> Chiming in with the Canadian experience (my Canadian experience), yes, there > are waits in emerg (sometimes four hours or more if you're not a 'real' > emergency). Possible wait times are posted in the waiting room. You come > in, make your best plea to the triage nurse and sit down. But I can't tell > you how much more secure I feel knowing that whatever procedure is > necessary, there will be no charge. My mother has had two brain surgeries > here in Canada. No charge. No charge for x-rays. No charge for > doctor-ordered physio. You have a baby....you just walk out the door with > your baby. You have hip replacement...you just walk out the door with your > new hip. Yes, of course, we pay higher taxes, but I don't really care. I > know I'm not going to lose my house and savings if I get really sick or > senile. That means a lot... I fully concur with Ursula. It really is a safety net. We had a baby last year. We got: Preliminary Doctor's visit -- to diagnose possible pregnancy Pregnancy test (at a lab) Follow-up -- "yes, you are 6 weeks pregnant, here's a gyno's number) Preliminary Gynocologist Visit -- 8 regular followups (+ 1 emergency) 2 Emergency room visits -- once, she fell down stairs, second, she slipped on floor 2 ultrasounds Delivery -- via C-section, all meds, etc. 5 days in hospital - I stayed in her room too, with the baby. All diapers/food etc. total cost to us for entire pregnancy: 12 dollars for parking at hospital I can candidly say that if I had to pay for all of it, I would NEVER have had a child. Not in a million years. paul ------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off, digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html