England & Canada question

[Marigold2]

My friend a retired Dr is very much against Obama's plan for healthcare.
He sent me this, it was part of a larger e-mail.
In England anyone over 59 cannot receive heart repairs or stents or bypass because it is not covered as being too expensive and not needed.
My question is this
1) Is this statement true?
2) Those of you that live in England how would you rate your health care?
3) Those of you that live in Canada how would you rate your health care?
4) And last have either of you in these countries every been on a waiting list and if so for what and how long?
Thanks all, Monica

[phesina]

I have a 5th question:

Those of you in England or Canada, would you trade your health care system for one like ours?

[Nomilynn]

I would NEVER trade our health care system in Canada for what is in the USA! It isn't as bad as it's being made out, in my opinion. I had an elective surgery a couple years ago and I had to wait 4 months to have it done (I think). However, my boyfriend ended up needing emergency surgery on a Saturday a couple years back, and it didn't cost him a cent, other than his medical plan premiums (which his work pays as part of his benefit package).

I am now working at a place that also pays my premiums, and also pays 100% of my extended health, which means that I do not have to pay for any of my diabetic prescriptions.

As far as older people not getting service, I've not heard of that. It's my understanding that every situation is assesed and age is considered when determining treatments. My old co-worker's husband (who is over 60 but I'm not sure of his age) underwent quadruple by-pass surgery last year - it cost him nothing.

If I need to go and see my family doctor, the longest I've had to wait is maybe 2 or 3 days, because he's been on vacation. Usually I call ahead a couple of days because it's my schedule that's limited, not his.

I think it just depends on your situation. I know someone here who elected to have knee surgery (and paid for it out of pocket - $500) because she was in a lot of pain and would have had to wait 3 months. However, emergencies are not affected.

[Laura's Babies]

I have been wondering what they have to say about it too.

In England anyone over 59 cannot receive heart repairs or stents or bypass because it is not covered as being too expensive and not needed

That sounds exactly like what the people against the new health care program are saying will happen here.. I am still investigating the pro's and con's of it before I decide but so far, I have found a lot more against it and very little is being said to rebuff things like that being said.... THAT is what worries me! NO ONE is guaranteeing us things like that won't happen here. I find the bill (what I have read of it) is extremely vague and could go either way, depending on who reads it and how they interpret it..

I would love to hear from the people here who have that already.

I would like to ask them also, what does it cost them per year?

[Prairie Purrs]

Here's an article refuting that email, with footnotes listing the sources relied upon in the article:

http://www.factcheck.org/askfactchec...lder_than.html

[caseysmom]

I have 7,000,000 in an account waiting for you, just send me $5000 and that 7,000,000 can be released....must be true its an email!

[Laura's Babies]

Prairie Purrs- I didn't get that email.. I saved that one to read later and the rebuff that is with it. Thanks..

[blue]

phesina should have started a new thread for her question. The first reply is way to early for a thread highjack.

Im not suprised to see the Annenberg Foundation backing up Obama's push for HCR. Im also not suprised that their sources for their rebultle only go back to 2008.

In all my years of being uninsured I, like our Canadian and English friends, have never been denied health care. Unlike our Canadian and English friends, I paid for it myself.

My friend broke his leg skiing in BC, he had to take a taxi from MT Whistler to the nearest hospital and that was the first of his dislike for the way BC aplies their health care.

My stepdad was born and raised in BC and has nothing good to say about the health care system there.

I know in Canada HC differs from province to province so maybe Sparks will chime in with her experience.

[DarntheCat]

I, having lived in the most (Advanced) Socialist country I know of, Germany, and some of the worst. I can say that IMHO Sociallized medicine is a good thing. There are positives and negatives to everything, to say that the average person will receive care the same as a Congressman or Senator is ridiculous in the extreme, however, not one time did I see an Emergency Room Administrator ask for Insurance Paperwork. Imeadiate care was the priority, even there you could seek out a Private Physician if you were disatisfied with the level of care that you were receiving from the Subsidized Health Care Provider. The down side was that the quality of care was not as high as I am used to, but it did seem the more serious the illness or injury the better the care.

[Louie and me]

My husband had a heart attack at age 45, followed by quadruple bypass surgery. At age 52 he required both hips be replaced and at age 58 and again at 61 he required angioplasti with stents because of continuing CAD. He is also diabetic. We in Ontario Canada are covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan and all of these procedures were covered by the plan with no cost to us. We are required to pay for drugs however fortunately we have an extended health plan from my former work that covers 80% of the cost and now that I am over 65, OHIP covers all the cost for my drugs also. I cannot imagine what our life would have been like without OHIP but I suspect my husband would not have survived.
There are indeed sometimes wait times for elective surgeries (we have never experienced any) but I have never heard of anyone having to wait for life saving or emergency surgery.

[ChrisH]

In England anyone over 59 cannot receive heart repairs or stents or bypass because it is not covered as being too expensive and not needed.

I presume when you write England you mean the whole of UK/British Isles, which consists of Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England?

A simple answer to the question/statement. It is totally untrue. There is no cut off point where age is concerned.

[Laura's Babies]

This is what I had been hoping for! Positive answers about it instread of all the negative ones that are out there and to get them from the ones who have experienced it! THAT means a LOT! THANKS from me!

[Nomilynn]

Unlike our Canadian and English friends, I paid for it myself.

I do pay for my health care. It costs $54 a month, which is fortunately paid for by my employer (which has never happened for me before; I've always had to pay for it on my own before ) and I am completely covered for anything I need. Then, my extended health is also paid for by my employer. However, at my previous job, it was not - it was decucted of my paycheque every pay and I got a good rate through a group plan.

To say that we "don't pay" is actually incorrect. We do pay - but rather than having to may crazy amounts when an emergency happens, we pay a small amount all the time in order to be able to utilize the health care system when need be.

[kitten645]

I agree that it's nice to have a rational discussion. I generally immediately delete these types of emails because what irratates me more than anything is scare tactics. That's all that email is. Bravo to you for actually checking FACTS! I'm still sorting thru the information myself. I do think our system currently stinks. I also thing there is no perfect solution but things could certainly be improved. I was paying nearly $500 a month to be on Cobra when I lost my job a while back. THAT didn't last long. To justify $500 I'd have to move into the hospital! I think insurance companies and some doctors have been riding the gravy train too long and that they need to be held accountable.
Claudia

[blue]

I do pay for my health care. It costs $54 a month, which is fortunately paid for by my employer (which has never happened for me before; I've always had to pay for it on my own before ) and I am completely covered for anything I need. Then, my extended health is also paid for by my employer. However, at my previous job, it was not - it was decucted of my paycheque every pay and I got a good rate through a group plan.

To say that we "don't pay" is actually incorrect. We do pay - but rather than having to may crazy amounts when an emergency happens, we pay a small amount all the time in order to be able to utilize the health care system when need be.

Yes you did/do pay/paid for it. If your employer pays your premiums that is just like it being deducted from your pay check.

When I say I paid for it, I mean I paid for it out of my money because I have no insurance. I dont want .GOV deciding my insurance coverage. If I choose to work for a company that offers insurance benefits that is my and the companies business, not .GOV's.

I get more money per hour without health care premiums because the company isnt paying them and they arent being taken out of my paycheck.

When I worked in the warehouse, the insurance was a good deal and I took it. when I worked as an electritian it wasnt so I didnt have insurance.

So if its deducted or taxed, in your case its the same thing, you do pay for it. You also pay for allmost everybody elses.