Thoughts on Universal healthcare
- Thread starter sugarbush
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This whole insurance thing has been stressing me out for awhile now. We have private insurance with BCBS, and we also have Medicaid as a secondary. Our private insurance just went up $200 a month, and it's just scary trying to figure out where that is coming from. Medicaid will pick up copays, and any extras that BCBS does not-which isn't actually very much, as our policy is a decent one.
My youngest son has special needs, we have formula that runs $355 a month, pump bags (feeding pump) and a Mic-key (G-tube) that run about $750 a month, nebulizer (meds alone!) that are $400 a month, and that's not counting the 4 other meds he is on. I won't even get into the GP doctor appointments, Neurologist appointments, feeding clinic appointments, TEAM clinic (Tone Evaluation And Management, for his Cerebral Palsy) I really don't know what to think about the Universal thing. It is nice to be able to read others experiences, ideas, information, etc.
My youngest son has special needs, we have formula that runs $355 a month, pump bags (feeding pump) and a Mic-key (G-tube) that run about $750 a month, nebulizer (meds alone!) that are $400 a month, and that's not counting the 4 other meds he is on. I won't even get into the GP doctor appointments, Neurologist appointments, feeding clinic appointments, TEAM clinic (Tone Evaluation And Management, for his Cerebral Palsy) I really don't know what to think about the Universal thing. It is nice to be able to read others experiences, ideas, information, etc.
- Apr 20, 2007
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Medical records here in Canada fall under patient confidentiality. I do not believe they can be released to anyone other than the actual patient without a legal warrant.
The health care system in Canada in some ways is great, in others it's not so great. We have terrible problems with long waits in waiting rooms. We also have to carry extra health insurance to cover the costs of drugs...they are not covered by our system.
I've seen the system from different angles. My father is a doctor, two of my uncles are doctors and my aunt is a doctor....so I have a bit of knowledge from their side of things.
Clinics are run by GP's who have regular patients just like in the US....it's not a walk in and get the doctor on call that day sort of system. If you have an emergency after hours problem that would fall under your GP then there is a chance that you won't get your regular doctor if they are not on call that evening or weekend. It usually rotates between a set group of doctors who work as a unit to cover after hours operations.
To get an appointment you simply call your doc and schedule one. When you get there present your health card. The doctor then bills the government for your visit.....but does not provide medical details....just bills for the services rendered.
If you break your arm and have to go to the emergency hospital, you go and wait.....a LONG time. Sometimes 6-8 hours depending on what the problem is. If you having a heart attack then you get in asap....if you broke your nose, then you wait until the more serious patients have been attended to.
I'm not sure how things work with specialists in Canada as all my relatives are GP's, and trust me , they work their butts off because they get paid by the patient. Specialists get paid a yearly salary so it doesn't matter if they see one, or a hundred people in a day, they still get paid. Any we wonder why there's such a backup to see specialists!!!
Our system is paid by our taxes. How much do you in the US do you pay in taxes if you buy say a pair of pants? I pay 13% in taxes. Then of course there is the 30-35% off my income for the combined provincial and federal taxes. Soooo for every dollar I make at work, I first pay 30-35% in gov taxes, and then 13% taxed on what's left if I want to buy clothes. That's a piece of the price what our health care costs. Of course this is simplified horrendously as not all of that tax pays for health care....buy we pay a lot.
Urban Coyote
The health care system in Canada in some ways is great, in others it's not so great. We have terrible problems with long waits in waiting rooms. We also have to carry extra health insurance to cover the costs of drugs...they are not covered by our system.
I've seen the system from different angles. My father is a doctor, two of my uncles are doctors and my aunt is a doctor....so I have a bit of knowledge from their side of things.
Clinics are run by GP's who have regular patients just like in the US....it's not a walk in and get the doctor on call that day sort of system. If you have an emergency after hours problem that would fall under your GP then there is a chance that you won't get your regular doctor if they are not on call that evening or weekend. It usually rotates between a set group of doctors who work as a unit to cover after hours operations.
To get an appointment you simply call your doc and schedule one. When you get there present your health card. The doctor then bills the government for your visit.....but does not provide medical details....just bills for the services rendered.
If you break your arm and have to go to the emergency hospital, you go and wait.....a LONG time. Sometimes 6-8 hours depending on what the problem is. If you having a heart attack then you get in asap....if you broke your nose, then you wait until the more serious patients have been attended to.
I'm not sure how things work with specialists in Canada as all my relatives are GP's, and trust me , they work their butts off because they get paid by the patient. Specialists get paid a yearly salary so it doesn't matter if they see one, or a hundred people in a day, they still get paid. Any we wonder why there's such a backup to see specialists!!!
Our system is paid by our taxes. How much do you in the US do you pay in taxes if you buy say a pair of pants? I pay 13% in taxes. Then of course there is the 30-35% off my income for the combined provincial and federal taxes. Soooo for every dollar I make at work, I first pay 30-35% in gov taxes, and then 13% taxed on what's left if I want to buy clothes. That's a piece of the price what our health care costs. Of course this is simplified horrendously as not all of that tax pays for health care....buy we pay a lot.
Urban Coyote
Quote:
I have a friend who's son had spastic CP
all his meds and supplies are covered (gov health care VIA disability allowance)
she just got a track lift system installed in her house because he is to big for her to lift in and out of his wheelchair. (the march of dimes)
she has nursing care that comes in 3X a week to access him and bathe him and any dressings he may need (gov health care)
all of this was provided by either the government funded health care that we all have in Ontario or a service agency..
I have a friend who's son had spastic CP
all his meds and supplies are covered (gov health care VIA disability allowance)
she just got a track lift system installed in her house because he is to big for her to lift in and out of his wheelchair. (the march of dimes)
she has nursing care that comes in 3X a week to access him and bathe him and any dressings he may need (gov health care)
all of this was provided by either the government funded health care that we all have in Ontario or a service agency..
Last edited by a moderator:
Quote:
geeze you sure are worried about loosing your guns...
Gun Rights is just an example, it is no secret that the new administration wants to remove rights. Lose one right and soon you will lose them all. Thanks for the snippet though, I had expected from someone.
geeze you sure are worried about loosing your guns...
Gun Rights is just an example, it is no secret that the new administration wants to remove rights. Lose one right and soon you will lose them all. Thanks for the snippet though, I had expected from someone.
Quote:
In 60 years the govt of the Uk has never had access to all our records.
Our fear here is about an ID card which they propose will have all our records on them. Health, finance, status, employment the lot.
They have been trialing a system in London to get all health records online, but still not available to the govt. It has failed dramatically after costing billions.
these worries are the same for everyone no matter where you live. but this is not socialist ideals this is fascist. It is extreme control.
Fear of this started because while the govt does not have access to our health records they do have to our insurance, and insurance is run by private companies, who will sell our info. Also the govt has all our driving records and they sell them on.
So it is not universal healthcare that threatens these things. It is just government that threatens our freedoms.
I have been for counselling 3 times and it is not on my primary healthcare record. I saw someone privately as this service is not available in my area. Also trained cousellors are trained not to keep detailed records on clients and the only person who can insist on access to these kind of records is a policeman. Not a politician.
In 60 years the govt of the Uk has never had access to all our records.
Our fear here is about an ID card which they propose will have all our records on them. Health, finance, status, employment the lot.
They have been trialing a system in London to get all health records online, but still not available to the govt. It has failed dramatically after costing billions.
these worries are the same for everyone no matter where you live. but this is not socialist ideals this is fascist. It is extreme control.
Fear of this started because while the govt does not have access to our health records they do have to our insurance, and insurance is run by private companies, who will sell our info. Also the govt has all our driving records and they sell them on.
So it is not universal healthcare that threatens these things. It is just government that threatens our freedoms.
I have been for counselling 3 times and it is not on my primary healthcare record. I saw someone privately as this service is not available in my area. Also trained cousellors are trained not to keep detailed records on clients and the only person who can insist on access to these kind of records is a policeman. Not a politician.
Quote:
geeze you sure are worried about loosing your guns...
Gun Rights is just an example, it is no secret that the new administration wants to remove rights. Lose one right and soon you will lose them all. Thanks for the snippet though, I had expected from someone.
Constitution was written for a reason - however it seems it can be "re-written at will" as of late
and yes... we do value our right to bear arms - after all - that amenedment was created to protect the people FROM the government.. not the other way around.
ETA: I agree with you WWolf - and add to that you can now be denied a job for your credit history as well as made to take a "personality indictator test" (i.e., Myers Briggs) to see if you're "compatible" with management. Now where is the "non-discriminatory" act in that I ask? Uh huh.... *major eye roll here*
geeze you sure are worried about loosing your guns...
Gun Rights is just an example, it is no secret that the new administration wants to remove rights. Lose one right and soon you will lose them all. Thanks for the snippet though, I had expected from someone.
Constitution was written for a reason - however it seems it can be "re-written at will" as of late
and yes... we do value our right to bear arms - after all - that amenedment was created to protect the people FROM the government.. not the other way around.
ETA: I agree with you WWolf - and add to that you can now be denied a job for your credit history as well as made to take a "personality indictator test" (i.e., Myers Briggs) to see if you're "compatible" with management. Now where is the "non-discriminatory" act in that I ask? Uh huh.... *major eye roll here*
Last edited:
Quote:
geeze you sure are worried about loosing your guns...
Gun Rights is just an example, it is no secret that the new administration wants to remove rights. Lose one right and soon you will lose them all. Thanks for the snippet though, I had expected from someone.
no problem....i am not mocking anyone or making a fuss...but i really dont understand the need and the rants about loosing the "right to bear arms"...but thats a different conversation
geeze you sure are worried about loosing your guns...
Gun Rights is just an example, it is no secret that the new administration wants to remove rights. Lose one right and soon you will lose them all. Thanks for the snippet though, I had expected from someone.
no problem....i am not mocking anyone or making a fuss...but i really dont understand the need and the rants about loosing the "right to bear arms"...but thats a different conversation
Quote:
This is America, politicians have access to allot that they are not suppose to be into.
Watch the news sometime.
This is America, politicians have access to allot that they are not suppose to be into.
Watch the news sometime.
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