Words You Won't Hear in Canadian Health Care

[Danno 1,228]

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.

I actually am one of the people who think the system is pretty darn good!

True I have never had cancer or some extensive med. condition but, I walk in see the doctor and leave (after paying 10 bucks).

It's always been this way. I nor my kids have ever had a hassle bigger than calling to see why a bill was not sent to the insurance company.

I don't understand this big hassle you are experiencing and I have had a number of dif plans over the years.

I know getting Healthcare "IS" a problem for a minority of middle class folks (the poor have it as do the rich)

we need to work on that..not set this wrecking ball in place

Tell you what seems alarming as hell to me: the idea that soon everyone will BE REQUIRED to have coverage.

IF you don't or can't (or choose not to) pay your part, the force of the Government will extract it from you one way or another...... think the IRS is bad now? wait till you don't get that sweet hand-out at the end of the year, so many have become used to. (Earned income credit IS a handout)

The other part that is the most worrisome to me is this "we are all in it together" mood that will take over will burst open the door to even more "Nanny state" regulations. Weight reductions, smoking, risky hobbies, excessive alcohol consumption... the list goes on.

And logically it's true why should the overweight person pay the same amount as the fit person?

THIS IS THE DANGER OF LETTING GOVERNMENT HAVE A MONOPOLY which is exactly where it will head.

Their is a reason they will not try a pilot program in say one city or area, to see how it works.

There is a truism The more the Government breaks something, the more they need to fix it.

Danno, Danno, Danno... Only a serious moron, or ** talking head, feel's the US healthcare system is 'pretty damn good' and your statement indicates that either your are parroting your talking head masters at FOX or you yourself are making a fortune as a private insurance middle man.

Our doctors are good, when you are in the group that can afford them, but increasing numbers of Americans are not in that group. We are not number one in health care, we rank around 36th or 37th down in the pack with countries like Botswana and Lithuania. [The rank is correct, and we are bracketed by Third World countries.] Our health care system is a mess, getting worse in terms of cost and services provided, and the fact that so many believe everything is great is one of the greatest political jokes ever played out on a people.

Since you came out me like an azz-bag, I won't bother to respond.

[mawilson 2,133]

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!

In the UK, somebody else did

[mawilson 2,133]

I am one of the fortunate ones who has fantastic healthcare coverage and could never be wiped out by any catastrophic events mentioned previously. My out of pocket maximum is only $3000.

That is until a catastrophic event costs you your job and - with it - your coverage.

Under COBRA, if you are terminated for any reason other than "gross misconduct," you are

guaranteed the right to continue your former employer's group plan for up to 18 months.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

[

Danno, Danno, Danno... Only a serious moron, or ** talking head, feel's the US healthcare system is 'pretty damn good' and your statement indicates that either your are parroting your talking head masters at FOX or you yourself are making a fortune as a private insurance middle man.

Our doctors are good, when you are in the group that can afford them, but increasing numbers of Americans are not in that group. We are not number one in health care, we rank around 36th or 37th down in the pack with countries like Botswana and Lithuania. [The rank is correct, and we are bracketed by Third World countries.] Our health care system is a mess, getting worse in terms of cost and services provided, and the fact that so many believe everything is great is one of the greatest political jokes ever played out on a people.

Since you came out me like an azz-bag, I won't bother to respond.

That is a great defense! Good on ya! Since the facts pretty much can't be used to rationally defend the current system.

[Danno 1,228]

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.

I actually am one of the people who think the system is pretty darn good!

True I have never had cancer or some extensive med. condition but, I walk in see the doctor and leave (after paying 10 bucks).

It's always been this way. I nor my kids have ever had a hassle bigger than calling to see why a bill was not sent to the insurance company.

I don't understand this big hassle you are experiencing and I have had a number of dif plans over the years.

I know getting Healthcare "IS" a problem for a minority of middle class folks (the poor have it as do the rich)

we need to work on that..not set this wrecking ball in place

Tell you what seems alarming as hell to me: the idea that soon everyone will BE REQUIRED to have coverage.

IF you don't or can't (or choose not to) pay your part, the force of the Government will extract it from you one way or another...... think the IRS is bad now? wait till you don't get that sweet hand-out at the end of the year, so many have become used to. (Earned income credit IS a handout)

The other part that is the most worrisome to me is this "we are all in it together" mood that will take over will burst open the door to even more "Nanny state" regulations. Weight reductions, smoking, risky hobbies, excessive alcohol consumption... the list goes on.

And logically it's true why should the overweight person pay the same amount as the fit person?

THIS IS THE DANGER OF LETTING GOVERNMENT HAVE A MONOPOLY which is exactly where it will head.

Their is a reason they will not try a pilot program in say one city or area, to see how it works.

There is a truism The more the Government breaks something, the more they need to fix it.

Danno, Danno, Danno... Only a serious moron feel's the US healthcare system is 'pretty damn good' and your statement indicates that either your are parroting your talking head masters at FOX or your yourself are making a fortune as a private insurance middle man.

Our doctors are good, when you are in the group that can afford them, but increasing numbers of Americans are not in that group. We are not number one in health care, we rank around 36th or 37th down in the pack with countries like Botswana and Lithuania. [The rank is correct, and we are bracketed by Third World countries.] Our health care system is a mess, getting worse in terms of cost and services provided, and the fact that so many believe everything is great is one of the greatest political jokes ever played out on a people.

Agreed - I think its also rather silly for him to say "I think the system is pretty darned good", yet at the same time "I have never had cancer or some extensive med. condition". What is the basis for acclaiming a system that he has minimal experience of besides the odd trip to the GPs office?

I wonder if his opinion will change if he does develop a serious or chronic condition (as we're all likely to do at some point in time).

Look Pike, I am just being honest with my years of experience.

Are you suggesting everyone who has not been on deaths-doorstep keep out of this?

Seems to me we have three groups of people on this issue.

1.Those that think all healthcare is the responsibility of the GOV. to provide for them.(free or damn near it)

2. Those that think it's a free country (your on your own)

3. Those who want to get coverage for everyone to protect them from accidents or illnesses which are beyond payment.

I guess I fall in the third group, it's actually a little pathetic to hear people brag that they paid nothing for their own medical care. Like somehow everyone else has the primary responsibility to pay for your kids physicals and your ingrown toenail. Hell, even in a commune everyone contributes.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

I am one of the fortunate ones who has fantastic healthcare coverage and could never be wiped out by any catastrophic events mentioned previously. My out of pocket maximum is only $3000.

That is until a catastrophic event costs you your job and - with it - your coverage.

Under COBRA, if you are terminated for any reason other than "gross misconduct," you are

guaranteed the right to continue your former employer's group plan for up to 18 months.

COBRA comes at a cost most employee's, use my wife as example, can't possibly afford when not working. In fact, COBRA would have cost more per month than she was making. But keep telling yourself the current system has built in protection in the event of loss of work.

[mawilson 2,133]

I am one of the fortunate ones who has fantastic healthcare coverage and could never be wiped out by any catastrophic events mentioned previously. My out of pocket maximum is only $3000.

That is until a catastrophic event costs you your job and - with it - your coverage.

Under COBRA, if you are terminated for any reason other than "gross misconduct," you are

guaranteed the right to continue your former employer's group plan for up to 18 months.

COBRA comes at a cost most employee's, use my wife as example, can't possibly afford when not working. In fact, COBRA would have cost more per month than she was making. But keep telling yourself the current system has built in protection in the event of loss of work.

Everything comes at a cost. Open a friggin' savings account.

[HAL 9000 96]

I lived in Canada for 23 years of my life and can say with 100% honesty that I never waited 3 weeks to see my doctor, even when I had something like strep throat. Most I waited was 3 or 4 days. I had three different doctors over my life time there and this did not change.

If you have to wait 4 weeks to see your doctor, you should probably get a new one. I lived in a pretty busy area as well so it wasn't a thing of person to doctor ratio.

To be honest with you, every one is entitled to their own opinion. But, my mother was diagnosed with colon cancer in summer of 2008, received her treatments in due time, and is now in remission. I think every one has their own experiences within their own healthcare system.

But I was always treated well in Canada. I've been treated well here in the US, too. It's just come at a high cost.

Maybe according to location. Or perhaps the naysayers are selectively focusing on strange chemotherapy cases.

[HAL 9000 96]

I am one of the fortunate ones who has fantastic healthcare coverage and could never be wiped out by any catastrophic events mentioned previously. My out of pocket maximum is only $3000.

That is until a catastrophic event costs you your job and - with it - your coverage.

Under COBRA, if you are terminated for any reason other than "gross misconduct," you are

guaranteed the right to continue your former employer's group plan for up to 18 months.

COBRA comes at a cost most employee's, use my wife as example, can't possibly afford when not working. In fact, COBRA would have cost more per month than she was making. But keep telling yourself the current system has built in protection in the event of loss of work.

So instead of going into debt for, say, 20 years- without COBRA... we're looking at debt (with COBRA) for what... 18 years instead?

[ready4ONE 5,400]

I am one of the fortunate ones who has fantastic healthcare coverage and could never be wiped out by any catastrophic events mentioned previously. My out of pocket maximum is only $3000.

That is until a catastrophic event costs you your job and - with it - your coverage.

Under COBRA, if you are terminated for any reason other than "gross misconduct," you are

guaranteed the right to continue your former employer's group plan for up to 18 months.

COBRA comes at a cost most employee's, use my wife as example, can't possibly afford when not working. In fact, COBRA would have cost more per month than she was making. But keep telling yourself the current system has built in protection in the event of loss of work.

Everything comes at a cost. Open a friggin' savings account.

She did have a savings account. COBRA would have emptied it in around 3 months. We can't all be fabulously wealthy like you Maw...

[thetreble 19]

Yeah. My husband got Cobra'd for a year. It was costing his father $600.00/month. I don't think that's really affordable if you aren't pretty well off which most of the country is not.

[justashooter 430]

it's actually a little pathetic to hear people brag that they paid nothing for their own medical care.

it's more than a little pathetic. it's downright disgusting.

it's like listening to someone talk about how they stole their neighbor's car and used it to drive around for a few years.

it's what you get when you allow people to sluff responsibility for their own condition off onto other people's backs.

[HAL 9000 96]

Yeah. My husband got Cobra'd for a year. It was costing his father $600.00/month. I don't think that's really affordable if you aren't pretty well off which most of the country is not.

Regarding costs and all... how much does Canada's medical insurance system costs Canadians per month or is it funded by other public means? Because there still are retards that think its free.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

it's actually a little pathetic to hear people brag that they paid nothing for their own medical care.

it's more than a little pathetic. it's downright disgusting.

it's like listening to someone talk about how they stole their neighbor's car and used it to drive around for a few years.

it's what you get when you allow people to sluff responsibility for their own condition off onto other people's backs.

All of which is almost as disgusting as 1/3 of all health care costs lining the pockets of for profit middle men, who do nothing good beyond generating personal wealth at an extreme cost to individuals, families, and at this point the entire national economy.

Now that is disgust you can believe in!

[thetreble 19]

it's actually a little pathetic to hear people brag that they paid nothing for their own medical care.

it's more than a little pathetic. it's downright disgusting.

it's like listening to someone talk about how they stole their neighbor's car and used it to drive around for a few years.

it's what you get when you allow people to sluff responsibility for their own condition off onto other people's backs.

I really dislike this comment.

In regards to the percentage of unemployed, Canada and the US are probably neck and neck right now. Considering every one in Canada is pretty much paying the same for their insurance, I don't see how someone would be taking the other for a ride and breaking their back over someone who is not employed.

You don't have to agree with it, but saying it's disgusting is a whole other issue. You have never experienced social healthcare. You don't know what it's like to be in the system.

Yeah. My husband got Cobra'd for a year. It was costing his father $600.00/month. I don't think that's really affordable if you aren't pretty well off which most of the country is not.

Regarding costs and all... how much does Canada's medical insurance system costs Canadians per month or is it funded by other public means? Because there still are retards that think its free.

To be perfectly honest with you, I don't know. But it sure as hell ain't expensive.

Edited July 22, 2009 by thetreble