RIP Canadian Penny

[U2_rocks!]

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.

Money talks everywhere - it's the way of the world, like it or not.

"Free" healthcare (meaning health care paid for by taxes) is designed to allow poor people to be able to take care of basic health problems - it is not really designed to take care of every possible problem, or if it is there may be a long wait for it because those specialists may be limited in number in certain areas. No health care system will ever be perfect - a perfect system would just cost too much to maintain.

I have access to free clinics but I still choose to go to the private doctor that knows me well. A regular visit to his office costs US$37.50. We aren't sick very often so it's worth that price to me. My health insurance only kicks in after US$50, because it's designed to take care of the bigger stuff that isn't routine. Because my job gives me health insurance, I have never explored any of the other free services out there. I should have. I paid good money for my youngest daughter's glasses, yet just the other day the principal of my son's school, while addressing parents about some of the issues they were experiencing (including kids who weren't seeing well in class), told us all that glasses for children are free! I didn't even know that! I've been using private health care too long, I haven't explored all the free stuff that's out there! I do know that prescription meds for kids and seniors are free, even if prescribed by a private doctor.

 

[Skywalker]

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

Oh well, at least in Canada we have the option. If someone is not happy they can choose to pay. The rest of us will enjoy medical care with no financial stress.

 

[crashbb]

Since this became about health care it is really important to note that health care in Canada is a Provincial issue - we don't actually have "National Health Care" The Canada Health Act sets out some criteria that the provinces must meet in order to money (Canada Health Transfer) but they are fairly high level rules - every province administers their system differently. For example, the "two tier" system discussed is not available in every province (at least, not officially). Some things have to be covered, but in many cases, different provinces cover different things (or, cover the same things but to a different extent).

Just wanted to point this out because when Canadians talk about health care "here", they really mean in their own province.

I've lived in the UK, the US, and here. All of the systems have their good points and their bad points. No use in trying to make your system (general you) seem better by finding the extremes of the bad in the other systems to prove your point (unless you are comparing them to the extremes of the bad in your system).

NB - I'm being lazy so please read "province" to be "province or territory".

BACK TO THE PENNY - is anyone swayed by the stores that are doing the "always round down" thing? Are you more likely to go to Tiger, for example, than another store? I think Tiger is a grocery store? We don't have them here.

I've been keeping track (I'm a numbers geek) and I'm currently up 2 cents. I've realised though that many of my standard buys already ended in 0 or 5.

 

[abdmom]

I generally pay by debit or credit. I pay cash in a store maybe twice a month. So, the rounding up or down really hasn't affected me.

 

[declansdad]

BACK TO THE PENNY - is anyone swayed by the stores that are doing the "always round down" thing? Are you more likely to go to Tiger, for example, than another store? I think Tiger is a grocery store? We don't have them here.

I've been keeping track (I'm a numbers geek) and I'm currently up 2 cents. I've realised though that many of my standard buys already ended in 0 or 5.

It doesn't sway me in the least. Afterall we are talking pennies here.


For most big purchases we use debit so it isn't an issue.

 

[CdnCarrie]

I generally pay by debit or credit. I pay cash in a store maybe twice a month. So, the rounding up or down really hasn't affected me.

This. I don't carry much cash around.

 

[mommasita]

I generally pay by debit or credit. I pay cash in a store maybe twice a month. So, the rounding up or down really hasn't affected me.

Same..

Tiger here is actually not a food store, but a small department store. They actually recently expanded to carry some food. Great prices. None too close to me, so I rarely go, but when I do the prices are good. I am not driving 30 miles to save pennies.

 

[lizabu]

Since this became about health care it is really important to note that health care in Canada is a Provincial issue - we don't actually have "National Health Care" The Canada Health Act sets out some criteria that the provinces must meet in order to money (Canada Health Transfer) but they are fairly high level rules - every province administers their system differently. For example, the "two tier" system discussed is not available in every province (at least, not officially). Some things have to be covered, but in many cases, different provinces cover different things (or, cover the same things but to a different extent).

Just wanted to point this out because when Canadians talk about health care "here", they really mean in their own province.

I've lived in the UK, the US, and here. All of the systems have their good points and their bad points. No use in trying to make your system (general you) seem better by finding the extremes of the bad in the other systems to prove your point (unless you are comparing them to the extremes of the bad in your system).

NB - I'm being lazy so please read "province" to be "province or territory".

BACK TO THE PENNY - is anyone swayed by the stores that are doing the "always round down" thing? Are you more likely to go to Tiger, for example, than another store? I think Tiger is a grocery store? We don't have them here.

I've been keeping track (I'm a numbers geek) and I'm currently up 2 cents. I've realised though that many of my standard buys already ended in 0 or 5.

I would shop there but only because I do anyways. They are kind of like a discount store. They have a small grocery section, some home goods, cleaning products and clothing.

Something cool about GT is they carry Canadian brands whenever possible. There are also some Canadian products that are difficult to find anywhere else.

 

[tvguy]

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

Or not discharge them. I have an Uncle in Ottawa with Alzheimers, he's been in the hosptial for 3 months now, because his Alzheimers is bad enough now he can't go home, and there are currently no openings in any long term Alzheimers facilities, and his condition is such he can't go to assisted living..

 

[CdnCarrie]

Or not discharge them. I have an Uncle in Ottawa with Alzheimers, he's been in the hosptial for 3 months now, because his Alzheimers is bad enough now he can't go home, and there are currently no openings in any long term Alzheimers facilities, and his condition is such he can't go to assisted living..

That's called interim care. He's there waiting for a bed in long term care. Would you rather they sent him home?

 

[Domo]

No more 99 cent stores then...

 

[lizabu]

No more 99 cent stores then...

We never had them (that I'm aware of). We have dollar stores.

 

[tvguy]

That's called interim care. He's there waiting for a bed in long term care. Would you rather they sent him home?

I am not there, but my cousin said it is not appropriate care for his condition and she is upset that there is a wait, and they need more capacity for alzheimers patients, but "they" ( and do not know who they is) won't add beds. Basically, the care is rationed.
She is comparing her experience to mine last year when my mom had a stroke, there is no wait here for rehab or long term care, capacity is at or above demand.

 

[lizabu]

I am not there, but my cousin said it is not appropriate care for his condition and she is upset that there is a wait, and they need more capacity for alzheimers patients, but "they" ( and do not know who they is) won't add beds. Basically, the care is rationed.
She is comparing her experience to mine last year when my mom had a stroke, there is no wait here for rehab or long term care, capacity is at or above demand.

The problem is there are only so many government funded beds. There are a lot of people who need them. There are waiting lists. You have a couple of options. Leave the patient in the hospital, hire a home care provider and let the patient wait at home or pay for the care facility yourself. It can be very expensive to pay for it yourself though.

For my Grandpa he kept running away from his nursing home so we hired a home care worker to take care of him. He wasn't seriously ill though. If the person is seriously ill they are going to need more care. My Grandpa needed things like someone to cook, clean, administer medications, bathe and dress him. Stuff like that. When someone is unable to leave their hospital bed they need more care.

 

[Art 1]

My lady friend in Ontario dad has been on dialysis for a some time now and in and out of the hospital all the time, weekly. The only cost to them has been $50 to come to the house and set some equipment up for him. But the sales tax is high as you all know.

 

[CdnCarrie]

I am not there, but my cousin said it is not appropriate care for his condition and she is upset that there is a wait, and they need more capacity for alzheimers patients, but "they" ( and do not know who they is) won't add beds. Basically, the care is rationed.
She is comparing her experience to mine last year when my mom had a stroke, there is no wait here for rehab or long term care, capacity is at or above demand.

Well I work in a facility with interim care and our residents receive wonderful care.
It's a hospital but a long term care wing. Sorry we all don't live in the utopia that is California.

 

["Got Disney"]

Considering the US is losing money on the penny, there is no reason for it to stick around. 2012 data has the penny as a $58million loser. Want to talk "government waste."

I hate all change. I understand the sales tax issue but I'd make everything flat dollars, round up or down. I guess I could live w/quarters. Round everything to the nearest quarter dollar & dump the rest.

Right...it costs more money to make the penny then the penny is worth....but hey since when has our Govt been good at money

 

[tvguy]

Well I work in a facility with interim care and our residents receive wonderful care.
It's a hospital but a long term care wing. Sorry we all don't live in the utopia that is California.

California is hardly utopia, businesses are fleeing the state because of all the regulations.

 

[dadddio]

California is hardly utopia, businesses are fleeing the state because of all the regulations.

The other day on the news someone from Texas made the same point about California. It was quickly pointed out to him that California had a growth of businesses last year while Texas lost them. Just saying.

 

[CdnCarrie]

California is hardly utopia, businesses are fleeing the state because of all the regulations.

Well your continued negativity about Canada gets hard to take.