And the Answer is: 42!

Well, that was Douglas Adams' answer, anyway. The question was: what's the answer to life, the universe and everything? A better question might be: how come so many people think nationalized health care is such a good idea? A common answer is that we'd do away with those eeeevil insurance companies, and that everyone would have access to affordable, competent health care.

Oh, yeah?

Better tell that to our Neighbors to the North©:

"Mark Degasperis was furious his mother spent five days on a stretcher at Toronto Western Hospital waiting for a room with 25 patients ahead of her ... Heather Degasperis, 60, has a dangerous bacterial condition and was sent by her doctor to Toronto Western because it has the experts for her condition."

Yet she spent almost a week without treatment, and was seen by a doc only after the newspaper called and raised a fuss. Still, dangerous waits and provider shortages are rare in the medical utopia, right?

Not so much:

"This is a terrible environment. I suggested taking her to another hospital, but we were told there are long waits across the region and the doctors we need are here."

Ooops!

Too bad Mrs Degasperis didn't know about CoverMe, the health insurance supplement for our Canadian friends:

"Concerned about the many medical expenses you’ll have to start paying for out-of-pocket because of the increasing gaps in your provincial health insurance coverage? ... With four different levels of affordable health insurance coverage to choose from, you’re certain to find the plan that meets your specific needs and budget."

That's right, folks Up North can buy insurance for their, um, insurance. Which begs the question: if nationalized health care is so good (not to mention "free"), how come they still need medical insurance supplements?

Oy Canada!