Question for you Canadians...

[amisteratwisterandme]

As I am sure you are awar, we have the presidential election coming up soon. I have just heard that O'Bama wants to incorpaorate a Health Care System like you have in Canada...So, my question is, how is your health care system in Canada? :D

I am one of the lucky few that don't have to my through the nose for insurance, but sadly, alot of people in the US don't have that luxury. (I pay about $15.00 a week, work covers the rest)

Not trying in ANYWAY to start a debate on the candidates. I am just trying to learn as much as I can about both of them.

I do live in Arizona, so I have more knowledge of McCain than I do O'Bama.

[uptowngirl]

I don't know much about the Canadian health care system, but from what I understand it is pretty much universal care for every citizen. I believe that the state of Vermont was trying to institute something similar - basically they would pay for medical care out of our taxes I think.

Also Obama doesn't have a hyphen. :)

ETA:
I just found this helpful link about Canadian vs American health care
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_and_American_health_care_systems_compared

[SerendipityCrafts]

The cost of healthcare is hidden in our personal taxes. We pay for it in the long run but our healthcare is open to all; regardless of income. If you are sick and as long as you are a resident of Canada, you go see a doctor or get thee to the hospital.

Some of us might have longer waits than others for "elective" procedures or surgeries but, this might have more to do with where they live. We have doctor and nurse shortages; especially in the rural area.

[amisteratwisterandme]

Also Obama doesn't have a hyphen. :)

ETA:
I just found this helpful link about Canadian vs American health care
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_and_American_health_care_systems_compared


Thanks! I think somewhere I knew that. Let's blame it on my masive headache. When I typed it in the first time, I actually took the hyphen out, then shook my head and put it right back in. :bbredface:

[amisteratwisterandme]

ETA:
I just found this helpful link about Canadian vs American health care
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_and_American_health_care_systems_compared

I have done some research on it, but wanted an "insiders" view. The debate in my neck of the woods in kind of crazy, and I am getting so much **** from my boss about why we should vote for this one versus that one, and I like to have as much input as possible when I argue with her. :D She is not saying she is voting one way or the other, but only has bad things to say about one cadidate.

[f77g4]

The cost of healthcare is hidden in our personal taxes. We pay for it in the long run but our healthcare is open to all; regardless of income. If you are sick and as long as you are a resident of Canada, you go see a doctor or get thee to the hospital.

Some of us might have longer waits than others for "elective" procedures or surgeries but, this might have more to do with where they live. We have doctor and nurse shortages; especially in the rural area.

To further elaborate on Serpendity's comments....basically from the time I was born, my parents registered me for a Medicare card which has a special number on that and as long as I have that Medicare card with me, I don't have to pay anything (at least not out of pocket) whenever I see a doctor. Then the doctor's all have a physician number and bill the province for the services performed and it becomes and expense of the province - so essentially we pay through our taxes.

Waiting times do vary for sure - FH had to wait over 6 months for a procedure and thats pretty standard.

Then you buy BlueCross or some other coverage for your prescriptions and whatnot to help save on that end.

[nellaj]

The only thing I can complain about is the lack of doctors in my area. I live in rural Alberta and our local doctor was suppose to retire 4 years ago, but there was no one to take his place so he is still praticing. On a good note though the Alberta government has recently annouced that they have opened up I believe 20,000 places at schools for new doctors, nurses and lab technicians.
Another thing to note is that things such as glasses and dental work are not covered by the government of Alberta, but I have yet to meet someone who didn't have benefits through work, or blue cross to help cover those costs. I have full dental and medical coverage at work, including accidental death or injury and I pay less that $30 dollars a month for it, and I work for a not for profit.
Some people complain that with universal healthcare that "lazy" people get to take advantage of something they didn't earn. I have never personally seen that occur, but I suppose its not impossible.

[amisteratwisterandme]

Thanks for your replies.

[saltyveruca]

I am not sure that I favor a universal health care system, but I would like one that is not so focused on employers. It makes no sense to me that I am just as healthy as I was when I worked for a large corporation, but now that I work for myself I have very few options as far as health care goes.

It is INSANE how much insurance is for us. When I was a corporate worker, I had wonderful insurance for about $40 a month. I could have cancer, 20 babies, fall off a cliff, and still probably get full coverage. Now I pay about $150 for insurance that doesn't really cover anything. I have a HUGE deductible, no maternity coverage (and no option to buy it from my current insurance company, either), and a really sad prescription coverage. Let's just say that I'm really lucky that I'm healthy (and not pregnant). If I wanted the same coverage I had from my employer, I'd be paying $500 a month, easily, just for myself. Not even my husband!

Can you tell that maternity coverage is a big deal to me? It is really terrible that you can't find good, affordable maternity coverage outside of an employer-sponsored environment. There are a few really high priced options that I just can't reasonably afford. They pretty much figure that if you're buying maternity coverage as an add on, there's a good chance you're going to use it, so they charge you a LOT for it. So it's pretty ridiculous to me that I would basically have to give up a lifestyle that I love (and one that's perfect for a baby) and get a corporate job in order to not rack up thousands of dollars of health care bills. Insurance companies and career choices should not be deciding factors in whether or not we're having a baby, but the sad fact is that right now, they are.

For me, the ideal health care situation would be one that is largely without overhead. Meaning you'd just pay your doctor directly for routine stuff like checkups, and then have catastrophic insurance for stuff like a heart attack or a car wreck. It's a lot like the little Redi-Clinics and clinics in Wal-Mart and CVS that will see you for minor stuff for about $50, except it would be extended to family physicians and specialists. That way, I only really pay when I actually need it, instead of contributing almost $2,000 a year to an insurance plan that I literally get nothing out of (I have not needed to visit a doctor for the past 2 years!).

I have about a million more things to say about this...but I will stop for now and just say that I hope our next president knows what the hell he's doing with health care, because people like me seriously need some help. :snide: