We have excellent heathcare right across North America.
- Thread starter JLM
- Start date
Probably pretty close to evening out now that I really think about it in perspective. And your health insurance, I'm guessing, is pretty comprehensive. I have to pay extra for dental, most therapies (physio, chiro, etc).
I pay $120.50 a month for my wife and me. I find that to be very reasonable. I'm wondering what you are getting for $700 that we're not.
If that's the monthly cost of your provincial health care premium then you're not getting "other health" like physio, chiro, psychological, etc. If that's the premium for other health benefits then you need to factor in the cost of regular doctor visits, hospital visits, etc. Then you can compare the cost with his $700.
I was just making the point that since I never had the service I'm not aware of what the costs are if any. First of all I'm not even sure if our costs are comparable. I'm a senior so are likely getting a break he/she isn't and as I a senior I get a big break on income tax through tax averaging for seniors, so we are probably talking the proverbial oranges and apples.
Just by ignoramuses! -
I think it is wonderful that you can afford to pay $700 a month for your insurance and that you have access to cutting edge medical technology. I don't understand your question. I feel I received cutting edge kidney stone surgery. It is the first surgery I have ever had and I hope the last.
I strive to eat properly, exercise and stay as fit as my genes allow me to. I pay for my drug prescriptions myself. I have no access to health care by my employer like I did for most of my life because my company folded and so I have no insurance and no pension now. I am too old to claw my way back up into that type of business position again and anyway at my age don't feel the stress would warrant the pay.
Many people just can't afford that cost. I am now one of them.
But even when I was covered, I felt all deserved to be adequately covered without mortgaging their life away. Yes I could have paid the $3000 for my surgery but I didn't have to and no one should be forced to leave such surgery to chance because they can't afford it. Within a few years it destroys the functioning of the kidneys.
I recently had hip replacement surgery. It was frustrating to wait to see a specialist (8 months or so) because I was in severe pain. When I finally did get an appointment, I was told I would have to wait another 6 months before I could get the surgery. I bluntly told them there was no way I could wait that long and could I get on a cancellation list. They put me on the wait list and a week later I got a call. Thank goodness!
I looked into going outside of the province to get the surgery but I needed to be referred by .... you got it - a specialist!! Also looked at going to the US and was told it'd be about $20,000. If I had to wait any longer, I probably would have cashed in some RRSP's and gone to the states as I would have had the surgery done within a week.
Having said all this, once I had a surgery date, everything was wonderful; the care I got was incredible (hospital food still sucks tho' lol) The problem was access. Still, I am ever grateful that I didn't have to pay out of pocket and I'm not in pain anymore (at least not the same kind of pain). I'm still recuperating, but well on my way to becoming healthy again.
I looked into going outside of the province to get the surgery but I needed to be referred by .... you got it - a specialist!! Also looked at going to the US and was told it'd be about $20,000. If I had to wait any longer, I probably would have cashed in some RRSP's and gone to the states as I would have had the surgery done within a week.
Having said all this, once I had a surgery date, everything was wonderful; the care I got was incredible (hospital food still sucks tho' lol) The problem was access. Still, I am ever grateful that I didn't have to pay out of pocket and I'm not in pain anymore (at least not the same kind of pain). I'm still recuperating, but well on my way to becoming healthy again.
So why do we hear stories of for instance one I can think of...CEO of a company making big dollars...diagnosed with MS... he could no longer work, and found out his coverage would only last so long and it did not completely cover the drugs he so desperately needed. I keep hearing from a few of you on this site how everyone is covered but then I hear that it just isn't true from individuals who have lost homes or aren't covered the way they thought they were. Are they lying? If so, why go public with lies. If it's only a few then I hope they got rescued.
I saw a documentary of breast cancer and the journey a woman took and she was cured. It was not so happy for the average woman. Did they lie? Did she lie? Was the documentary inaccurate?
I get that if your funds are good and you are in good shape financially that you are okay. I am glad for you. And honestly so long as we don't go your way, I don't really care except that human suffering is wrong. But if it is all untrue and lies well glad you have such an exceptional system. As the saying goes, I don't have a pony in the race.
It was pretty simple, do you gauge quality on how much it costs you?
I'm confused, I thought you were Canadian.
I'm confused, I thought you were Canadian, hence universal health care.
Well if you wish to go about extreme situations, we can go down that road.
Well I'm glad everything worked out for you.
PS I still maintain if we had both public and private healthcare like they do in some parts of Europe, we'd be far better off. Competition always keeps prices lower thus save the government (i.e. us) money. In both cases (private & Public) our healthcare card would be all we'd need and access would be a lot quicker.
JMHO
JMHO
Generally speaking, I'd concur. I don't think the largest drain on our healthcare dollars is the cost of actually providing healthcare but it is the management of services. Private would be far more effective in that way. There has to be some kind of compromise somewhere. I have no problem with my tax dollars funding healthcare provided if it is being effectively and efficiently allocated and spent. And I don't believe that it is.
I don't know why you hear what you hear, are you implying your media is accurate all the time? I can tell you for a fact they throw lies your way all the time.
How can I comment when I don't have the foggiest idea what you're talking about.
There is no need to be condescending Sal, nobody implied the US has an exceptional system, in fact our system is flawed and expensive. I merely made a comment I would never put a price on my health, now what you're babbling about I have no clue.
I agree in spirit but once your health becomes a business, the cost goes up and there is no control on private business pricing, they are not there to ensure you are okey dokey, they are there for profit...just see how fast the cost rises and how desperate people will pay anything. You would have and then you would be competing for hip surgery.
Two tiered is a nice idea for the rich, not the average.
Inviting some private providers in does not automatically mean a two tiered system. We can define the system in any which way we damn well please in fact. I think when it comes to controlling costs, government is the worst and private enterprise is efficient. I think when it comes to defining services with the full benefit of the consumer in mind, private enterprise may end up cutting corners. So, I think, that's where you start. Government mandates the service, business provides within the parameters set out.
It wasn't my media the CEO was on the Oprah show so I am positive it was well vetted but maybe not. The other was an Amercian documentary maybe she had an agenda. I don't know. Maybe you have an agenda I don't know.
okay fair enough
apologies my intent was not to be condescending only that I keep hearing about how wonderful your system is...my FB crawl is packed full of anti-Obama crap and so is this forum. He is the devil incarnate and people should be left on their own for health care. The government shut down is his fault and every blight on your country is his fault.
I would have to put a price on my health care if we did not have the current system so I do have a pony in that race. My father would have died with his health issues had we lived in the States or we would have been bankrupt. Peoples lives can change in an instant, through no fault of their own. Some don't seem to get that even on this forum. The poor are just lazy...that makes me feel defensive. I work with kids in those environments and the judgement makes me insane. I know you are not like that. So sorry.
Sure if it would work and cut costs I am there.