The "socialism" concept arises out of the idea of the government "controlling" the healthcare, and when people really don't trust the government... Well, you see the problem.
For those who don't know, in Canada, Healthcare is administered on a Provincial level. In BC, for example, people pay a monthly fee for basic healthcare coverage, and this fee is on a sliding scale, based on income. Lower income people pay lower rates, and financial assistance is available. In addition to BC Medical, my company also provides extended medical, which means I also get dental, physio, etc. which wouldn't be provided for free under the provincial coverage. However, this means that any Canadian can walk into a hospital and get treatment without the fear of receiving a bill later on. There are some exceptions, but they're minor- I once had to pay $45 for calling an ambulance to come take me to the hospital. If you were in an accident and the ambulance came to you automatically, however- no charge. And I'd say paying $45 is small potatoes compared to some of the bills I've heard of coming out of the States. And most of the people I know buy travel insurance before they head over to the US, even if it's only for a short jaunt. The idea of having to pay thousands and thousands of dollars for care we would get basically for free in Canada is a foreign concept to us. (BC Medical is not that expensive)