EPI: High Quality Health Care in Canada at Half the U.S. Cost

People who oppose true health care reform in the United States like to claim that Canada's national care system is a disaster for patients. That's a myth, says the Economic Policy Institute in its weekly economic snapshot.

Not only are per capita health costs in the United States nearly double Canada's, the infant death rate is higher here and life expectancy at birth is lower. And, EPI says Canadians consult with doctors far more than Americans do – an average of 6 annual visits versus 3.8 in the United States.

U.S. costs have skyrocketed since 1993, when the Clinton administration tackled health care reform. While Canada's expenditures rose about 65 percent between 1993 and 2005, U.S. expenditures soared by more than 90 percent. Today, the per capita costs are $3,359 in Canada and $6,401 in the United States.

"The United States rejected any positive lessons from the Canadian single-payer model in 1993, and we are living with the results of that decision today," EPI said.