Canadian Health Care System

[minnie56]

Agreed. Well said.
It's a sin to see the Billions spent in other areas, ie: WARS! When their very own are in need..look at New Orleans alone. Disgusting all this time after..for shame. Need to put their $$ where their mouths are!

 

[drag n' fly]

Agreed. Well said.
It's a sin to see the Billions spent in other areas, ie: WARS! When their very own are in need..look at New Orleans alone. Disgusting all this time after..for shame. Need to put their $$ where their mouths are!

Finally a thread with some substance to it!

 

[christiane]

Just wait until ducklite finds this thread!! The post numbers will double!!

 

[drag n' fly]

I too, have lived in both countries. And I feel just the opposite.

I just want to make 2 points:

1) I'm not sure why you think Americans focus on preventive care and Canadians don't. Sorry to offend, but this is a ridiculous statement. If preventive medicine is so wonderful in the US, there wouldn't be an epidemic beyond proportion of preventive diseases. Look around at your fellow Americans next time you are visiting there. Or just watch a little Tv. Adult onset diabetes, orthopedic diseases, heart disease, cancer ---all could be considered to have preventive components. Yet, the lifestyle choices made by many Americans lead to their development. Prenatal care is another preventive issue. The US has one of the lowest rates of prenatal care among developed nations. And this is reflected in higher morbidity & mortality neonatal rates than is expected of such a "rich" nation.
These are just 2 examples. If you want more, just let me know.

2) An important point many Americans is missing is this: Canadians seem truly happy to provide health care to everyone. Not just those who are fortunate to have employee sponsored plans. Saying there are Canadians who do not have access to healthcare is absolutely untrue. Even new residents to Canada qualify after 3 months of residency.

When I lived in the US, the corporation I worked for had excellent health care coverage for the professional staff which was provided as part of our overall compensation. We did not have further deductions on our gross income. However, the non-professional staff had to pay out of pocket for the same coverage, at a cost of several hundred dollars a month. The staff were earning $8-10/hr while I was compensated extremely well and could have afforded my own premiums if necessary. This situation made me feel terribly uncomfortable because I knew most of the staff were going without health care coverage because they couldn't afford it.

Canadians know no one will go without health care based on their ability to pay. And that is priceless.

Exactly! Uhc has provided Canadians the opportunity to have the best health possible. People do not have to wait to go to the doctor until they can afford it they go sooner therefore costing the system less money in the end. It appears we are only hearing from Americans who can afford the health insurance. Of course it works perfectly for them...they can afford it...no worries! What about the poor? They have public health but it is so poorly run in the US it truly is a waste of taxpayers money. Let's hear from a family in the US with no insurance because they cannot afford it. I am sure you will hear a much different but commonly heard story about US health.

 

[christiane]

While I would love to see uhc in the US, I secretly wonder how on earth they would implement it.

Even if they held a vote tomorrow & every single person voted to accept it, the insurance companies are so powerful & entrenched in American government, the legal battles would go on for years.

The other thing is the sheer number of people in the US, 10x Canada's. To make it manageable, I suppose it would be state run. Like in Canada it is provincial with federal transfer payments. In that case, though, you have one state, California whose population is equal to the whole of Canada.

Can anyone tell me what happened in Canada when uhc was finalized. 1966, I think someone said. What were Canadians doing for health care coverage before then? And how did the government actually bring it about?

 

[minnie56]

Just wait until ducklite finds this thread!! The post numbers will double!![/QUOTE

I know
I am waiting...

I thought as I went out..to take my DD21 to the Dr's of all places...

You know, we for the most part seem pretty happy with what we have. And we all have the same. No one is treated any differently.

She seems happy with what she has, but she does not have the same as all Americans have? She is fortunate..most are not. She talks a good talk, but there are way too many stories that do not!

 

[bababear_50]

Canadian Health Care System -PRICELESS --wouldn't trade it for millions .
Thank my good fortune that I live in this Country all the time.

I just can't imagine trying to decide if my child was sick enough to warrant going to the doctors or having to have the money to pay for it,,,UHC is one of the greatest services we have as Canadians.
I won't bash the US health care system but do feel sorry for all of them that do not have Health Care avaliable to them.

Hugs Mel

 

[ferris198]

I would like to think that ducklite is too busy working paying off her insurance premiums to post here, although she does seem to be pretty busy on the other board.
I wonder, of her employer, who is paying the premium is aware of the time she spends on-line ?

 

[Kurby]

who is this duck person you guys are talking about. i'd love to read some of her posts

 

[christiane]

I would like to think that ducklite is too busy working paying off her insurance premiums to post here, although she does seem to be pretty busy on the other board.
I wonder, of her employer, who is paying the premium is aware of the time she spends on-line ?

Ok...ferris198...I wonder if there is a way you could ask that on the other thread without it being considered a personal attack??

Self-righteousness is not a trait I personally admire and it is on full display in that thread.

Kurby...ducklite is a frequent poster on the regular community boards. Just wander over there and it won't take long to find her.

 

[minnie56]

She is posting over on the Community Board on a Thread about this same topic. I am throwing away my Encyclopedia's because SHE knows everything!

Anyone watching 'Deal or No Deal' ? The Contestant is playing to try to make enough money to buy her children Medical Insurance! I rest my case...

 

[ferris198]

I couldn't resist and counted her posts for today, she is up to 32 or so.
I will ask.
Hang on tight, I am sure there will be some backlash !

 

[PhotobearSam]

Sure our system has flaws. If you need knee surgery, you wait. You need treatment for a heart attack, you don't wait.

In the last year, My Mom had colon cancer diagnosed, had her surgery, and is now cancer free (knock on wood), Dad had a triple Bypass, DH had a knee replaced and stomach surgery, and I had my gallbladder removed.

At no time during all of this, did I have to stay up nights wondering if we could afford the hospital bills, nor did I fight insurance companies to allow these procedures and I met plenty of poor people in the hospital that were there right next to my very well off parents.

How is this a bad thing?

They say we pay more in taxes? Do we? I met so many people in the US when I was there for a month who said how they had to have a part time job as well as a full time one just to pay there insurance. I don't know a lot of people here with more than one job unless they are super hyper and really want to make a lot of cash. (I know that some people here still have to have 2 or 3 jobs to make ends meet. I was just saying it was a lot more down in Florida)

If they all paid that money they give to insurance companies into taxes instead, would it not be more equitable? Do poor people ever get knee replacements if they don't have insurance?

Here, if you are sick, you go to the hospital or doctor, there, they seem to try to decide if it's worth it before they go. They put off going because it will cost too much, is an HMO doctor available? Will they need to co-pay?



Now, DH needs a new knee again (the first surgery had complications and they were not his or the surgeons fault) but his surgeon is now in the US making more money...So off to find a new surgeon, we just saw one this week. Total wait, 1 1/2 months. Not bad.

We met a couple at WDW who asked DH how much his knee surgery cost. They would not believe us when we said We don't know. They kept at us. We had to explain that we never see a bill, we don't have to fill out insurance forms and we leave the hospital only worrying about when we can go back to work...He was floored. They asked us questions on our health care for 30 minutes.

If we just paid our doctors more, we maybe could keep them but that is another story.

I had a plan to stop that for a while. Each person in medical school should be eligible for a grant each year that they don't have to pay back but in exchange for that grant, they have to pledge to stay in Canada for one year...The longer they pledge, the more $ they could get...maybe I am naive...but that was just a thought.

Now, I am not saying that our health care is perfect, I am not saying we don't pay a lot in taxes for it...but to me, it's all worth it.

I would do anything to keep our health care...I hope it is here forever and just improves. We as Canadians believe that EVERYONE deserve health care, and I am proud of that.

I hope this does not start a huge debate but I needed to say these things.

Also, I want to thank publicly all the Doctors, nurses, anaesthesiologists, x-ray techs, food service and cleaning crews that make it all possible at all our hospitals. I am grateful that you are there, working so hard. I have both my parents now because of you all...I owe my parents lives to the doctors who saved them and I thank them for their hard work.

God Bless the Healers in our midst...

 

[minnie56]

I couldn't resist and counted her posts for today, she is up to 32 or so.
I will ask.
Hang on tight, I am sure there will be some backlash !

Good Job she's got there with that fabulous Insurance plan that allows her to post here all day!

 

[PhotobearSam]

Another thing...A lot of People in the US think they have great health insurance until they need it. Then they sometimes have to fight for care and are told no, you are not covered.

I much prefer that my doctor decides what treatments I need instead of a pencil pusher behind a desk at an insurance company when his/her job is to find ways to deny coverage to save the company $$$.

I know, if my doc wants me to have a certain test or procedure, I WILL GET IT and i won't have to wonder IF my insurance will cover it or not.

I sleep well at night knowing this.


PS...Ever wonder why shows like General Hospital have several story lines about people with no med coverage??? It's because people can relate to it. How about the movie Last Holiday? Queen Latifah's character Georgia is told that "THAT" surgery is not covered by her insurance and it would cost 100,000 if she paid by herself...I see it a lot on American TV but you hardly see "We waited forever" on a Canadian show...Wonder why??? Cause it's better here...It just is.

 

[taylor1293]

Hope you all don't mind if I join this thread as I am posting in the other thread.

I’m the one who pays almost $900 a month for insurance, but can’t afford to use it because it is so crappy, lol!

I've been on these boards for years and Ducklite has always been, and will always be self-righteous in her posts. Many view her in that light. It’s sad, as she seems like an intelligent and otherwise decent person. But she views herself as always right and all those who oppose her are always wrong. And she can never just state her opinions, she has to belittle those who disagree with her.

Ok...ferris198...I wonder if there is a way you could ask that on the other thread without it being considered a personal attack??

Self-righteousness is not a trait I personally admire and it is on full display in that thread.

Kurby...ducklite is a frequent poster on the regular community boards. Just wander over there and it won't take long to find her.

 

[christiane]

In the last year, My Mom had colon cancer diagnosed, had her surgery, and is now cancer free (knock on wood), Dad had a triple Bypass, DH had a knee replaced and stomach surgery, and I had my gallbladder removed.

PhotobearSam...I hope that everyone will stay well. That is a lot for one family to cope with. to you and your family.

Canadians are very fortunate people to just be able to focus on getting well and not worry about going bankrupt or losing their house when they are the least able to cope.

 

[christiane]

Hope you all don't mind if I join this thread as I am posting in the other thread.

Teresa, welcome to the thread!!

I’m the one who pays almost $900 a month for insurance, but can’t afford to use it because it is so crappy, lol!

I have a few questions for you if you don't mind. I have lived in the US a few times with employer-provided health coverage & have fortunately not needed to use it. I was wondering, exactly what you get for your $900. I was told I had excellent coverage, when I lived down there, but what does that mean nowadays? And what makes yours crappy? Do youget unlimited care for any illness or accident? How much input does your insurer have in your care?

I've been on these boards for years and Ducklite has always been, and will always be self-righteous in her posts. Many view her in that light. It’s sad, as she seems like an intelligent and otherwise decent person. But she views herself as always right and all those who oppose her are always wrong. And she can never just state her opinions, she has to belittle those who disagree with her.

I find this to be a true statement. I would add this --definitely case of I've got mine...to heck with you. But she is really the only one on the thread against UHC who at the same time acknowledges that she would like to see all Americans have some kind of coverage --she just doesn't want to help pay for it.

 

[christiane]

Anyone watching 'Deal or No Deal' ? The Contestant is playing to try to make enough money to buy her children Medical Insurance! I rest my case...

That is incredibly sad that she would have to do this. Game shows should be for winning a trip to Disney World, not for buying health insurance for children.

Did she say why she didn't have insurance? Did she win some money?

 

[DearDaisyinDurham]

I've lived in both countries and even been in the US military, and ask me which country's health care is preferred

Canada all the way, where everyone is covered. I won't say anything negative or nasty but I've fought for freedom and CANADA is a land of true free speech and health coverage for all.