Words You Won't Hear in Canadian Health Care

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I've generally found that countries which have more in the way of social assistance programs offer a higher standard of living than those that don't. The UK NHS is far from perfect, and is better or worse depending on which part of the country you live in. You still have to go private for some procedures and treatments, but the basic level of care is actually pretty decent.

Granted of course, you certainly can enjoy a very high standard of living in the US, but its a lot like playing Snakes and Ladders - in that you can do everything right, work hard, save and pay your taxes on time - and yet be bankrupted and lose everything you've worked for over 30-odd years because of an unexpected healthcare problem.

The healthcare system here is fine until you actually have need of it for something more severe and long-term than a bout of seasonal flu. If you develop a chronic condition you discover very very quickly how when you need it, the profit driven system is not on your side.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

In 2004, my late husband was in an accident. He was taken to the hospital in an ambulance, stayed there over night, had a cat scan to show he had a broken neck, airlifted to Victoria, stayed in the hospital for two weeks, had surgery, and was driven back home, ( 3 hour drive). Our house needed to be outfitted with medical equipment to make his life easier as he healed.

We didn't have to pay for any of the above.

That sounds horrible

The healthcare system here is fine until you actually have need of it for something more severe and long-term than a bout of seasonal flu. If you develop a chronic condition you discover very very quickly how when you need it, the profit driven system is not on your side.

[HAL 9000 96]

We pay monthly premiums in BC, so that ones wrong.

You're from BC. Cool, me too. I don't pay for my medical, it's paid for me. I don't make enough money to pay....

That's something else about the system. If your annual income is less than so much, you'll get 100% premium, and you're covered.

I like Kathryn, will miss this.

In 2004, my late husband was in an accident. He was taken to the hospital in an ambulance, stayed there over night, had a cat scan to show he had a broken neck, airlifted to Victoria, stayed in the hospital for two weeks, had surgery, and was driven back home, ( 3 hour drive). Our house needed to be outfitted with medical equipment to make his life easier as he healed.

We didn't have to pay for any of the above.

Hope he healed 100%.

I am curious about one thing... since opponents to these kinds of insurance/medical systems quite often cite how people end up waiting for months for therapies... wouldn't that mean that your hubby would've had to wait also to receive parts of that treatment? According to their logic I mean.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I've seen it first hand - in the experiences of my FIL (angina) and a friend of our family (stroke).

Leaving aside the physical expenses so much time is wasted by your being sent bills that you shouldnt have to pay for - and bounce from the provider, to you, to the insurance company.

The providers even have you do the job of their admin staff and get you to call the insurance company to request payment of their invoices!

Its a shocking waste of time - not to mention adding untold stress that you don't need.

[Malrothien 6]

We pay monthly premiums in BC, so that ones wrong.

You're from BC. Cool, me too. I don't pay for my medical, it's paid for me. I don't make enough money to pay....

That's something else about the system. If your annual income is less than so much, you'll get 100% premium, and you're covered.

Heh. My husband I make combined $40k right now in Vancouver. We do not get any assistance with our medical premium. We pay $96/month. 40k in Vancouver is basically low-income given how expensive it is to live in this city.

I am curious about one thing... since opponents to these kinds of insurance/medical systems quite often cite how people end up waiting for months for therapies... wouldn't that mean that your hubby would've had to wait also to receive parts of that treatment? According to their logic I mean.

Wait times are for non-emergency procedures (not sure how chemo fits into non-emergency, but it is one of the procedures that does have a wait list). Had a friend who had a very bad form of cancer who was placed on a 3 month wait list in Ontario for chemo. He elected to go to the US to get treated immediately.

Edited July 22, 2009 by Malrothien

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I've waited 6+ hours in an ER waiting for treatment in both the UK and the US. The only difference is - in the UK I didn't have to pay $150 for the privilege!

[HAL 9000 96]

We pay monthly premiums in BC, so that ones wrong.

You're from BC. Cool, me too. I don't pay for my medical, it's paid for me. I don't make enough money to pay....

That's something else about the system. If your annual income is less than so much, you'll get 100% premium, and you're covered.

Heh. My husband I make combined $40k right now in Vancouver. We do not get any assistance with our medical premium. We pay $96/month. 40k in Vancouver is basically low-income given how expensive it is to live in this city.

I am curious about one thing... since opponents to these kinds of insurance/medical systems quite often cite how people end up waiting for months for therapies... wouldn't that mean that your hubby would've had to wait also to receive parts of that treatment? According to their logic I mean.

Wait times are for non-emergency procedures (not sure how chemo fits into non-emergency, but it is one of the procedures that does have a wait list). Had a friend who had a very bad form of cancer who was placed on a 3 month wait list in Ontario for chemo. He elected to go to the US to get treated immediately.

What about with supplemental insurance? Any chance of getting treatment faster? (And cheaper than in the US?) Really curious about that.

Perhaps what Canada can do is have a tiered single payer system that keeps costs down and still offers timely treatment options.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

We pay monthly premiums in BC, so that ones wrong.

You're from BC. Cool, me too. I don't pay for my medical, it's paid for me. I don't make enough money to pay....

That's something else about the system. If your annual income is less than so much, you'll get 100% premium, and you're covered.

I like Kathryn, will miss this.

In 2004, my late husband was in an accident. He was taken to the hospital in an ambulance, stayed there over night, had a cat scan to show he had a broken neck, airlifted to Victoria, stayed in the hospital for two weeks, had surgery, and was driven back home, ( 3 hour drive). Our house needed to be outfitted with medical equipment to make his life easier as he healed.

We didn't have to pay for any of the above.

I imagine this would financially ruin most of us here, particularly if the husband's salary is the main source of income.

[Malrothien 6]

We pay monthly premiums in BC, so that ones wrong.

You're from BC. Cool, me too. I don't pay for my medical, it's paid for me. I don't make enough money to pay....

That's something else about the system. If your annual income is less than so much, you'll get 100% premium, and you're covered.

Heh. My husband I make combined $40k right now in Vancouver. We do not get any assistance with our medical premium. We pay $96/month. 40k in Vancouver is basically low-income given how expensive it is to live in this city.

I am curious about one thing... since opponents to these kinds of insurance/medical systems quite often cite how people end up waiting for months for therapies... wouldn't that mean that your hubby would've had to wait also to receive parts of that treatment? According to their logic I mean.

Wait times are for non-emergency procedures (not sure how chemo fits into non-emergency, but it is one of the procedures that does have a wait list). Had a friend who had a very bad form of cancer who was placed on a 3 month wait list in Ontario for chemo. He elected to go to the US to get treated immediately.

What about with supplemental insurance? Any chance of getting treatment faster? (And cheaper than in the US?) Really curious about that.

Perhaps what Canada can do is have a tiered single payer system that keeps costs down and still offers timely treatment options.

I'm not sure. AFAIK, at least here in BC, supplemental insurance only covers the things that provincial insurance doesn't - ie: chiropractor, physio, prescriptions, etc.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Big Sigh - that is definitely something I miss about Canada - health care! The US system sucks - long waits, expensive copays, lots of errors, lots of phone calls needed to insurance companies and doctors sorting out their errors, insurance companies trying to dictate what type of medicine I am allowed to have, deferring or turning down treatment because the deductibles haven't been met and it's expensive, trying to find a doctor who is 'in network', in Canada emergencies are treated like emergencies and I don't have to prove I can pay for the emergency care first, then wait and wait and wait . . . I can't believe that so many Americans think the system here is good! They really have no idea.

One more phrase you won't hear in the Canadian Health Care System "Yes, yes we do have an available appointment this week". Unless it's something urgent, you're going to have to wait longer than you would in the states. I'm basing that on someone actually having health insurance. Of course someone uninsured will have to wait forever and pay through the nose. I have really good benefits through my employer, but i'm still in favor of a public health system.

[HAL 9000 96]

We pay monthly premiums in BC, so that ones wrong.

You're from BC. Cool, me too. I don't pay for my medical, it's paid for me. I don't make enough money to pay....

That's something else about the system. If your annual income is less than so much, you'll get 100% premium, and you're covered.

Heh. My husband I make combined $40k right now in Vancouver. We do not get any assistance with our medical premium. We pay $96/month. 40k in Vancouver is basically low-income given how expensive it is to live in this city.

I am curious about one thing... since opponents to these kinds of insurance/medical systems quite often cite how people end up waiting for months for therapies... wouldn't that mean that your hubby would've had to wait also to receive parts of that treatment? According to their logic I mean.

Wait times are for non-emergency procedures (not sure how chemo fits into non-emergency, but it is one of the procedures that does have a wait list). Had a friend who had a very bad form of cancer who was placed on a 3 month wait list in Ontario for chemo. He elected to go to the US to get treated immediately.

What about with supplemental insurance? Any chance of getting treatment faster? (And cheaper than in the US?) Really curious about that.

Perhaps what Canada can do is have a tiered single payer system that keeps costs down and still offers timely treatment options.

I'm not sure. AFAIK, at least here in BC, supplemental insurance only covers the things that provincial insurance doesn't - ie: chiropractor, physio, prescriptions, etc.

I see... so maybe there is an option to cover additional expenses... maybe. Then again is going to the US for more immediate treatment eligible for remuneration? It would be really cool if there existed a system for foreign doctors to enjoy credentials recognized in Canada whereas the Canadian system would make the patients eligible for some remuneration as a bypass to the more limited wait system.

Again I am curious as to how life-threatening and life-saving treatments are classified. Canadians are smart I think to understand that chemo is critical if done in time, so I smell a red herring when it comes to the opponents of these systems and how medicine is categorized as a talking point against itself.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I haven't noticed much of a difference in GP waiting times here and in the UK. I would usually be able to get an appointment within the week. The only difference here is that the surgery is open on weekends (the only time I can go), but I had to wait 2 weeks for an appointment.

[HAL 9000 96]

Big Sigh - that is definitely something I miss about Canada - health care! The US system sucks - long waits, expensive copays, lots of errors, lots of phone calls needed to insurance companies and doctors sorting out their errors, insurance companies trying to dictate what type of medicine I am allowed to have, deferring or turning down treatment because the deductibles haven't been met and it's expensive, trying to find a doctor who is 'in network', in Canada emergencies are treated like emergencies and I don't have to prove I can pay for the emergency care first, then wait and wait and wait . . . I can't believe that so many Americans think the system here is good! They really have no idea.

One more phrase you won't hear in the Canadian Health Care System "Yes, yes we do have an available appointment this week". Unless it's something urgent, you're going to have to wait longer than you would in the states. I'm basing that on someone actually having health insurance. Of course someone uninsured will have to wait forever and pay through the nose. I have really good benefits through my employer, but i'm still in favor of a public health system.

I've had to wait more than a month at times to schedule routine physicals in the past. Here in the States I mean. With private insurance costing me thousands per year in premiums without considering deductibles.

[DeadPoolX 9]

There are often long waits to see a specialist. For instance, in May I made an appointment to see an ENT and the first available opportunity he had was in the middle of August. Even worse, it can be difficult to simply FIND a doctor (GP, not a specialist) since very few are willing to take on new patients.

Probably the single worst thing about Canadian health care is that it's essentially run by the government. Sure, private insurance isn't great (it does exist here and it's useful if you have a lot of prescription medication to worry about), but when the government runs it, health care becomes underfunded. If Canadian health care had the appropriate funding, it'd be great. But it isn't, probably due to the government making dumb decisions.

Maybe I've only had good experiences with the U.S. health care system, but I've never had to wait longer than a week (usually much less) to see a specialist. Then again, there are many more doctors in the United States than in Canada and I had a PPO (BlueCross BlueShield) as my health insurance provider.

[Malrothien 6]

We pay monthly premiums in BC, so that ones wrong.

You're from BC. Cool, me too. I don't pay for my medical, it's paid for me. I don't make enough money to pay....

That's something else about the system. If your annual income is less than so much, you'll get 100% premium, and you're covered.

Heh. My husband I make combined $40k right now in Vancouver. We do not get any assistance with our medical premium. We pay $96/month. 40k in Vancouver is basically low-income given how expensive it is to live in this city.

I am curious about one thing... since opponents to these kinds of insurance/medical systems quite often cite how people end up waiting for months for therapies... wouldn't that mean that your hubby would've had to wait also to receive parts of that treatment? According to their logic I mean.

Wait times are for non-emergency procedures (not sure how chemo fits into non-emergency, but it is one of the procedures that does have a wait list). Had a friend who had a very bad form of cancer who was placed on a 3 month wait list in Ontario for chemo. He elected to go to the US to get treated immediately.

What about with supplemental insurance? Any chance of getting treatment faster? (And cheaper than in the US?) Really curious about that.

Perhaps what Canada can do is have a tiered single payer system that keeps costs down and still offers timely treatment options.

I'm not sure. AFAIK, at least here in BC, supplemental insurance only covers the things that provincial insurance doesn't - ie: chiropractor, physio, prescriptions, etc.

I see... so maybe there is an option to cover additional expenses... maybe. Then again is going to the US for more immediate treatment eligible for remuneration? It would be really cool if there existed a system for foreign doctors to enjoy credentials recognized in Canada whereas the Canadian system would make the patients eligible for some remuneration as a bypass to the more limited wait system.

Again I am curious as to how life-threatening and life-saving treatments are classified. Canadians are smart I think to understand that chemo is critical if done in time, so I smell a red herring when it comes to the opponents of these systems and how medicine is categorized as a talking point against itself.

I don't believe you are eligible for costs incurred by your own decision by the health authority (If I'm wrong, someone correct me). The only way to get any $$ back would be to claim the expenses on your taxes.