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A True Tale of Canadian Health Care

Reason.tv: Why some patients need to go to the U.S. for surgery

Many proponents of overhauling the current U.S. health care system are advocates of a Canadian-style, state-run, no-opt-out, single-payer system. While the status quo leaves much to be desired, champions of Canadian health care should meet Cheryl Baxter, a Canadian citizen who waited years for hip-replacement surgery, only to be told that her operation would not happen any time soon. Instead of waiting, Baxter did what an increasing number of Canadians are doing: She flew to a clinic in the United States, paid out of pocket, and had a life-altering surgery in a matter of weeks rather than years.