Its a myth perpetuated by the "industry" that people from all over the world come to America for health care (perhaps Kings, Queens and the like, cuz they can afford it) when in fact, many Americans are actually going to places like Singapore and India for heart surgeries (an acquaintance from our area had heart surgery in Thailand two years ago for 1/10Th the cost, including travel!!) and other major procedures that would've put them into bankruptcy if performed right here in the US.
Americans are still forced to buy many medications from Mexico (oh boy) or Canada because we refuse to take obscene profits out of the equation.
We've got several Canadian friends and NONE (as yet) wants to come here for medical care despite all the rhetoric. When they do come for visits, they make sure they are carrying some travel health Insurance. The biggest nightmare being that they might get sick or hurt while traveling the US and go home owing tens of thousands of dollars.
On the other hand, when I got sick and was hospitalized for three days in Canada a few years ago, my bill was under a thousand dollars and they gave me up to two years to pay it back with NO INTEREST or penalty added (and not ONE nasty phone call or letter). And I was treated like a King.
I don't know how we got on this topic (it wasn't me), but MY OPINION is that profiting off sick people should be illegal, like it is in MOST 'developed' Countries and the sooner we get there the better off we'll all be. Let the health care profiteers get real jobs in....health care, they already know the lingo :-D They can go from making obscene profit (by denying health care) to helping people instead, what a concept 8-)
Right now, unless you're a small business, 1.45% of your income goes to medicare (surprise, no wonder its in trouble), doubled if you own a business. I've been saying for years, that I'd gladly pay double or triple that to have medicare for EVERYONE, how bout you?? That sentiment scares the profiteers more than anything, ya know?
Fortunately (or not, depending on individual perspective) for me, as a disabled veteran, my medical needs will be taken care of (I think that's called socialism ;) an accepted practice for some, so far). But I'd give up VA health care in a heartbeat, in exchange for medicare for everyone :), but that's just me.
Talk about opening a can of worms, who started this????
thomas