| Hello John, There has been a lot of talk recently about trade with Canada. And while many Canadian products help make life better for Americans, there are some things in Canada that we definitely don’t want to import, particularly its health care system. As you probably know, Canadian health care is government-run with all the attendant problems endemic to those types of systems: - Long wait times
- Lack of access (particularly in rural areas)
- High costs
- Limited coverage
Here’s one example: Once referred by a primary care physician, the median length of time to see a specialist in Canada is about six months. In the U.S.? A little over five weeks. Canadian health care is expensive: Health care costs account for nearly a quarter of all government spending in Canada. Are people in Canada satisfied with what they get for their money? No, and the numbers confirm this. Fewer than half (48%) are satisfied with their provincial health care system. A majority (52%) would like more access to private health care options, while 42% said they would go to the U.S. and pay out-of-pocket for routine health care. Even with all that, there are still those in Washington pushing a Canadian-style government takeover of the U.S. health care system — despite polls showing that Americans do not want the government running all of health care. We’re not saying the U.S. health care system is perfect. It’s not. It’s got lots of problems. It’s too expensive, complex, and frustrating. But it doesn’t have to be. We’re committed to making health care affordable, hassle-free, and transparent — with a Personal Option. A Personal Option is the polar opposite (since we’re talking Canada, would that make it the north polar opposite?) of government-run health care. The Personal Option is based on two simple concepts: - Americans need more choice and control over their own health care.
- We should fund patients, not the bloated health care system.
A Personal Option is customized health care to fit your individual needs. You want a tax-free health savings account you can keep no matter if you change jobs? OK. You want direct primary care with no insurance company middleman? Have at it. You want to keep your plan at work? No problem. That’s the essence of the Personal Option — you’re in charge. No more government and insurance company bureaucrats bossing you around, telling you what doctors you can see or handing you a lengthy questionnaire every time you walk in a doctor’s office. Just more time with your doctor focused on making you well. There are many great things about Canada, including the people, the hockey, their maple syrup, and their beer. But not their health care system. If you want to join the movement for a Personal Option, here’s how. | 
