I would like to respond to Kyle Bateman's Oct. 10 letter regarding health care.

I have lived all my life in countries that have had excellent health care and do not have the tremendous problems and unreasonable financial burdens on individuals that are common in the United States.I was born in Denmark, where at that time they had the best health-care system in the world, and have now lived in Canada for 27 years, with an excellent health-care system.

I have never paid over $350 a year for my health-care fee. I do not pay to go and see a doctor. I do not pay to go the hospital. I do not pay to go to emergency, unless it is in another province than where I live, and then it is only $10.

I have several friends in the United States who have been severely sick and could not afford to see a doctor. I have never experienced that in my life.

I have also seen pregnant American women coming to Canada to have their babies, because even though they have to pay a user fee, it was cheaper for them.

I have seen one friend in the United States who lost his life savings, his house and everything he owned because his wife got Alzheimer's disease.

What kind of freedom is that?

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I am not saying that we do not have a problem in that it has taken a toll on government money. And until now, we have never had to pay user fees. But the United States can learn from the Canadian health-care system and learn from some of the mistakes and create a balance. Whatever you get, it will be better than what you have right now.

When my husband and I wanted to emigrate in 1967, we wanted to move to Utah, but it was the health-care system in the United States that made us choose Canada.

Vibeke Niemann

Vancouver, B.C., Canada

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