In this story, several Canadian residents are suing the province of Alberta for the right to purchase private health insurance.  The Alberta resident who was interviewed in the story, explain that due to the prolonged wait times for medical treatment in his home country – he would like the right to pursue treatment in other countries.

One of the claimants explained that after being told that he would have to wait FIVE years for back surgery for debilitating back pain, he went to the United States for treatment.  On his return, his Canadian government refused to reimburse him for his medical treatment, stating that the treatment was available in Canada.

(BTW: the American price tag for surgery: $77,000)

Just another reason many North Americans are looking South for care.