a highly personalized care!)
Overall satisfaction with the surgical experience is similar in both countries (85.3% U.S. and 83.5% Canada).
The number of acute care hospital beds in Canada is 3.0 per 1000 population as compared to 2.8 in US
Canadians have lower rates of in-hospital mortality (1.4% Canada vs. 2.2% U.S.).
Administrative costs consume more of the total cost of treatment in the U.S. (38.2% of total costs in the U.S. vs. 31.7% in Canada).
In-hospital cost of coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) in the U.S. is 82.5 % higher in the U.S. than in Canada.
The mortality rate for end-stage renal disease is 47% higher in the U.S. than in Canada. Adjusted monthly costs of treatment are $503 higher in the U.S.
Fifty-seven percent (57%) of U.S. patients have reprocessed dialyzers used on them, compared with 0.0% of Canadian patients.
Compared with the American counterparts, low-income Canadians have a significant survival.
Advantage for 13 of the 15 kinds of cancer studied.
One-year mortality rates following myocardial infarction are virtually identical for both countries (34.3% U.S. vs. 34.4% Canada).
Canada has a higher rate of annual bone marrow transplants (0.89 per 100,000 population vs. 0.81per 100,000 in the U.S.)
Canada has lower mortality rates for patients 65 and older three years after both low-mortality (18.52% U.S. vs. 15.31% Canada) and moderate-mortality (19.19% U.S. vs. 16.63% Canada) procedures.
Survival rate for four disease condition is higher in Canada than in America:
o Colorectal cancer: 113 Canada vs. 108 U.S.
o Childhood leukemia: 118 vs.110
o Kidney transplants 113 vs. 100
o Liver transplants 123 vs. 102
The prescription drugs and medicines are far less expensive in Canada.
As for monopolistic tendencies, Rogers Cable (Toronto) charges $59 CDN for digital TV (including the box and access fee) and you get a choice from a 1,000 movies a month, up to 225 channels, up to 24 timeshifting channels and 16 HD channels. Whereas Time Warner Cable (Buffalo) its $52 US for Basic, Standard, plus 25 Digital Channels.Access up to 250 total channels, Movies on Demand, Free on Demand, Music Choice, and access to 8 High Definition Channels. Basically it appears they are equal and similar price comparisons are evident when you compare wireless and internet services.
As I pointed out before, the pre-launch iPhone outcry about how AT&T and Apple were going to rip us off was enormous. Turns out, much of the noise was for nothing primarily because the iPhone brought with it a need to re-structure the pricing plans due to the more ease of use, reduced support, services and infrastructure required to make it function. I would suggest that Rogers will provide a similar plan for Canada and that it will include unlimited data. It may or may not be priced the same but it will be close. What many haven't taken in consideration, much of the costs Canadians have had to bear building and supporting their wireless, cable and internet was borne by a low Canadian dollar. Now things are changing significantly, particularly in the past few months as their economy strengthens and yes the US weakens.
I can't remember exactly, but when the iTunes Music Store was introduced in Canada, the price per song was 99¢ CDN, however, their dollar was about 85¢US. Canada got a better deal. Sure their selection may be a little smaller and they had to wait much longer, but again (and it was commented here at AI) the pre-launch outcry was the same. Funny how in both cases, i.e., for the post-launch muted commentary for the iPhone and the iTunes (US/Canada), was in such contrast to the pre-launch screaming how "the world's coming to an end," because of the greedy likes of the corporate giants such as Apple and AT&T.
