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Comment by refurb | Hacker News Reader

Uh, does "I can get whatever care I need, whenever I need it, for free" work for you?

As a Canadian, I can agree with the "free" part, but not the other two. There are things that aren't covered and if you're not dying, the wait can be long.

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Would rather wait for my surgery than pay six figures for it

Sounds like you've never had any life-threatening medical problems.

Which are not electives are they

This trope is getting old. Wait times are long for things like hip and knee replacements. Barring a global pandemic, you are getting in ASAP if you are in critical condition. There are without a doubt cases that slip through the cracks, and everyone agrees, especially healthcare workers, that more can be done there. People are not dying in waiting rooms because they weren't seen in time after a stroke, that's a myth.

Bennett was referred for surgery on her right hip in November of 2013 and said she’s been told she won’t get in until early in 2016. She said her joint has deteriorated so much she is unable to work or even function without strong narcotic painkillers.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/patients-liv...

Something weird is up in that case

> Across the country, 76 per cent of patients received a hip replacement in 2017 within the recommended six-month wait time, down from 81 per cent in 2015.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/hip-knee-replacement-wait-tim...

I think a lot of the waits are very location driven.

I do agree it's an extraordinary case.

This conversation got lost somewhere between "IF you're not dying" and "life-threatening medical problems"

What are examples of medically necessary procedures (i.e. not elective plastic surgery or elective botox) that aren't covered?

I'd argue that "when I need it" is true, for non urgent matters that might not be when I want it. Personally I've had good experiences on the when I want it side too, but I know that does vary a fair bit.

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