Alberta Healthcare and turning 25

[SteveToms]

Hey all, I have been living at home, and this year I turn 25, so my dad can't put me as a dependent anymore.

What do I need to know about turning 25 and Alberta healthcare?

[CrusaderPi]

Nothing, now. Last year you would have been responsible for paying monthly premiums.

[Ice]

There are circumstances where you have to pay premiums for healthcare?

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Ice

There are circumstances where you have to pay premiums for healthcare?

Used to have to pay $144 every three months but now it's free.

[BlackArcher101]

Are we all talking about health coverage (plans) or alberta health care premiums?

Is it possible your father had you on a work health plan and now you have to be taken off of it?

[Ice]

I thought the point of government healthcare was that it was paid for via taxes. How is paying the government 144.00 per month different than paying Blue Cross 144.00 per month?

Just curious. Its probably obvious I don't understand your healthcare system.

Edit: While we're at it, why would you need a work health plan when your government supplies healthcare?

[BlackArcher101]

The goverment provides basics like doctor visits, surgery, emergency medicine (and we used to pay premiums of $144/mth until this year). For drugs and other treatments, you have health plans either paid for through an employer or out of your own pocket externally (ie blue cross coverage). These are what cover dental and prescription drugs.

If what SteveToms is actually saying is his father had to remove him from his work health plan, then his coverage will be dropping to the basics provided by the goverment. If he means removed as dependant from Alberta Health premiums, then there's nothing to worry about anymore. I wonder if there is even a reason to keep someone as a dependant anymore?

[Shazam]

Provinces are free to charge more for services within their given powers. They can also choose to vary their coverage.

All doctors are not employees of the state. Private practices are common. They simply bill to the province for procedures.

Edit: For BlackArcher101's example, provinces can pay for drugs (indeed, senior citizens are covered for this for the most part).

[Ice]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

The goverment provides basics like doctor visits, surgery, emergency medicine (and we used to pay premiums of $144/mth until this year). For drugs and other treatments, you have health plans either paid for through an employer or out of your own pocket (ie blue cross). These are what cover dental and prescription drugs.

Thanks for the explanation. That's interesting. I'm not sure I understand the benefit of this type of healthcare system over private healthcare.

[bcb]

Blue cross is optional supplementary coverage

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Ice

I thought the point of government healthcare was that it was paid for via taxes. How is paying the government 144.00 per month different than paying Blue Cross 144.00 per month?

Just curious. Its probably obvious I don't understand your healthcare system.

Edit: While we're at it, why would you need a work health plan when your government supplies healthcare?

It was a bogus tax. It didn't go in to health care coffers. It went into general revenue. But now they've stopped collecting it. But regardless if you paid your bill, you're always allowed into a hospital or doctor. They don't care. It's the province that would collect from you.

And FTR, it was $144 every three months.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Ice

Thanks for the explanation. That's interesting. I'm not sure I understand the benefit of this type of healthcare system over private healthcare.

Well, there's that whole universal coverage thingy.

[4X4]

I'm no fan of excess taxes or socialism, but I'm pretty grateful for medicare. I mean, even a bum off the street can go in and get his stab wounds stitched up after a run in with Locke or CC. That's something that I, as a Canadian, can be proud of. Nobody left behind in that regard.
Sure there are ills in the system (see what I did there?), but generally speaking, medical attention is available to anyone in Canada at any time. As long as they survive the wait.

[Ice]

Yeah, kind of the same thing here. The insurance companies raise our rates due to unpaid bills by uninsured. But nobody is turned away at a hospital. I suppose neither system is perfect and likely never will be.

I do like that I can pretty much have any surgical procedure I need/want without waiting.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Ice

I do like that I can pretty much have any surgical procedure I need/want without waiting.

OMGZ!!! Two tiered health care!!11!!! But what about the poor? They're left behind!! How dare you pay for a private clinic. Thou shalt wait thy turn like everyone else!!1

[Ice]

Originally Posted by 4X4

OMGZ!!! Two tiered health care!!11!!! But what about the poor? They're left behind!! How dare you pay for a private clinic. Thou shalt wait thy turn like everyone else!!1

I'm impatient. Plus, if I know I need surgery, I'd rather get it over with. I don't want to stress out about it for a long time. I'm a total chicken when it comes to that.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Ice

I'm impatient. Plus, if I know I need surgery, I'd rather get it over with. I don't want to stress out about it for a long time. I'm a total chicken when it comes to that.

Yeah, well around here, that'd never fly. Every time a (conservative) politician suggests that wait times could be shortened by allowing private clinics that well off people would be inclined to pay for, he gets shot down like a pigeon on my balcony handrail. Usually because the Liberals and the NDP get all up in arms and tell their listeners that the evil Conservatives are trying to create two tiered health care and that the result would be perfect health for the rich and a slow, painful death for the regular folk.

[Ice]

I suppose I can see the point they're trying to make. However, being pretty conservative myself, I think people who chose to educate themselves, work hard and pay for healthcare should have better options than those who don't. I'm not saying that poor people should be left behind, but if you're willing to pay for superior healthcare, you shouldn't be denied. We have medicare down here for people who can't afford healthcare. And for those who can, and they really like the wait times, we have Kaiser Permanente.

[Locke]

Whoa, whoa, whoa...I believe I've been slandered here....

No hobo I've ever stabbed has ever made it to the emergency room...

[Ice]

Straight to the morgue?