Looks like thousands are involved in this conspiracy.
In the first 7 months of this year 17,500 Canadians have come to the U.S. to receive health care.
We are seeing record numbers as Canada's health crisis intensifies.
Insidetoronto.com
Cross-border Care, a Three-part series
Nov 28, 2009
This is Unasource — a private day surgery centre in Troy, Mich. It’s only 40 kilometres from the Canadian border, but it’s a world away from any surgery facility north of the 49th.
“There’s a calming effect when you walk into Unasource,” said Michael Kuhn of Windsor, who made the trip to Michigan in 2007 to repair a torn tendon in his shoulder. “It’s just an absolutely pristine facility.”
Kuhn is one of many Canadian patients who found his way to the U.S. for care — a growing group that is fast feeding an industry that emerged in the last decade to help thousands of Canadians find help across the border.
As for just how many are going, it’s difficult to say. OHIP paid for 12,000 cases to be treated, diagnosed or tested in American hospitals and clinics last year. But those are only the patients from Ontario who qualified for OHIP pre-approval for a medical ticket south.
“For every one of those, there’s probably 10 who say, ‘I can’t wait,’” said Rick Baker of Timely Medical Alternatives, a B.C.-based medical brokerage, a type of business that’s sprung up to fill the gap as wait times put added strain on patients.
Three-Part series
"Record numbers of Ontarians are being sent to the U.S. by their government for routine health care that should be available at home.
A Metroland Special Report shows thousands of others are funding their own medical treatments south of the border, at high personal cost.
The numbers have been rising for the last 10 years. Government approvals for out-of-country health care funding are up 450 per cent.
Should Ontarians have to use a passport to get health care?"
Edited by Rogerdodger, 20 December 2009 - 02:53 AM.
