Point of Law quotes an insurance VP as suggesting that universal health care will result in lower jury verdicts.  I'm not sure if I buy that, but it would absolutely result in fewer lawsuits.  Recall that Stella Liebeck's famous suit against McDonald's occurred because the company wouldn't pay her medical bills.

* Canadians, unlike U.S. citizens, have universal health care and are thus less likely to be ruined by medical claims (and are therefore less likely to have to sue to recover their medical costs);

PointofLaw.com | PointOfLaw Forum: Prediction: Canada won't see U.S.-style excesses

I have another suggestion as to why Canada (or other countries) won't see U.S.-style "excesses" no matter what happens to their tort systems: Other countries don't promote the worship of money quite like ours does.