Hello neighbor's, how do you feel about your health care?

Show all answers

chick-a-dee

Everybody should have equal access to health care. How could you possibly look at two five year olds and think it is right that one can see the doctor and the other can't, just because of how much money their parents make or how smart they were over paying for their insurance?
How many people in the USA get stuck in jobs that they hate or find super stressful just because they need the health benefits, or wouldn't qualify for the same ones somewhere else?
What if your plan only covers one trip to the gynecologist a year, and after you arrive you discover that due to moral reasons she won't prescribe birth control for you? This happens, and so many more issues.
How much debt are you willing to take on to obtain care for a loved one? Use up your kid's college funds to pay for their mother's cancer treatment? Take out a 2nd mortgage on the house to pay for a father's heart surgery?
What if you discover you are expecting a child with serious health issues you don't have coverage for.... do you abort just because you can't afford it?

In Canada, I can seek medical care anytime I need it, and expect to get excellent quality care no matter what I can afford. If I have an issue with a doctor, I will simply go to another one. I will never be stuck in a job because I need the coverage. If my health situation changes, I will not be a burden to my family. I will never lose my house because I want to save a loved one, and I will never have to jeopardize my children's futures for that same reason. If I have a child with a disability or illness, my only concern will be how much love our family can find together, not if I can afford to have the child. And I could go on and on.

I really don't see any cons here. Except maybe that dental and optical are not included (usually covered by health benefits at work, or you can buy insurance for that, though it isn't too expensive to just pay for most of it anyway, also I believe this is covered for many low income families).

The lack of a health care system is one of the significant reasons I would never move to the US.

Jay S

I think it's pretty great overall. Of course it could be better, everything can.

Pros - The big one obviously is that no matter who you are or how much money you make, you get treated the same - For free. It doesn't matter what disease or illness you have, you're covered. Basically if you're sick you only need to worry about getting better.

Cons - Lots of times there are long waits to see a doctor. Sometimes 4 hours or more. I guess lots of doctors go to the States to make more money.

Not sure what a co-pay is, but if it has to do with paying anything for treatment, we don't.

Dental and Optical aren't covered unless you are below a certain poverty line. Most people with full or even part time jobs have insurance through their companies that cover at least if not most of those costs.

As to whether the US should adopt some form of Universal Healthcare - I can't believe you haven't already. You guys should be furious that you don't have it. It seems that the reason you don't is so companies (Drug, HMOs and others) can make money. I'm all for free enterprise and making money, but some things you should just have for free - Healthcare is one of them.

Ed P

In BC we pay $96.00 a month for 2 Can be subsidised for low ioncome. Hospital free dental & optical not covered Last year I fell on the street rushed to the Er stayed 8 hours treated x rays lab a meal taxi home No charge I have had angiogram Heart problems Monthly doctors visits lab work no charge..We use our taxes to keep people alive not wars

library granny

The pro's are we might pay "premiums" to the medical plan of a province @ $80. a month per person put there aren't too may provinces that do/Alberta is taking them off in Jan 2009.
Blue cross- covers dr. visits, ambulance, hospital stay, operation, emergency visits, and meds.

No con's- I would consider staying with our plan.

What is a co-pay?

Seniors get dental and optical mostly 80% or total coverage.

Also jobs have benefits/plans that cover 100%, or you might have to pay a small percentage from your wage. Unions have good medical coverage.

My feelings are the states has to get some kind of different set up before it gets out of hand.

I can't believe paying for meds while admitted to a hospital, or anything else....you can have it.
hope this helps

cw21dlr

Hi Chris,
I live in Windsor and work at the casino.
Subsidized (or socialized) health care, as we have, is good in the sense that it is available to everyone.
Even if you are on welfare, or mother's allowance, the goverment covers the cost of your basic medical needs. Certain procedures, however, are not covered and anything that is considered "cosmetic", or any treatment that might be deemed "experimental", is usually not covered.
The main drawback, as others have stated, is wait time. If you, by chance, need to see a specialist, sometimes the wait is upwards of a year. I had to wait 10 months to see an orthopaedic surgeon. Also, waiting in emergency rooms can be excrutiating and often 5 or 6 hours; although, I have noticed an slight improvement in that regard as hospitals are experimenting with different options to reduce waiting times.
Basic coverage under OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Premium) for a hospital stay is sometimes a ward but more often a semi-private room (2 people). For a private room, you pay the difference out of your own pocket.

By co-pay, I'm guessing that you mean for prescriptions, etc. This is not generally covered, unless you are a senior, etc., or on some form of social assistance. In my case, as in many others, I am covered for that through my employer (they pay for these benefits). When I get a prescription, I pay the co-pay (usually $1.00) and the company's medical insurance provider pays the balance. So that is a big asset, as the price of prescriptions can be exorbitant, but again that is covered through the employer, if you're lucky, and not usually the government.

Dental, optical, etc. is not government sponsored, but again can be covered through a plan at work, if you're lucky (as I am).

As others stated, this is not a "free ride" and in fact the government in Ontario in the past two years has introduced a further surtax for medical care (based on your income, but I think up to about $600.00 yearly) that is figured into your income tax return. So they give with one hand, and take with the other.

It is a pretty good plan overall, especially if you have medical coverage through an employer than takes care of all the areas the government plan doesn't. I do, however, know several people who has chosen to see specialists at places such as Henry Ford, etc., rather than endure the wait times here, so it is not perfect.

thinkingtime

Health care was the deciding factor when heading into N America from Europe.

No copays for treatment.
Dental and optical for medical need only, not regular check ups - really object to that.

I meet and work with Americans in - or not in - medical treatment. I can't imagine living like that. Hope your government comes to its senses.

ms_Lila

I agree with the rest of the Canadian's that having a universal health care system is a very good thing. Yes we have high taxes to pay for it but we also have a higher minimum wage/cost of living so I think it all works out. Besides you can't get something for nothing.

The biggest problem that Ontario folk face is long wait times for some procedures ie. mri's, open heart surgery and even trying to get into a specialist can take time. I have heard that there is some wait time for cancer treatment which isn't a good thing in my book but I think the government is looking for ways to fix these situations.

People commonly complain about having to wait for hours in the ER but that is expected and everybody knows that. But the complaining will continue until they are on the other side of the situation and have a loved one who has a heart attack and is treated right away and saved. It is all about priority when it comes to ER's and if people who only have sniffles or hangnails wouldn't come to the ER then ER's would function like they are supposed to.

No we don't have dental coverage or optical coverage but that is okay by me. I pay for my medicines, dental appointments and eyeglasses and get a bit of a break on my taxes for it.

No co-payment but in Ontario a few doctors tried it a few years back and the Government stopped it. Quite frankly if it came down to co-payments or no health care I wouldn't think twice about having to pay for part of my care.

Also part of the system is that seniors - people of 65 get the majority of their medicines for free. I think they might have a small co-payment to help subsidize the system, or perhaps they have a deductible for the year they have to exhaust first. But also people who are disabled or on some sort of social assistance also have this benefit.

I think that our Universal Health Care system is a safety net which the Americans could use. I take great comfort in the fact that if I get a serious illness that I will be taken care of and I won't lose my house or put my family into debt for the rest of their lives.

Dangermanmi6

1) waiting lines for non emergency treatments if you have the sniffles at emerg you can wait forever. I've been admitted right away with chest pains and kidney pains. Waiting sucks but if you are truly sick you will be seen and treated right away.
2)by co-pays do you mean pay for the extras yep the UH only covers the basics but it is unlimited. You have to pay for your meds, semi & private rooms and some tests depending on the province you reside in.
3)The province that I live in de-listed eye exams several years ago except for certian conditions (diabeties) and you have to pay for your own glasses and dental. Again there are certian exceptions pensioners, welfare etc.
4)The money the US has dropped on Iraq in the form of bombs could pay for everyone to have at least the basic health care, also of all the industralised countries why does the US want to make so much money from the pain and suffering of its own population? Yes the US should have universal health care it would be cheaper in the long run. After having several health problems last year I'm not out of pocket much money and I'm in reasonably good health now, if I had let my conditions deterioate to where I had to go my health wouldn't be as good as it is and I couldn't work. Many Canadians who want the US style of health care haven't lived it, I have and I didn't like it.

One thing that should be pointed out is this system isn't free we all pay for it with our taxes and in some provinces we have a surtax on top of the other taxes. I don't like the extra taxes but I wouldn't change it. Now if only we could get people to stop wasting emerg time put on their bandaids for their little owiees and sniffles or go to a walk in clinic

Man

Pros-You actually get medication
Cons-It takes forever to get an appointment with a specialist and its one of the reasons why Canada is heavily taxed.
?
US govt=borrows cash to pay for EVERYTHING. Its pretty much bankrupt with its $88 trillion debt. I'd tell you Americans to pay it off, tell your govt create a sustainable spending scheme before adding more bills.
N/A

Tyler

well, a pro, obviously, its free. if you have an issue, you walk in and it gets fixed, however, the con is, it take 427320678 hours just to get looked at.

no, i don't believe here in Ontario dental and optical are covered.

as long as America does it properly (unlike us) then it should be fine. you just need to ensure you have enough doctors. (which we don't)

i think if you guys get a system that you cant cheat, and you have enough doctors and hospitals, then it should work out fine.... or at least it will be a lot better then what you guys have now.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: