Oh if only my premiums were $88 a month! Try over $200 EVERY month! That's double what one pays in AB...and that doesn't cover copays and meds. Once the premium is taken out and our meds are purchased, we've paid out OVER $400 a month. On top of that we have sales tax, which none of it goes to medical care. Canada's system is a heck of a lot better than anything the US has to offer.

I dunno what the monthly payment in Ontario is (which is where I used to live, but they re-instated the user fee to OHIP after I left) but my weekly insurance and tax payments here in North Carolina are:

Medicare - $2.93 (which I will never be able to use!)
Short Term Dis - $1.82 (only covers me)
Dental Ins - $10.40 (covers both me and hubby)
Health Ins - $75.49 (covers both me and hubby)
Long Term Dis - $1.44 (also only covers me)
Total = $92.08 weekly

Plus, whatever portion of income taxes that may or may not go to healthcare costs.

Not to mention the co-pays and other things that health care providers ding you for here if you ever have the misfortune of needing their "services"

I seriously want to retire to Canada. There's no way we'll be able to afford health care in the US when we're retired.

And as for the whole pregnancy thing, IF I decide to try it, it ain't gonna be cheap by any means. I'm infertile, with no tubes so IVF is our only option. When James' parents died he socked away some of that inheritance to a bank account for specifically just that purpose. IF I ever give in and give it a try (I'm just too freakin old!). So I'm not expecting any sort of "normal" pregnancy. In Ontario, most costs would be covered except the stimulation drugs (for me anyhow, with bi-lateral tube blockage....unless they've changed the coverage again) Which themselves can cost in the thousands of dollars per cycle!

And the whole 6 weeks maternity leave thing is bloody barbaric if you ask me! I can get 3 months (unpaid) leave at my current job I think, but even that isn't long enough IMO. sheesh! At least my husband doesn't work, so we wouldn't have to hand a baby over to a stranger at day care when its so young. But still. Barbaric! And they say Family Values are important here. pfffffffffft. bullocks! I just don't see it.

We're looking forward to seeing it. It boggles my mind that universal health care just hasn't become a point of American pride, like we think it's better that people go bankrupt because it's good for the moral character or something.

well, actually its because for several generations now the government and media have been saying that to have universal healthcare would increase everyone's income taxes to "like Canada, 50% or something" (where they get that number is beyond me), AND because having "socialist" healthcare would be akin to going Communist.

Plus whatever your employer pays into the insurances for you. Anyone that has gotten a COBRA notice after leaving a job with benefits knows what the premiums are w/o the employer contribution and group discount. A grand a month easily when you're on your own.

I agree, Canada's system is a heck of a lot better than anything in the US has to offer.

We pay as much as they do, for those of us who are not subsidized, our income taxes are much higher. We do have the benefit of having an 'equal' coverage for all - and that is truly the benefit - and how it should be.

As a 'for instance' - just looking at a paycheque here from this week, the tax withheld is 25% - is that what you are paying in taxes?

I think we have a great deal in Health Insurance here in CT.. Haven't had to use it but the guys at work all tell me it's amazing coverage.

It's only about $32.00 weekly for us (couple), empolyer pays 80% of premium, 25$ co-pay for us for appointments etc., and the dental premiums are paid for entirely by my employer. That's EXACTLY what we would have paid for "supplimental" insurance premiums (Blue Cross) in Canada.. So.. I honestly can't complain here on my end.

Had we gone with my husbands "insurance" (ie. rip off) from his work it would have been 400$ per month - and it had almost NO coverage).

My employer seems to get it (perhaps cause he's a father of 4 children and knows how important health coverage is), and the company is small enough it has joined a group of independant businesses here in CT to provide insurance for the whole group.

I read everyone elses' stories and I am feeling blessed that we have what we have.. But it does add to the pressure of keeping the job I have.. Where else would we get such a good package really ???

Oh and I'd pay 40% taxes if it gave me peace of mind for my family.. Let's hear it up for GOV intervention!!

While this is great, it is also tied to your employment. Should you ever want to - or God forbid have to - change employers, or even if your employer would merge with another, your coverage would change. Most likely not for the better.

Which is exactly why I said...

"I read everyone elses' stories and I am feeling blessed that we have what we have.. But it does add to the pressure of keeping the job I have.. Where else would we get such a good package really ???"

I realize that it is not a forever thing and I honestly am not sure it's a job I want to keep - but with the insurance, I'd be a fool NOT to stay in some respects..

Must have missed that somehow. But yeah, that hits the nail right on the head. Unfortunately.

we are in the same boat...

hubby really hates his job and his working on starting a whole new career to get out of it but the one great thing about his job is the health plan... when he changes jobs the health plan won't come with us though

I dunno about other states or regions within states even, but here in NC, its getting more and more difficult to find employers who offer health benefits. The cost is getting so prohibitive these days that several in the past few years have cancelled their policies, some without prior notice to their employees! The company I work for (with the crappy benefits) is on a "work slow-down" and those of us paid hourly wages are cut down to 4 days a week work, and we may all end up on permanent lay off if the situation doesn't improve. And then where will I be? Looking for a job at some fast food place where there's no health benefits. Because that's all there is left here.

Out of my paycheck each month....

$240 health insurance family coverage
$83 family dental
$19.95 for life insurance
5% of pre tax dollars go to Teacher Retirement System (I do NOT have a choice in this)
then more than 25% is taken out for taxes

So, for a monthly salary of $1322 I bring home $764 a month. Almost half my salary. *sigh* Yet this insurance is some of the best in the state. So I'm tied to a job that I'm already burned out in just so I can keep us covered.

How do you end up paying 25% in taxes? Are state and local taxes in Georgia that high?
The feds surely do not tax you 25% on a roughly 16K salary.

I hear you misa.... don't have kids either' but my cousin just had the bad bad idea to become a single mom in Mexico city and not only did she get mommy tracked (she is/was a super $ucce$$ful financial trader/adviser for conglomerates) but she also had to deal with 80 days leave - that's it. No more,no less.
Sad, but true.
L.

SK - no premium payment
AB - 88 monthly per family of 2 (thank god the sh!thole, I mean the College I work for pays it).

Sheesh... now I am thinking bout this health costs in the US and it's getting scary .... if anyone's got a Valium pill laying around, pass it one for a desperate sister ok???????????
Peace (hopefully healthy peace), L.

Ditto Emancipation... the only reason I don't quit my job at Sh!thole College is because of the Blue Cross coverage -it's freakin amazing. The rest of it sux but hey! I should be leaving before years' end so I don't really loose sleep over hating my job (mind you the politics of it, the teaching and the students are awesome)
Peace, L.

So if I am reading this right, you are calculating your '25%' taxes AFTER you deduct all those other things, to answer the Georgia/Federal tax question....

25% is 25% no matter what the salary is. The taxes are taken out before my benefits but after TRS is taken out. Just because I make a meager salary doesn't mean that 25% isn't hard on me. Still, does it matter? The US healthcare system is the topic here and it's damned expensive to stay well as well as treat medical conditions. But it's insane to be without insurance.

I've been a fan since the TV Nation days but I won't be going to see Sicko. Basically, the bits about the NHS are lies...pure lies...and sincerely doubt that the rest of the movie would be lie or exaggeration-free.

Puh-LEEZE do not get me started on the NHS in the UK; it is abominable. If my mother had had her cancer in the UK instead of the USA, she'd be dead now because the NHS would not cover her anti-cancer medication. She wouldn't have been able to convince them to pay for hers because she has hypertension and diabetes too. So, the NHS would have most likely killed her while the evil terrible insurance company here in the USA pays for...well....everything. Yeah, it's SO horrible for EVERYONE.

Roughly half of your salary is not even taxed by Uncle Sam based on your exemption and standard deduction which is effectively taking your gross down approximately 8K. So, what you're saying is that you pay taxes at a 50% rate on the remaining balance?

*sigh* Why in god's name are you so concerned? The discussion was health care and its costs. I pay a lot...taxes and insurance. I do it whether I like it or not because I have to take care of my family. My biggest mistake here was even posting my salary and deductions. I had NO freakin idea that THIS would be such a big concern! Yes, it is possible I've figured wrong (I'm sure you're thinking it) and if so PUHLEEESE forgive me. All I know is half my salary is gone before I even see one penny.

However, my salary isn't the original topic here. This is beginning to become like OT...*sigh* Let's try to stay on topic...if possible.

I don't think the questioner was intending to be mean, just expressing shock that Georgia's income taxes seem to be so high. ($16K usually means you'd owe about $51.)

homesick american, if your mom had been here in the U.S. without insurance, she just would have died or bankrupted her family trying to get treatment.

That's where the difference is usually. If you have good insurance in the U.S., you're probably fine. If you don't have any, be prepared to go into debt. The comparison isn't between people who have good health insurance and the UK. It's the 60 million who would say, 'gee, that cancer treatment could save my life? do I sell my house or drain my kid's college fund?' that a UHS would be good for. Presumably an UHS wouldn't outlaw private insurance that could cover expensive treatments.

hmm, it depends on your insurance.... we have good insurance right now and it pays for 90 percent of surgeries, hospital stays etc and 100 percent for tests and doctor's visits, but we have to pay the copays, which range from 15 dollars for a regular doctor visit to 150 dollars for a hospital stay... plus the 100 some bucks that comes off hubby's paycheck every two weeks...

but most people aren't so lucky...

quote" I've been a fan since the TV Nation days but I won't be going to see Sicko. Basically, the bits about the NHS are lies...pure lies...and sincerely doubt that the rest of the movie would be lie or exaggeration-free."

So, if you haven't seen the movie how are you in a position to know what he says about NHS, let alone that they are lies? It is easy to dismiss something when you don't know what you are talking about. The solution is to become informed - see the movie, then state that the bits about NHS are lies. Your position will have a lot more credibility.

So we were in CHURCH today and one of the elders mentions at offering time that our pastor and his family can't make ends meet with all the autism therapies that their child requires... and would the church family consider making sacrifices to help the family right now.

MY BLOOD WAS BOILING.. of course our church pays his premiums and of course he is paid a "decent" salary (as decent as one can be paid for a 24/7 very emotionally draining job. But I'm mad at the FLIPPING system.. What RIGHT does a "insurance" company have to say this condition or that disease's therapies or treatments will or will not be covered. If this was Canada, they'd have a legal right to take the CDN gov to court and sue them for therapy costs. That's a BLOODY system that is functional where you can sue someone for being idiots and for having some sort of leverage against crap like that.. but I digress...

Rubbish.

I've read about those segments in the press and have seen various clips, so don't assume that I'm speaking from a position of complete ignorance. I just love it when people make incorrect assumptions. Maybe you should become informed about what *I* have read and seen before calling me ignorant.

I'm so irritated by the outright lies about the NHS that I refuse to spend my own money to see this film. If someone wants to buy me a ticket, I'll gladly watch it. However, Mr Moore already has enough of my money as I own every book he's ever written and every film/TV show he's done up to this point. He won't be getting any more of my money but feel free to give him YOURS. That's my solution for you.

I have heard of horror stories of Canadian, UK and have seen first hand the Swedish healthcare system. None is perfect and a lot of the crap said about US healthcare is magnified due to the shear size of our population.

Yes, it can be improved, so can everyone else's................

Yes, every system has problems and every system can be improved. As it stands, though, the US system is hands down the most expensive and least efficient health care system among the industrialized nations. We're paying the most for the least return overall.

So, those that lack access to adequate care or those that get squashed by medical bills are all just to stoopid to work their way through the system? Is that what you're saying? That every person in America has adequate access to care and that the care is affordable for everyone? I beg to differ.

I just came back from seeing Sicko with a friend. I told her about all the VJ couples I see between Canadians and USCs and wondering how the Canadians feel about leaving a decent system for a vulnerable system here. It has to suck.

Really depressing situation we are in. My friend, 42, had cancer around 27 -- luckily she is better and hasn't had problems when switching between jobs/insurance plans. But she will never be able to get an individual plan.

I am grateful for my health --- but almost afraid to tell my doctor any small issues I may have.....http://www.visajourney.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/style_em...default/mad.gif

You're independently wealthy then?

I grew up without insurance. Just confirming the diagnosis would run you into tens of thousands of dollars. Without treatment. My parents still don't have adequate insurance and they're in their 50s. I'm just hoping I'm not the one that has to pull the plug or sell their house.

I think most of the Canadians here will agree that it does indeed suck to leave what we had behind.

Yep.. it's a total turn around in thinking for me.. but i do like the fact that I can choose which Dr. I go to, and I can go to a specialist without a referral... That's a plus I guess..

Oh yeah, that's a real bonus.

So are you saying you HAVE seen the movie? It sure sounds like you have to be making such comments about it.

Tee hee..

I've known enough people who got cancer treatment from public healthcare to know that such a blanket statement is not true.

I've seen clips and read articles about how the film regards the NHS and having lived in the UK for six years, I know Moore's claims about the NHS are propaganda at best. I don't pay good money to watch propaganda but like I said, if someone were to give me a free ticket to see 'Sicko' I might go. I don't think US healthcare is perfect, but there's a lot of half-truths floating around and a film like this obscures the truth rather than exposing it. I would never EVER support an NHS system in the USA, but that does not mean that I wouldn't support universal healthcare. However, the NHS sucks. It sucks rocks. Since you're Canadian I assume you have no experience with the NHS and are not in a position to speak either way about Moore's treatment of it in the film, n'est-ce pas?

Essentially, the people going to see 'Sicko' are people who already agree with what Moore has to say. This isn't going to do a thing to address the healthcare crisis in the United States and IMHO it will do more to STIFLE debate rather than to encourage it. Mention you've seen 'Sicko' to a Republican and that's pretty much the end of the convo.

I've not made any comments about the movie, I've not seen it. What I am saying is that you seem to be speaking like you are an authority on this movie and have not even seen it. What is your agenda?

Within the G7 (G8 sans Russia), the UK and US take the second to last and last spot in life expectancy and both take back seats also in regards to infant mortality where the US manages to even fall behind Cuba. That says something about the health care systems in both the UK and US. I don't know the former but I do know the latter and it utterly sucks.

Think preemies................

The more preemies that are brought into the world, odds are many of them will not survive. Look at what fertility drugs do, woman gets preggers with 6 kids and 3 survive after birth...............that's 50% right there.

I reckon those numbers are for live births, right? So a preemie is a live birth.............

The low life expectancy. Preemies, too?

Rather, think bad excuse for a health care system....

for which the US spends the same amount of PUBLIC MONEY (as a percentage of GDP) as Britain, Switzerland, Canada and Japan and these countries have universal healthcare. (France and Germany spend only marginally more)

Also, with regards to the NHS - I have experienced it (and I've seen Sicko). I also had private healthcare in hte UK provided by my employer through BUPA. I never once used BUPA. I also have a chronic eye condition. When I returned to the US, the HMO I initially joined (through my employer) refused to pay for all of the treatment I needed I have since changed providers and my treatment is paid for but the co-pays can be pretty steep. I paid nothing on the NHS, yet my insurance costs quite a bit more than what I paid on National Insurance. I'm lucky to have a choice of insurer through my employer - most other Americans are not.

I was just reading most of this thread and I have to say it left me crying...My father passed away one month ago because of the negligence of the veterans hospital he was in. He had to have a trach because his esophagus was swollen and he couldn't swallow and had breathing difficulties. He was getting great care until they decided to close down the critical care unit and make them into offices. He was moved to the private ward in a room by himself. My mother went crying to the head nurse that he needed 24/7 supervision (stated on his chart) due to mucous build up that could block the trach. Well that night a mucous plug lodged in it and no one checked on him for over 40 minutes! He suffocated!! They brought him back but he had 100% brain damage and seizures. He died not long after that. My mother does anesthesia in that hospital (for 29 years) and said "I gave 110% to care for the veterans under my care. Why couldn't they take good care of mine!!?" It's heartbreaking and I cry every time I think of my father. I am so glad he got to meet my husband and place my hand in his at our wedding! He loved my husband in the short time they had together. He called him 'son'....The heartbreaking part of THAT is...my husband's parents passed away about 9 years ago and he was looking forward to being close to my dad. I'm so sorry I ranted here but I needed to share. I can't help but think as I'm crying here, that my mother feels it 10x worse. Here is a pic of them....
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b317/gri...JerryJoanne.jpg

Add to that the private money that goes into healthcare here in the US and you have the most expensive system anywhere. As a whole, the population benefits less from that system, though, than the populations of any other industrialized nation benefit from theirs. Hands down, the most bureaucratic system with the most red-tape and wasteful overhead is that run by private firms in the US. The governments, even this one, are much more efficient in this sector.

Sorry for your loss, it always saddens me when another Vet hears Taps.