RIP Canadian Penny

[kimblebee]

Stores are taking advantage of the change too. I just got an email from Giant Tiger saying they plan to round down for all your purchases.

They are certainly in the minority, most of us are very happy with our health care.

I know I am. I have biannual visits to my neurologist and a yearly MRI. Wouldn't be happening if I had to pay for insurance. Because of my MS I would be either turned down or have an outrageous deductible. No thanks!

 

[CdnCarrie]

Most, probably. But it certainly interesting how many medical practices in the U.S. have opened in border cities to cater to Canadian patients.

Don't go there or we can start talking about all those Americans going bankrupt with medical bills.

Your constant 3rd hand knowledge of Canada gets tiresome. It's not all rainbows and lollipops up here but neither is it south of the border.

Funny thing is when I had laser eye surgery done years ago the majority of patients were here from Minnesota. Go figure that.

 

[tinatark]

Happy. I hated getting those dang things randomly in my change.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Happy. I hated getting those dang things randomly in my change.

Yup I hate getting American pennies in my change. Glad that won't happen anymore.

 

[mommasita]

Not sure how this went to Medical Care, but not surprised.

Being someone who sees Dr's almost weekly, and has had a lot of major surgery, and more to come, I am not sure that I would be afloat without it. I have MRI's about every month, NO wait, no cost. I actually faxed my Neurosurgeon last week on a Wednesday, and was in on the Friday. I have a great group of Dr's right here in Montreal, and I am very thankful for that.

Happy about the penny. So much for pick a penny up though Doesn't fizz me a bit about the change. We adjust like anything else. My kids hate it for their lunches ...

 

[crashbb]

Most, probably. But it certainly interesting how many medical practices in the U.S. have opened in border cities to cater to Canadian patients.

Probably the same number of Canadian pharmacies that have opened to cater to Americans.

And the number of clinics in some provinces (predominately Alberta, but at least one in Toronto) that also cater to Americans by providing services that are cheaper than they can get in the US (including travel).

Canada is far from perfect, but as a PP said, your third had knowledge (ALWAYS negative) gets really, really tiring.

 

[Northstar]

What do pennies have to do with health care?

It's as if all the Canadians jumped in on one of the threads about the Superbowl halftime show to talk about how it's a sign that Americans haven't reformed their health insurance system and gun control.

Sometimes a penny is just a penny. Like 'em, hate 'em, they're gone. Canadians are tough and will survive the demise of the penny. I bet Americans would to.

 

[lizabu]

What do pennies have to do with health care?

It's as if all the Canadians jumped in on one of the threads about the Superbowl halftime show to talk about how it's a sign that Americans haven't reformed their health insurance system and gun control.

Sometimes a penny is just a penny. Like 'em, hate 'em, they're gone. Canadians are tough and will survive the demise of the penny. I bet Americans would to.

We're Canadians. Defending our health care when it's insulted is what we do

 

[Skywalker]

Not me. My 3 Aunts and 3 Uncles and 18 cousins who live in Canada. They aren't fans of the health care system either ( one Uncle/Aunt have private health insurance and go to Montana for their health care).
And they don't like front wheel drive cars either....insist a big rear wheel drive car with 150 pounds of bagged sand in the trunk works best in snow.

What strikes me as funny is your family always seems to have this big, homogenous group-think going on. Don't they have differing opinions on anything? lol. Whenever you give us your family's opinion on how Canada sucks its always the whole lot of them in sync. Holidays must be so boring at your house.

 

[CdnCarrie]

What do pennies have to do with health care?

It's as if all the Canadians jumped in on one of the threads about the Superbowl halftime show to talk about how it's a sign that Americans haven't reformed their health insurance system and gun control.

Sometimes a penny is just a penny. Like 'em, hate 'em, they're gone. Canadians are tough and will survive the demise of the penny. I bet Americans would to.

Agreed.

 

[tvguy]

What strikes me as funny is your family always seems to have this big, homogenous group-think going on. Don't they have differing opinions on anything? lol. Whenever you give us your family's opinion on how Canada sucks its always the whole lot of them in sync. Holidays must be so boring at your house.

Oh, I wish holidays were boring. About the only things they agree on are Healthcare and currency.


Here's something Canadian I like....(at least in Saskatchewan)....pay your property taxes early, get 15% off.

 

[okw2012]

Not sure how this went to Medical Care, but not surprised.

Maybe because that's about how much we pay for accessing our health care system

 

[DeniseinNS]

Not me. My 3 Aunts and 3 Uncles and 18 cousins who live in Canada. They aren't fans of the health care system either ( one Uncle/Aunt have private health insurance and go to Montana for their health care).
And they don't like front wheel drive cars either....insist a big rear wheel drive car with 150 pounds of bagged sand in the trunk works best in snow.

Maybe they should move to the USA then and pay for their healthcare then????
I LOVE our healthcare system in Canada

 

[tvguy]

Maybe they should move to the USA then and pay for their healthcare then????
I LOVE our healthcare system in Canada

Like I posted, one Aunt and Uncle do have private health insurance and come to Montana for healthcare.

 

[mommasita]

Like I posted, one Aunt and Uncle do have private health insurance and come to Montana for healthcare.

They should look into other options.


Aside from the Government plan, I have private with my Husband's and my own employer, and can have anything done in about an hour with that. VERY costly, 100% refundable thankfully, but there is zero wait for that.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Like I posted, one Aunt and Uncle do have private health insurance and come to Montana for healthcare.

Why would they do that for? We have a great healthcare system. The more you talk about them the less I like them.

 

[Luv'sTink]

Both Countries Medical is broken. The way I seen my sister in law treated in the hospital, in Canada, is not something I would ever want to happen to me.

A different incident, she needed a MRI on her knee. The first time her wait was 1 year. The second time she chose to pay out of pocket to not have to wait a year again, $500. My husband, in the US, went to the doctor on a Monday for his knee and they were calling the next day to make an appointment for the MRI for the following week. That is just one comparison I know personally. My brother spent a week in a local hospital, tons of test and paid nothing, that's right nothing and he has no medical coverage. (US hospital)

http://blogs.ajc.com/bob-barr-blog/2010/02/10/canadian-premier-comes-to-us-for-heart-surgery/
http://dailycaller.com/2012/07/11/report-thousands-fled-canada-for-health-care-in-2011/

 

[Scornelius]

We're Canadians. Defending our health care when it's insulted is what we do

So true!

 

[tvguy]

Why would they do that for? We have a great healthcare system. The more you talk about them the less I like them.

Long waits to see specialists is the issue I hear most often. My uncle needed knee replacement surgery, and the wait was 11 months in Canada, versus 2 week wait in Montana. And my Aunt has severe arthritis that required gold injections at a more frequent interval than she can get in Canada. . That is probably one thing the Canadian health care system has in common with the U.S., if you have money, you have access to the best healthcare.

 

[lizabu]

Long waits to see specialists is the issue I hear most often. My uncle needed knee replacement surgery, and the wait was 11 months in Canada, versus 2 week wait in Montana. And my Aunt has severe arthritis that required gold injections at a more frequent interval than she can get in Canada. . That is probably one thing the Canadian health care system has in common with the U.S., if you have money, you have access to the best healthcare.

That's true. We have the standard health care and then most but not all people have a health care plan through their work. Maybe these horror stories are coming from people who do not have additional coverage or who live in rural areas. I live in a large (for Canada) city and we have a medical university here. Even then if you need to switch doctors or if you are new to town it can be hard to find a doctor accepting new patients. There just aren't enough general practitioners. I've only really heard of people having to wait for procedures when they needed their provincial health care to pay for it. Like a friend who lost a lot of weight quickly needed a loose skin removal procedure. She had to wait a year. If she had the money she could have paid for it and done it faster.

It's not like the US health system is better though. My Mom is American. My Grandma had emphysema and was really sick. She would go to the hospital until her insurance ran out. Once the insurance ran out she would go home. She wasn't better mind you but had no money to stay in the hospital. She would stay home until enough time passed that her insurance would cover her at the hospital again and she would return to the hospital.

As Canadians its mind boggling that a hospital could discharge a person who is still sick and still in need or treatment.