Canada - medical care

[crow_noir]

Yes, thank you for insight on what really goes on.

S.O. and i were talking about this not too long ago. (We do every so often and now and then a new idea arises.)

We were thinking What IF the U.S. were to instate Universal Health Care. How would we stay out of the trouble that CAN is in? ...Why not have an inexpensive co-pay. Have three income brackets. Have it be something like a Doctor's visit be $5/$10/or $15. By having these small co-pays on everything then even though everyone is paying a percentage of their income for UHC, then the people using the services are still paying for it, while those not using it aren't too burdened.

(more expensive procedures would have more expensive co-pays of course, but you wouldn't have to pay for the whole thing either. $10,000 procedure $1000/$3000/$5000 co-pay.)

*shrug* ...it was just something we had tossed around.

[wombat2u2004]

Yes, thank you for insight on what really goes on.

S.O. and i were talking about this not too long ago. (We do every so often and now and then a new idea arises.)

We were thinking What IF the U.S. were to instate Universal Health Care. How would we stay out of the trouble that CAN is in? ...Why not have an inexpensive co-pay. Have three income brackets. Have it be something like a Doctor's visit be $5/$10/or $15. By having these small co-pays on everything then even though everyone is paying a percentage of their income for UHC, then the people using the services are still paying for it, while those not using it aren't too burdened.

(more expensive procedures would have more expensive co-pays of course, but you wouldn't have to pay for the whole thing either. $10,000 procedure $1000/$3000/$5000 co-pay.)

*shrug* ...it was just something we had tossed around.

Thats what happens here in Australia....we have a medicare system that is set up, where you pay a percentage of your tax into it (everyone pays the same percentage.) Medicare pays the doctors a fee for each session less a gap which is paid for by the patient.
The last time I seen a specialist ( a few weeks ago)...the cost was $320, of which I got back $250.....so it cost me actually $70.
Wom

[Lilith Cherry]

Marigold, I live in Ontario and our prescription medicines here are NOT covered. I have a serious heart condition ( ventricular tachycardia) and am also insulin dependent diabetic. The medicines I am supposed to take for this far exceed my ability to pay for them if I am to pay for living expenses such as rent, electricity, heating, groceries etc ; I often have to make the choice between medicine or other bills. Canada has many problems with its so-called free healthcare. I also have many decayed teeth with lost and loose filling I cannot afford to replace and spectacles held together with superglue that I hope will stay intact. Free healthcare?!

[Glacier]

We don't pay user fees or premiums in the Yukon. Prescriptions are not covered, except in the case of chronic diseases...diabetics, asthma, cancer, lupus, people in wheelchairs for any reason ect are covered fully, including prescriptions. I have a very good benefit plan through my work so prescriptions are quite cheap for me and Stuart(he's covered under my plan).

Being in the midst of a health crisis myself, I will attest that the system has some problems, but every time I go for another appointment, test or see a specialist, I am extraordinarily grateful to live in a country where I have access to very good care, without having to worry about the cost of the care I need, without having to worry about feeding my dogs or loosing my house.

I won't drive to Alaska for the day without taking out insurance. Breaking my ankle on the wooden sidewalks in Skagway could potentially cost me everything I have and then some.

[wombat2u2004]

I won't drive to Alaska for the day without taking out insurance. Breaking my ankle on the wooden sidewalks in Skagway could potentially cost me everything I have and then some.

And how much time and effort would go into repairing your broken ankle compared to the time and effort that you and hubby have done to get all you own ?????
It's a little bit on the disgusting side....isn't it ????? Things just DO NOT add up !!!!!
Wom

[Marigold2]

Dear Cherry,

I am so sorry to hear of your illness. My heart truly goes out to you. I did not realize that people in Canada have to pay for their meds.
No system is perfect, yet universal health coverage in Canada is still better then what we have here.
One of the problems I feel we have is that 1/3 of all babies born in US are now born with Medicaid covering them.
This is a huge drain on the system. There are people who truly need free medical care, veterns, the elderly, handicap....... They deserve this care and should recieve it, along with enough money to live a dignified life, not on the edge of poverty.
People who can't afford a baby shouldn't have one, Medicaid should encourage birth control. I would rather see birth control pills given out for free then Vigrara. If you are on Medicaid and can't take care of yourself you should not bring another mouth in this world to feed. Let that money go to those that truly need it. No one should have to live in proverty, having another child when you can't afford to take care of yourself just adds on to the problem.

Marigold, I live in Ontario and our prescription medicines here are NOT covered. I have a serious heart condition ( ventricular tachycardia) and am also insulin dependent diabetic. The medicines I am supposed to take for this far exceed my ability to pay for them if I am to pay for living expenses such as rent, electricity, heating, groceries etc ; I often have to make the choice between medicine or other bills. Canada has many problems with its so-called free healthcare. I also have many decayed teeth with lost and loose filling I cannot afford to replace and spectacles held together with superglue that I hope will stay intact. Free healthcare?!

[Blue_Frog]

<another long post from me >

Heres an example of some recent events (in the last couple mos.) dealing with visits to doctors etc. and what was covered --

- I had to go to the eye doctor for a checkup. This isn't covered by the gov't, so i paid my $100. I had to submit to personal insurance (through work) to get 90% back. I didn't need glasses or any other work, or that would still have been out of pocket. My ins. at work covers $250 every 2 years for glasses, and i dont think that would cover the entire thing if i needed them.

- I went to the dentist for a checkup. This isn't covered by the gov't, so i paid my $145, and submitted to personal insurance to get back 90%. My ins. covers up to 1K a year, but no braces, cosmetic work, etc. and only 50% for bridges or denture work. So, if i fell down, smashed out my teeth, i'd have to pay for anything out of pocket over 1K.

- I went to the walk-in clinic, waited for 4 hours on my 'lunch break' for work, but it was covered by the gov't - paid nothing. Went home and went to bed

- I got a perscription for some antibiotics to fight a kidney infection (was down for a couple weeks). My work insurance covered the meds, but I had to pay the fee at the drug store for each med I was on (multiple @ $6 each) -- but much better than the original drug price tag!

- Last summer, I went to the hospital when I took a line drive directly back into my shin while pitching in softball. I couldn't walk on it for a week, and until my foot started turning green and purple (turns out it was the bruise dropping into my foot) did I go for x-rays. I went late in the evening (about 11pm), and on a Thurs. nite (sometiems timing these things for off-peak hours helps!) -- I waited for 6 hours -but- the doctor check and the x-rays were all covered by OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan).


So, things that aren't covered by the Gov't -- Eye Doctors, Chiro, Physio, Dentists, and a few other things (i'd have to look up more)

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/.../services.html


...

But on the downside, healthcare = TAXES for the most part

http://www.settlement.org/sys/link_r...doc_id=1004263

For anyone interested in how much we lose from our pays up here -- I'm paying basically 30% of my salary every 2 weeks to 'deductions' -- 25% of which is taxes. The remainder goes to Canada Pension, Employment Insurance. About 2% of my deductions go to my own personal insurance, and LTD. Thats a lot of Ikea shopping trips

Then, we get to have more taxes. I go buy anything, and i'm paying 14% on top of the fact that i've already lost a chunk of money to the government before i even see my pay. So, thats $14 for every $100 i spend. Now, some things are exempt (like bread, milk, etc. - what are deemed 'necessary' items by the govt). But, theres also a tax grab on the gas before we pump, and then once we pay. So, (1 US gallon = 3.7854118 litres) I guess thats why we're paying about the equivalent of $3.94 a gallon -- and thats not even terrible considering the price in Quebec or BC.

tax, tax, tax -- and free isn't necessairly free. However, I'd much rather be paying that, then break my leg and lose my house because i can't pay the doctors. Or not be able to eat so that I could get to see a doctor.

[Catty1]

Lilith - my goodness...do you not qualify for disability income, or at least coverage for medications?

That just SUCKS!

[cali]

wait times suck, yes. but as someone who is EXTREMLY low income I will take our system over the US any day. I like that if I am sick, I can go to the doctor, I dont have to make sure I have money first. all aspects of healthcare are not covered though, dentist and optomotrist appointments have to be paid for up front if you dont have coverage. even though my eyes were clouding over, and I was loosing focas etc.. I had to wait till I got my next paycheck, pay all my bills, then hope I had enugh to get my eyes checked out, and still eat. I could not imagine if I had to go through that for ALL health care.

Perscriptions depend on the people. we have Government plan for seniors($15 cap for covered meds) otherwise there are loads of differnt plans you can choose from. I personally am not covered at all, however because I work in a pharmacy, perscriptions for me and my family are at cost with no dispensing fee.