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The US has the best doctors and the best medical technology in the world. If you have money to pay for the procedure, you can have access to anything you want.
But if you don't, then you are at the mercy of your insurance company. They're only job is to maximize their profit by denying all or part of your claim for any excuse possible. Maybe if they were not-for-profit it would be better. And the same with hospitals. Unfortunately, health care in the US does not put the patient first.
Here in Canada we are okay. In fact, many Americans come to Canada to get health care for free (doctors won't refuse treatment even if they aren't getting paid).
I don't deny that Canadians are going to the US to get some procedures done and paying out-of-pocket. I also don't deny that in some parts of the country, the hospital sends some patients to the US to get procedures done because they can't handle it. The province ends up paying for the entire cost.
If you need urgent care, you will get it. If you go to a walk-in-clinic, you will wait 45 minutes because there are 20 other people with a cold waiting to see the same doctor. They will see you right away if you burned your hand, etc. Same with a hospital emergency room.
If you need emergency surgery you will get it right away. If your surgery isn't an emergency but you are in pain or it is interfering with your life (like you need a cane), then you may wait a week or two. If you need a hip replacement you will wait 2 months. But they are working on reducing the wait times with some new programs that balance the load.
Health care isn't free. It is covered by taxes + a health premium of $400 per year (paid to the government). Unless you can't afford it or are a senior, then it is free. And if you don't pay it, they won't really care. And they actually got rid of the premium starting this year because it's way easier than spending money to collect the premium and running the assistance programs.
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