<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.
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