Except having a single-payer system doesn't mean you'll have a panel of disinterested experts evaluating the cost/benefit of a given treatment. This isn't speculation, either. I've experienced the results of a "panel" going against the consensus of experts. It's the reason we left Quebec to come to the US, as at the time (2011) Quebec's policy for children with Autism was horrific. It hasn't changed.
Basically, they didn't believe that early intervention was a priority. You can search for Autism problems in Quebec, specifically Montreal, and read lots of stories regarding that.
As for moving to the US, two reasons. 1) Wait times in other provinces were much longer than we wanted to wait. Even going the private route in Quebec would have mean a year and a half (that was on top of the year we had already been waiting). In the PA, we got more help for my son's Autism in the first 2 weeks than we had the entire time up in Quebec. 2) I'm American, and because of that, my sons are also American.
Note, I don't pretend that this means the US health care system as a whole is better, or that Canadian health care is worse. However, my experience with a child with Autism in Quebec is not unusual, and my recommendation to parents with Autistic children in Quebec is to leave.
Thanks for your reply, that's very informative. I'm Canadian (BC) and like to keep an eye on the health care system as my parents are aging and I'm looking to have kids soon.
Glad to hear you found treatment for your son, and best wishes for the future.
