I read a site that led me to an article on Hilary Clinton's Healthcare plan...

" How much would it cost taxpayers? Clinton's price tag is $110 billion a year, but analysts say her plan will cost a lot more than that. A similar plan offered by Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry in his 2004 presidential campaign would have cost about $1.5 trillion over 10 years at a minimum."

Healthcare Night

This is a staggering amount. And I do wonder how it would be paid for.

Does anyone have figures for Canada's national healthcare costs? How is it handled to where it doesn't bankrupt the country?

How much does the existing health care system cost the taxpayer?  How much does it cost employers? Employees?  How much does an individual pay for self paid insurance?  The premiums paid  to insurance companies must be staggering.....otherwise, how could they finance their huge buildings and CEO salaries. In a perfect world every citizen in the U.S. would have access to the same health care  as our senators and legislators. 
Patrink

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_Canada

www.medhunters.com/articles/healthcareInCanada.html -

www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hcs-sss/medi-assur/index_e.html

Here are some google results from entering canada healthcare.  long versions, govt website, short and sweet etc.  Remember we all pay the same into the system.  And there is no mixed formats. All hospitals etc are under the same banner.  Think of it like public schools, library etc all run and funded by the same source.

 "In a perfect world every citizen in the U.S. would have access to the same health care  as our senators and legislators. "

I agree and a system would also work perfectly. It's the fact that we are in a real world that worries me.

I did find this from National Coalition on Healthcare about costs for insurance.  

I found this on U.S. healthcare as well. 

 My Family's Interests,

Thank you for sharing that. I haven't read through it all but it has a lot of info it seems.  

Happy to help! Actually I couldn't tell you much about the system except about my experience using it lol! We don't even see a bill because is it paid though DH work.

 That brings up another question. If employer's are required to pay for some or all of an employee's healthcare, how will that effect small businesses that can not afford to offer this?

Employers don't have to pay medical. If they do, it is a benefit, like life insurance,tuition,  If they do it is with extended medical which covers prescriptions, dental, eye glasses etc. Usually if there is a cost, it comes off the employee's paycheque. For example, if medical and extended medical came to $150 a month and the employer paid $100 and the employee paid $50.00. Until about 12 some odd years ago there wasn't extended medical care plans for small businesses under 10 employees even if they wanted them. Now there is, plus a person can buy personal extended medical if they want and the rates are way cheaper it seems then the US. Most extended medical plans are the same. I pasted the link plus the costs of medical in BC where I lived.  Of course  most small businesses don't have medical benefits, mostly bigger companies, unions etc. But as you see our rates are not that high it seems compared to what I have seen in this forum and others.  If your employer doesn't pay it, you must sign up and a bill is sent to you each month just like cable etc. The basic monthly rate has gone up since I have paid it (was $36 per mth) but the family rate is $108.00 which covers just about everything you need for medical.

http://www.pac.bluecross.ca/individual/blue_choice/BCRateCalc.html

http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/infoben/premium.html

One of the suggestions for U.S. healthcare is to make it mandatory for companies to pay for insurance for their employees.

That is very hard on small businesses. plus what if you don't work or self employed or under your husbands program? Not to put a bad spin on it but if you need to leave or don't want him around but have to have him in your life because you need his medical insurance for the kids or if he refuses etc. those situations happen.

 I think it only works when everyone is covered by the same source. No one falls though the cracks or can be denyed.  If the employer offers it as a benefit,great and pretty much most larger (15 or more employees)  companies do because it is expected and to keep employees.