Americanization of health care in Canada

That's a story I've heard all too often, Suzique. People driven into bankruptcy, people paying off bills for the rest of their lives. It's terrible.

okay I just sent out $600 to my health insurer
by - Michael 1 hour ago (Wed Dec 28 2005 10:16:40 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse

UPDATED Wed Dec 28 2005 10:17:10

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My bill went up to six hundred a month as of Jan 1, 2006.
The country is run by the insurance companies.
In May I think I'll be eligible for medicare as I have been getting SSD since May 2004.

What happens to Automobile accident people? These same insuance companies are now saying "we can't be held responsible for Medical costs, we will go broke1"

All Private insurance is an industry of denial; strict limitations. Computers sciences are producing locations in the country where incident of one ailment or another is prevelant. No coverage here!

The Calgary Health Authority is now writing up a list of items not covered under Alberta Health Care. Much of the coverage we now enjoy will be gone! In it's place, a recomendation to go to private health for the cure.

Canadians pay the price either way, we are the capita in the "per capita", but we are being told that we can't afford the less expensive option so must adopt the more expensive option.

I had no idea that health insurance premiums in the United States cost that much. My family is, let's say "low income" at the moment; if that were the case in Canada, then quite simply, we wouldn't have any health insurance. I far prefer Canada's universal health care system.

Well, $325 to me sounds like a lot, considering right now I pay $0. By way of comparison, it's a bit high. lol

That is not an accurate statement Summer, the work hours or being unemployed have nothing to do with your health coverage, it is entirely based on income.

I've been there, I've done that, I know plenty of other people in the same boat, and I know what I'm talking about.

Quote: Originally Posted by Summer

I've been there, I've done that, I know plenty of other people in the same boat, and I know what I'm talking about.

And I've been there and done that also, and I know what I am talking about. Perhaps Ohio should catch up to New York then in that area?

I exhasted them all, ITN. Perhaps you should explain what avenue you had open to you and how you availed yourself of it, instead.

I will outline for you the following examples, two of them my own at different times and places:

Person A, working a combined total of 45-50 hours a week at two part-time jobs, getting insurance at neither, making too much for any governmental insurance program, yet earning too little to afford private insurance.

Person B, in same basic situation as Person A, only with the addition of a prior health problem that pushed the insurance rates even higher and thus even further out of reach - but for whom no government-sponsored program existed.

Person C, same boat again as Person A, only with a minor child as well. There was coverage available for the child, but not for her, and her ex-husband was a dead-beat dad who'd totally disappeared and paid none of his court-ordered child support.

Person D, employed by a company that did not offer health insurance benefits (was in a niche that did not require them to provide it) and making just enough to not qualify for any gov't. health program but not quite enough to afford private health coverage.

Person E, supporting herself and her unemployed parents on a job that kept her schedule just two hours shy of the 40 per week level at which the company would have been required to provide health coverage. The household income was (her paycheck and her parent's unemployment checks) too high for anyone to qualify for gov't. health coverage, but again there was not quite enough money for private coverage. COBRA coverage from her father's old job (her mom had not received coverage from her employer) cost more per month than the family income, and would not have covered the employed daughter in any case as she was over 19 and not a full-time student anywhere.

Person F, unemployed, unable to afford COBRA, but ineligible for any gov't. health program because of past income history being too high.

It happens every day.

This is where I lose you and I asked for more details, details meaning figures, not names of people.

I currently know someone with a family of 4 earns around $40,000 a year, costs him $350 a month for himself and wife and his kids cost him I think $15 a month each or thereabouts.

My situation put me in a bracket under poverty lines years ago, but I assume you speak of middle class such as the example above?

I don't doubt people are uninsured because they can't afford it, however a great many others simply don't make it a priority, but I suspect you know that already.

Bottom line in my opinion you simply cannot compare Canadian health care system with the US, they are vastly different in nature.

I really don't see a difference in the care provided to my US or Canadian patients, so I think the systems are comparable. It's just the funding that's different.

My insurance plan is only about $80 a month (changed in January). I'm young, healthy, single with no dependents and have no pre-existing conditions. The coverage has a high deductible ($3500 a year) and sort of spotty coverage (no coverage for meds, pregnancy, etc), but at least if I'm in a car accident I won't be left with hundreds of thousands of bills. Health insurance doesn't have to be excessively expensive if all you want is bare bone coverage.