Med costs
Question:
Actually, I’m aware of Canadian taxes having done business there and have visited almost all of the provinces. I believe the issue comes down to value for your taxes combined with quality of life and on that basis I find the Canadian system much more desirable than in the USA. In fact, I often refer to our Northern friends as the much-more civilized country. Kevin (Who is Willing to Pay More in Taxes for a much simpler Single Payer Health System that Removes Greedy Insurance Company Profits!) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >heh,,,,someone from canada should post what THEY pay in taxes, you would be >shocked out’a your socks!!! >jeff, >cd class of o1 > O’Connor <ibm.com> said… > > When, When, When will the citizens in the usa wakeup and demand > > UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE? > Be aware however, that it still costs money. I’ve read that the > British pay far more in tax than others do, and it could very well be > true. Having said that, when I read about the problems you have in > the US and elsewhere with being able to afford health care I am very > grateful for our NHS, despite its many shortcomings. > — > Fran
Response:
heh,,,,someone from canada should post what THEY pay in taxes, you would be shocked out’a your socks!!! jeff, cd class of o1
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > O’Connor <ibm.com> said… > When, When, When will the citizens in the usa wakeup and demand > UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE? > Be aware however, that it still costs money. I’ve read that the > British pay far more in tax than others do, and it could very well be > true. Having said that, when I read about the problems you have in > the US and elsewhere with being able to afford health care I am very > grateful for our NHS, despite its many shortcomings. > — > Fran
Response:
heh….jerry farwell was an ass hole long before his infomerical!!!! jeff, cd class of o1
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Many Americans have a false impression of the Canadian medical system. I > remember 4 or 5 years ago when the Clinton administration was trying to > introduce a new public health system. Many high profile and powerful groups were > against it, including Jerry Farwell. He had an infomercial on American > television. Here in Toronto we receive all the American networks. I remember > being furious with his TV program. He used the Canadian health care system as an > example why their government should not develop a public system. I still > remember all the lies he told about our system. I have no respect for Jerry > Farwell. > He said that Canadians have no choice of Doctors and that they have to go to the > doctor that is assigned to them. He said they couldn’t get a second opinion. The > fact is that all doctors must belong to the public health systems and it is up > to the doctor and patient if they want to see each other. The patient can change > doctors at any time and get a second or third opinion. I have done this before. > Jerry Farwell also said that there are long waiting lists to see a doctors. This > is just not true. In some rural areas and small towns it may be difficult to see > a Doctor when you want but in the city it shouldn’t be much of a problem. If you > want to visit a doctor for a regular checkup you may have to wait up to one > month for an appointment but if it is more urgent I can generally see my Family > Doctor within one or two days. If that isn’t soon enough, I can go to one of the > many walk-in clinics that are available to everyone or I can go to the emergency > department of the nearest hospital. The only long waiting list I know of is for > some elective surgeries. Also MRI’s seem to have I long waiting list if it is > not an emergency. I’m sure there are other non essential procedures as well. > Jerry Farwell’s infomercial also showed a Canadian couple with their faces > blocked out and their voices disguised telling their story on how poor the > Canadian Health system was. It was disgusting watching this. It just wasn’t > true. > My Family Doctor is in an office with two other doctors that provides both > walk-in and appointment service. He covers the walk-in service three days per > week, 9:00am to 11:30am. Other times are by appointment only. A few weeks before > Christmas, I was not feeling well. I called my Family Doctor Monday afternoon > and was told I couldn’t get an appointment for at least one week. They told me > that my doctor was taking walk-in patients the following morning and I could see > him then or if it is an emergency I could go to the local hospital. > I went to see my Doctor Tuesday morning and waited about an hour to see him. He > ordered blood test (taken right there in the office) and chest x-rays. He told > me to see him the following Thursday for the results. I then drove 5 minutes to > the x-ray lab and had them completed 30 minutes after I left the Doctors office. > I returned to the Doctor on Thursday and he told me I had Pneumonia. He gave me > a prescription for antibiotics and a note to take to work saying I should be off > work for one week. My employer requires it after 4 days off sick for me to be > paid. > I don’t see how this experience could have progressed any faster. It did not > cost me anything out of my pocket other then taxes of course. I didn’t even > loose wages for being off work for one week. The doctor’s visit, blood test, and > x-rays were paid directly from the public health plan (Ontario Health Insurance > Plan, OHIP – in Ontario). The prescription was paid directly by my employers > drug plan. I did not have to fill out any forms. I just showed my OHIP card and > DRUG plan card. I have no idea how much was charged to OHIP. They never tell and > they don’t give receipts. > I have also had similar experiences with my GI when treating my ulcerative > colitis. About one year ago it took about 1 1/2 months from the fist signs of > diarrhea till I was diagnosed with UC. I saw two different doctors several times > each during that time including a visit to the hospital for a Sigmoidoscopy. > In the last 8 years I have taken my wife to emergency at the hospital twice with > no problems. Both times she was assessed within 10 minutes by a nurse and then > admitted with a doctor seeing her within one hour of our arrival. The first > visit she was admitted for overnight observation and sent home the following day > with a portable heart monitor. We then returned for a follow-up and to return > the monitor a week later. It turned out that she had a heart murmur that wasn’t > serious and she new about it back in her home country. She just forgot about it > and none of her local doctors new about it. This whole experience did not cost > us one cent out of our pockets. > I’m sorry this is getting long but I have wanted to post my views and > information for a long time, especially after a few people on this group have > badmouthed the Canadian system. Without mentioning names, after reading one > poster’s messages, I could not help but think they created most of the problems > they had with their doctors and hospital. Don’t expect to be treated any better > than you treat them. This person also tried to circumvent the system and do > things their own way. > The Canadian system is not perfect but I think it is one of the better systems > around. The Government has made many changes to it in the last few years but > none of them have affected me. Once or twice a month, the media reports on cases > that had serious problems with our medical system, most of them with life > threatening situations or even death. With only 10 to 20 of these cases reported > yearly, I think that is a very low rate for a country of more than 30 million > people. The media is always criticizing our public health system and the > government but I think they blow it out of proportion. Funding is always an > issue. > I hope this doesn’t start a flame war. These are just my experiences and views. > — > Paul > Visit our photo albums at http://www.laflammefamily.ca > — > Unfortunately, in the usa, the insurance companies and our > ever-present hand-in-their-pockets politicians, have done a masterful > job of demonizing the Canadian health service. A couple days ago on > C-SPAM one of the guests involved in the whole charade made the most > accurate statement after being challenged about representing the usa > system as the "gold standard" in global healthcare. He finally > admitted our top facilities are the best in the world if you have "the > gold to pay for them!" > When, When, When will the citizens in the usa wakeup and demand > UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE? > >I don’t know were you heard that. I have never had a hard time seeing my doctor. > >The only real problem I have heard of is the long waiting lists for elective > >surgery. Between my pregnant wife and my UC, we have seen many doctors in the > >last year with no problems. > >– > >Paul > >Visit our photo albums at http://www.laflammefamily.ca
Response:
>i think everyone is feeling the greed of the medical profession (and >business people at the top). ~~those are nice words, i am in a good mood >today.
I think the ins. cos are the ones raking it in….for the most part I have decent coverage through work on a PPO plan ($10 co pay on Rx, 90% coverage after deductible IF I go to someone in the plan, 70% out of plan). But when I get my statements from insurance re: what they have actually paid, I can see that the doctor often accepts close to 25% of what was billed; apparently that’s the network negotiated rate. And my doctors are routinely paid anywhere from 5-6 months after services are rendered. I know ins. sure wouldn’t let you ride 5-6 months on the premium payment. I don’t know the"real" (versus the billed) cost of a scope, but I am sure it was more than the $300 they paid my GI last year, and I am sure the blood draw/labwork on a complete work-up is more than the $18 my GP’s ofc was reimbursed. Let’s not even think about the cost of the 12 visits to the physical therapist for my bone spur/plantar fasciitis. I started in Jan, 2001 finished in April. They paid the first payment in June, the last in October. And the biggest hitch is that the organization my GP is affiliated with did not renew with my insurance as of Jan 1, so my GP is now "out of plan." (My GI is still in.) After 81/2 years with a GP I am comfortable with, and who knows my history I am not changing drs. I suppose when I see him the 21st for my 6 month routine check-up for BP and blood work I will have to pay out of pocket and submit a claim myself. (Another headache.) If my GI drops out of the plan in the future I will have to change ins., because after a string of terrible specialists, I am sticking with one I trust and have rapport with. We can only switch November of each year, and the other plans offered bymy job are primarily HMO types, or require referrals by a PCP, none of which are part of my current plan. On top of which, customer service is non-existent,and I have no idea what they hire these days for help, but they aren’t mental giants. When I got orthopedic inserts Oct 2000 (we started with the the most inexpensive conservative treatment in an attempt to avoid PTor surgery) they initially only paid for ONE, because I only had the problem in one foot. Once the dr explained BOTH feet needed inserts to maintaint the body’s balance (I invisioned myself hunched over like Quasimodo) they reluctantly coughed up for the second. Bean counters and morons, hoarding every penny, peple making these judgments who have no medical background or understanding of what impact their decisions have on real people. And at least one CEO of these "non-profit cos." living in a half million dollar home (yes, here in Seattle, right on the lake, dock and all). Have you seen the salaries of some of the CEOs of ins. cos. like Blue Cross, Aetna, Premera, etc.? They far eclipse the average dr. out there.
Response:
Thank you for sharing your experiences. I don’t see how they could be any better! Many Americans do not respect Jerry Farwell, and are aware of his tactics. Many of us also truly wish for a government controlled health system. It sounds like you have a far more universal health care approach in Canada than we do in the US. I’m very glad for you that you have this positive medical care. : ) Ceresse
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Many Americans have a false impression of the Canadian medical system. I > remember 4 or 5 years ago when the Clinton administration was trying to > introduce a new public health system. Many high profile and powerful groups were > against it, including Jerry Farwell. He had an infomercial on American > television. Here in Toronto we receive all the American networks. I remember > being furious with his TV program. He used the Canadian health care system as an > example why their government should not develop a public system. I still > remember all the lies he told about our system. I have no respect for Jerry > Farwell. > He said that Canadians have no choice of Doctors and that they have to go to the > doctor that is assigned to them. He said they couldn’t get a second opinion. The > fact is that all doctors must belong to the public health systems and it is up > to the doctor and patient if they want to see each other. The patient can change > doctors at any time and get a second or third opinion. I have done this before. > Jerry Farwell also said that there are long waiting lists to see a doctors. This > is just not true. In some rural areas and small towns it may be difficult to see > a Doctor when you want but in the city it shouldn’t be much of a problem. If you > want to visit a doctor for a regular checkup you may have to wait up to one > month for an appointment but if it is more urgent I can generally see my Family > Doctor within one or two days. If that isn’t soon enough, I can go to one of the > many walk-in clinics that are available to everyone or I can go to the emergency > department of the nearest hospital. The only long waiting list I know of is for > some elective surgeries. Also MRI’s seem to have I long waiting list if it is > not an emergency. I’m sure there are other non essential procedures as well. > Jerry Farwell’s infomercial also showed a Canadian couple with their faces > blocked out and their voices disguised telling their story on how poor the > Canadian Health system was. It was disgusting watching this. It just wasn’t > true. > My Family Doctor is in an office with two other doctors that provides both > walk-in and appointment service. He covers the walk-in service three days per > week, 9:00am to 11:30am. Other times are by appointment only. A few weeks before > Christmas, I was not feeling well. I called my Family Doctor Monday afternoon > and was told I couldn’t get an appointment for at least one week. They told me > that my doctor was taking walk-in patients the following morning and I could see > him then or if it is an emergency I could go to the local hospital. > I went to see my Doctor Tuesday morning and waited about an hour to see him. He > ordered blood test (taken right there in the office) and chest x-rays. He told > me to see him the following Thursday for the results. I then drove 5 minutes to > the x-ray lab and had them completed 30 minutes after I left the Doctors office. > I returned to the Doctor on Thursday and he told me I had Pneumonia. He gave me > a prescription for antibiotics and a note to take to work saying I should be off > work for one week. My employer requires it after 4 days off sick for me to be > paid. > I don’t see how this experience could have progressed any faster. It did not > cost me anything out of my pocket other then taxes of course. I didn’t even > loose wages for being off work for one week. The doctor’s visit, blood test, and > x-rays were paid directly from the public health plan (Ontario Health Insurance > Plan, OHIP – in Ontario). The prescription was paid directly by my employers > drug plan. I did not have to fill out any forms. I just showed my OHIP card and > DRUG plan card. I have no idea how much was charged to OHIP. They never tell and > they don’t give receipts. > I have also had similar experiences with my GI when treating my ulcerative > colitis. About one year ago it took about 1 1/2 months from the fist signs of > diarrhea till I was diagnosed with UC. I saw two different doctors several times > each during that time including a visit to the hospital for a Sigmoidoscopy. > In the last 8 years I have taken my wife to emergency at the hospital twice with > no problems. Both times she was assessed within 10 minutes by a nurse and then > admitted with a doctor seeing her within one hour of our arrival. The first > visit she was admitted for overnight observation and sent home the following day > with a portable heart monitor. We then returned for a follow-up and to return > the monitor a week later. It turned out that she had a heart murmur that wasn’t > serious and she new about it back in her home country. She just forgot about it > and none of her local doctors new about it. This whole experience did not cost > us one cent out of our pockets. > I’m sorry this is getting long but I have wanted to post my views and > information for a long time, especially after a few people on this group have > badmouthed the Canadian system. Without mentioning names, after reading one > poster’s messages, I could not help but think they created most of the problems > they had with their doctors and hospital. Don’t expect to be treated any better > than you treat them. This person also tried to circumvent the system and do > things their own way. > The Canadian system is not perfect but I think it is one of the better systems > around. The Government has made many changes to it in the last few years but > none of them have affected me. Once or twice a month, the media reports on cases > that had serious problems with our medical system, most of them with life > threatening situations or even death. With only 10 to 20 of these cases reported > yearly, I think that is a very low rate for a country of more than 30 million > people. The media is always criticizing our public health system and the > government but I think they blow it out of proportion. Funding is always an > issue. > I hope this doesn’t start a flame war. These are just my experiences and views. > — > Paul > Visit our photo albums at http://www.laflammefamily.ca > — > Unfortunately, in the usa, the insurance companies and our > ever-present hand-in-their-pockets politicians, have done a masterful > job of demonizing the Canadian health service. A couple days ago on > C-SPAM one of the guests involved in the whole charade made the most > accurate statement after being challenged about representing the usa > system as the "gold standard" in global healthcare. He finally > admitted our top facilities are the best in the world if you have "the > gold to pay for them!" > When, When, When will the citizens in the usa wakeup and demand > UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE? > >I don’t know were you heard that. I have never had a hard time seeing my doctor. > >The only real problem I have heard of is the long waiting lists for elective > >surgery. Between my pregnant wife and my UC, we have seen many doctors in the > >last year with no problems. > >– > >Paul > >Visit our photo albums at http://www.laflammefamily.ca
Response:
Paul, Sa-w
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