Alberta Health Care – Some not so apparent facts

[gerryh]

BC charges premiums also, at least they did 10 years ago when I lived there.

I didn't say only I said only for a long time. Two or even three isn't a bad average for 10 provinces!

What it is showing is the misinformation you are spewing. Both Ontario and BC have charged premiums for ages. Alberta was not alone as you implied, actually, as you stated. You can now twist and turn all you want but it will not change the fact that this was misinformation on your part. The first "chink" in your fairy tale story. As we proceed, more cracks and crevices will form.

 

[cyberclark]

BC charges premiums also, at least they did 10 years ago when I lived there.



What it is showing is the misinformation you are spewing. Both Ontario and BC have charged premiums for ages. Alberta was not alone as you implied, actually, as you stated. You can now twist and turn all you want but it will not change the fact that this was misinformation on your part. The first "chink" in your fairy tale story. As we proceed, more cracks and crevices will form.

I answered casually to a nonsense item about health care premiums being paid. If you want an example of what you are going to ask to be pay, get a quote from Alberta Blue Cross or BC Blue Cross or Saskatchwan Blue Cross.

I won't be taken down by your shallow tripe and BS. What I have put up here is true and on the line! That is what is troubling you.
Scary isn't it?

 

[Dixie Cup]

I just found out from someone I know that he has been suffering from hip problems for a couple of years and needed a hip replacement. His wait time, here in Alberta, was going to be in the neighbourhood of 18 mos to 2 years. So, he went to BC to a private clinic and got it done within a couple of weeks. Guess what?? Alberta Health Care paid for the surgery - he paid for his flight and the doctor he went to see provided him with a place to live for the week after the surgery. This doctor apparently purchased an apt. block and charges $125/night - full kitchen, etc. So, I know what I'm going to do should it ever become necessary. He is still recovering but is relatively pain free - said it was the best decision he ever made and not super expensive either. I'm likin' it myself.

JMO

 

[cyberclark]

I just found out from someone I know that he has been suffering from hip problems for a couple of years and needed a hip replacement. His wait time, here in Alberta, was going to be in the neighbourhood of 18 mos to 2 years. So, he went to BC to a private clinic and got it done within a couple of weeks. Guess what?? Alberta Health Care paid for the surgery - he paid for his flight and the doctor he went to see provided him with a place to live for the week after the surgery. This doctor apparently purchased an apt. block and charges $125/night - full kitchen, etc. So, I know what I'm going to do should it ever become necessary. He is still recovering but is relatively pain free - said it was the best decision he ever made and not super expensive either. I'm likin' it myself.

JMO

Alberta Conservatives have put the clamp on public health outputs while pushing for the private services. One outstanding example was their hip and knee replacement program a couple of years ago. All the "easy" surgeries went to the private clinic who where paid the same as where the "complicated" surgeries which were undertaken by the "public" hospitals.

To set this up they had to back up the surgeries for nearly 2 years before they had a bundle they could claim success on.

Cut funding to any given service be it surgery or MRI then, claim success when patients find coverage abroad.

Their latest scam on MS trial treatment is just a scam. 3 years puts the results after a new election where the people will be on their own coin for treatment. Insurance companies of any ilk will not cover it.

Cut funding, create backlogs and offer the private sector as being the only savior.

They have been doing this for years and the electorate continue to go along with it.

 

[gerryh]

I answered casually to a nonsense item about health care premiums being paid. If you want an example of what you are going to ask to be pay, get a quote from Alberta Blue Cross or BC Blue Cross or Saskatchwan Blue Cross.

I won't be taken down by your shallow tripe and BS. What I have put up here is true and on the line! That is what is troubling you.
Scary isn't it?

"what you are going to be pay,"?????? English your second language?


As for Blue Cross, I already have a policy with them for meds as well as a policy with greatwest life for meds, extended, dental, and glasses etc..... You know, things that our medical doesn't cover. Things that it hasn't covered for as long as I can remember.

The only one posting tripe and BS would be you. Scare mongering bullsh*t, and it isn't scary when it is exposed.

 

[Chev]

Post # 46 Tonington said: (in answer to Originally Posted by cyberclark
Our Gross Domestic Product (DMP) spends 10.4 percent on health care and we have 100% coverage.
“Prescription drugs, physiotherapy, eye care, dental care... only 70% of all health care in Canada is publicly financed.”
Where did you get this 70% is publicly financed?
I pay over $100.00 per month to Alberta Blue cross because of Alta Gov’t pension for my family which is just me and one son.. I have no dental, no eye care, no physio… etc.
All I get is a semi private hospital room (if there’s one available), half an ambulance ride and 80% prescriptions which I haven’t used in 6 years. My son has better coverage through his university student medical/dental for less cost.

If you say so.

When Medicare was set up, the Provinces decide if they would go with monthly premiums or cover it through sales taxes.
The idea of monthly premiums actually makes it more visible to the people, whereas coming out of sales taxes pretty much hides the cost.

I'd rather pay the monthly premiums....

I take it you've never heard of Ontario?

OHIP
OSIP

"Curious that Alberta was the only province in Canada for a long time to charge health care premiums."
TenPenny.. read what's written.....

 

[taxslave]

Doesn't sound a lot different from the debate in B.C. Socialists continue to insist that our government has cut health care spending despite the fact that the health care budget has increased about 50% in 10 years. (have to dig a bit to get exact figure). They continue to sprout lies about privatization despite the fact there have been private(church) owned hospitals and doctors offices are private operations forever. Somehow people have got this view that they are entitled to every latest test and procedure, all for free and on demand. Of course our socialized health care system can not meet the demands placed on it and was never really intended to. It was meant to ensure that everyone got basic health care. We can probably sustain a public system that covers services that were available in 1965 when this came about. Much more than that is not sustainable in the long term and people will have to figure out how much they are willing to pay for what services.

 

[JLM]

Yes, Taxslave- in many ways healthcare is a two edged sword and just perpetuates a sick society. For the most part a person can do more for his own health than all the medics can do. Like you say we just need a basic health care system- no need to go running to Emergency for hang nails.

 

[lone wolf]

Funny thing how increased costs and cuts in spending tend to cancel each other out

 

[TenPenny]

"Curious that Alberta was the only province in Canada for a long time to charge health care premiums."
TenPenny.. read what's written.....

I did read it. Can you define 'a long time'?

 

[cyberclark]

"what you are going to be pay,"?????? English your second language?


As for Blue Cross, I already have a policy with them for meds as well as a policy with greatwest life for meds, extended, dental, and glasses etc..... You know, things that our medical doesn't cover. Things that it hasn't covered for as long as I can remember.

The only one posting tripe and BS would be you. Scare mongering bullsh*t, and it isn't scary when it is exposed.

You are telling me your employer is paying or co paying an Blue Cross policy for you. When you leave that company or try to take up a private policy with Blue Cross they will not allow you to move your experience across. If leaving a corporate plan you wait one year to be covered again while paying premiums to build up your lot. If you came from no health plan, you have a 2 year wait for coverage to begin.

Prices for coverages are running between 150.00 and 250.00 per month!~

Here is a list of those politicians who are working hard to do away with the public health care system!



[FONT=&quot]Alberta[/FONT]
Premier Ed Stelmach
Alana DeLong, MLA
Kyle Fawcett, MLA
Hon. Mel Knight
Richard Marz, MLA
Len Mitzel, MLA

[FONT=&quot]British Columbia[/FONT]
Premier Gordon Campbell
Hon. Naomi Yamamoto
John van Dongen, MLA
Joh Rustad, MLA
Guy Gentnew, MLA

[FONT=&quot]Northwest Territories[/FONT]
Premier Floyd Roland
Hon. Bob McLeod
David Ramsay, MLA
[FONT=&quot]Saskatchewan[/FONT]
Premier Brad Wall
Michael Chisholm, MLA
Hon. Bill Boyd
Dustin Duncan, MLA

[FONT=&quot]Yukon[/FONT]
Premier Dennis Fentie
Glen Hart, MLA
Hon. Jim Keyon
Steve Nordick, MLA

 

[gerryh]

You are telling me your employer is paying or co paying an Blue Cross policy for you. When you leave that company or try to take up a private policy with Blue Cross they will not allow you to move your experience across. If leaving a corporate plan you wait one year to be covered again while paying premiums to build up your lot. If you came from no health plan, you have a 2 year wait for coverage to begin.

Prices for coverages are running between 150.00 and 250.00 per month!~

Here is a list of those politicians who are working hard to do away with the public health care system!



[FONT=&quot]Alberta[/FONT]
Premier Ed Stelmach
Alana DeLong, MLA
Kyle Fawcett, MLA
Hon. Mel Knight
Richard Marz, MLA
Len Mitzel, MLA

[FONT=&quot]British Columbia[/FONT]
Premier Gordon Campbell
Hon. Naomi Yamamoto
John van Dongen, MLA
Joh Rustad, MLA
Guy Gentnew, MLA

[FONT=&quot]Northwest Territories[/FONT]
Premier Floyd Roland
Hon. Bob McLeod
David Ramsay, MLA
[FONT=&quot]Saskatchewan[/FONT]
Premier Brad Wall
Michael Chisholm, MLA
Hon. Bill Boyd
Dustin Duncan, MLA

[FONT=&quot]Yukon[/FONT]
Premier Dennis Fentie
Glen Hart, MLA
Hon. Jim Keyon
Steve Nordick, MLA

Yup, you don't have a fcuking clue. ANYBODY can get blue cross in Alberta. Not necessary for it to be through your employer. "I" pay for my blue cross for meds only, and have a policy through my employer through great west for meds/glasses/dental...etc..... and THAT policy can be transferred if I leave.

I have no idea where you get this 2 year BS, cause that's an out right lie on your part.

 

[cyberclark]

When leaving my last employer, I applied for Alberta Blue Cross and these where the terms and conditions I was given.
Also on my blog you can search Blue Cross and see where their US arm has disallowed any number of procedures without giving reasons.

 

[gerryh]

When leaving my last employer, I applied for Alberta Blue Cross and these where the terms and conditions I was given.
Also on my blog you can search Blue Cross and see where their US arm has disallowed any number of procedures without giving reasons.

Bullshyte.... you're lieing through your teeth.

 

[cyberclark]

Bullshyte.... you're lieing through your teeth.

And you have to be the most ill informed individual on earth, incredibly stupid or, you have a cash interest in pressing for the private insurance health care system. In either case you are not worthy of debate. I would suggest to phone you Blue Cross people for rates or, perhaps you could have them post their rates on the site and prove me wrong?

 

[gerryh]

And you have to be the most ill informed individual on earth, incredibly stupid or, you have a cash interest in pressing for the private insurance health care system. In either case you are not worthy of debate. I would suggest to phone you Blue Cross people for rates or, perhaps you could have them post their rates on the site and prove me wrong?

What part of I use blue cross and greatwest for my extended did you not understand? I have used blue cross for a number of years. Those insurance company's are for above and beyond basic medical benefits though.

What does blue cross have to do with Alberta medical? Why bring up a private insurer for extended benifts when talking about Alberta medical?

 

[lone wolf]

Complete privatization would probably go against the Canada Health Act - the bottom line. Private health insurance is supplemental to provincial plans. If it's privately-run clinics that set your hair alight, they're generally covered by the provincial health plan. Where the conflicting jargon starts spouting is when some union person is displaced into what is becoming more of a non-union pool

 

[cyberclark]

What part of I use blue cross and greatwest for my extended did you not understand? I have used blue cross for a number of years. Those insurance company's are for above and beyond basic medical benefits though.

What does blue cross have to do with Alberta medical? Why bring up a private insurer for extended benifts when talking about Alberta medical?

These Governments are trying to push us into the private insurance realm. I'm going to fight it for all my worth.

The crux of the article is the US Gross Domestic Product for gauging Health care is 16% in the US and 10.6% in Canada.

Their system is costing 50% more than the Canadian system and they have 55 million people without health care of any kind. There is another 20 Million Americans that are in desperate fear of loosing their health care because of cash controls.

The US system is primarily one of private insurance supplemented by the state Medicaid which, kicks in when they are broke and destitute.

While driving with a friend through Minnesota he pointed out thing with pride like hospitals and historic sights. At one large cement block he said this is the Hospital for indigenous people (those without health insurance or private means) and their service is okay.

I don't want this to happen in Canada!

Our prize MLA Loose Lips Liepert went on public television telling us there were changes coming to the Alberta Health Care system and will be put into effect "even if we have to change the Canada Health Act". This was startling knowing that other provinces would have to agree with this before such a thing could happen. None of the other provinces jumped on this!

This tells me they are all pretty much in line with the program and Alberta is leading the way.

The privatization of Medicine has been the treasure of the Conservative movement since their inception. It has long been the drum beat of the Fraser Valley Institute who are the idea tank for the Conservative movement and its made up up a caustic mixture of US and Canadian Conservatives.

Alberta has since included all foreign health care insurance companies to operate in Alberta. This was previously against the Canada Health Act.

With Harper's support they are going the mile; they have it within reach.

I am not posting undue alarm!

 

[gerryh]

The Fraser Valley Institute? What the fcuk is that?

Are you ready to shut the fcuk up and admit you don't have a clue as to what you are talking about, or are you going to continue posting crap like the "Fraser Valley Institute"?

 

[JLM]

The Fraser Valley Institute? What the fcuk is that?

Are you ready to shut the fcuk up and admit you

Not a biggie Gerry, he may have meant the "Fraser Institute", did the Xmas turkey disagree with you? Hope things improve for you. :smile:

When leaving my last employer, I applied for Alberta Blue Cross and these where the terms and conditions I was given.
Also on my blog you can search Blue Cross and see where their US arm has disallowed any number of procedures without giving reasons.

All your B.S. aside Cyberclark, the bottom line is the single tier system isn't working all that well.