Private Medical Care in Calgary

[yads]

No because you're not paying for services. They way it works is, once you pay your $3K, a spot magically opens up and the doctor is able to take you on as a patient. Your visits are still paid for by the public purse.

[ma-skis.com]

seems like a way to undermine the public health system, using the private school analogy, load up enough private schools and when middle class families start going to private schools as well, what happens to the conditions of public schools?

Looking at the state of health care or education in the states, public care tends to drop quite quickly in quality too.

edit - sorry to derail, personally, if i need to see my family doctor, i can generally get in same day, time is not as convenient though

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherGuy

Seems like a minor inconvenience to me.

Until you sit there for 3-4 hours in excruciating pain.

The problem is there is no "system" in place to distinguish between minor, medium and serious cases. Top that off with the current system rewards hypocondriacs. I recently fractured a rib and went into the "urgent care" centre. My understanding is that is for people who are going to need x-rays and such; but you aren't going to die. I waited while the following went ahead of me:

- guy who pretended to be dying; then walked out 15 minutes later with a spring in his step.
- lady who needed a prescription refilled.
- kid who needed his cast re-done for the 3rd time because he kept taking it off.
- countless kids with the sniffles.

However once I stopped being the nice guy and lost it a bit I got seen right away. (In as much pain as I was- I still think I stayed on the good side of being a jerk; but just barely.)

The system is broken when I look at that $3K per year and seriously think about it.

[wooohooo]

If you want to skip the long waits just say you have a headache

[Dion]

You can skip the long waits by making a short trip to High River. We have a small hospital where one doesn't have to wait long to get treated via emergency. Flameswin can vouch for what i'm saying. Better yet, move to this parasite community and your worries are over

[Knut]

http://www.eaglesmed.ca/

I just heard about this clinic the other day from a patient of mine. He was quite impressed. Similar idea.. but in the South. it just opened in September and the Doctors working there are well liked and respected.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Dion

You can skip the long waits by making a short trip to High River. We have a small hospital where one doesn't have to wait long to get treated via emergency. Flameswin can vouch for what i'm saying. Better yet, move to this parasite community and your worries are over

The reason the doctor isn't busy is because there aren't many patients because no one wants to live there.

[burning_acid1]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherGuy

If my family needs to see a doctor now we have two options. Book an appointment with our family doctor or go to a local clinic.

On occasion we wait at the family doctor for 20 minutes or so because he has fallen behind schedule. But I don't mind because he doesn't rush us.

The local drop in clinic usually has a 3-4 hour wait. But you get an estimate of how long and come back.

Seems like a minor inconvenience to me.

You're lucky - my wait is about an hour at my family doctor. I usually try to be the first appointment of the day so he is less likely to fall behind schedule.

[Rathji]

I went to the clinic this morning for both my kids, and we were talking to a doctor in less than 20 minutes.

That said, the clinic we go to is very small and only accepts walk ins until 2pm.

My family doc, who is actually only part time, is across the city from us.

[Table 5]

Oh, Canada, you're so cute with your health-care complaining.

For myself only, I pay $400 a month for so-called health insurance where I have to pay $55 each time I got visit a doctor, the hospital deductible is $3,500 (ie. you pay up to this amount per visit), have a $100 Prescription deductible (ie, you basically always pay). Oh, and I can only got to select list of c-list doctors and hospitals or otherwise I have sub-minimal coverage. And trust me, you still wait for hours at the hospital.

If you're a family with a couple of kids, expect to pay $1500k a month for health insurance.

While it might not be perfect, I'll gladly flip with any of you.

[Mad Mel]

Originally Posted by Ice_Weasel

I don't see much difference between this and private schools...we all pay taxes and our kids can go to school for free, but for more $$ your kids can have smaller classes and motivated teachers. Where is the equality uproar with respect to education?

To me, it boils down to priorities, and if health is a high priority for you $3 k per year is not really that much, even for 'regular folks'. Hell, i bet there are people that spend 3k per year on smokes and booze. Think of it this way, you get basic care for free, with an option for better care if you want to pay. Basic health care is, and should always be free for everyone. I have no problem with those viewing health as a priority and willing to pay, potentially at the sacrifice of other luxury goods, to receive a little better care.

To be clear, I'm not passing any judgement on people who go this route... actually, I'm in favour of having and using the option. Hell, I've gone in for both a CT Scan and MRI in a private radiology clinic in the last couple of months.

My observation is based on the Canadian health care system of yesterday compared to today. Twenty, ten, maybe even five years ago, many of the people looking at this option wouldn't have been dissatisfied enough with the public system to think that it would be worth the $3k. It looks to me like the system is sliding pretty badly.

[Table 5]

Does it boil down to waiting time, or is the quality also slipping too? Waiting times in Canada are definitely a hassle, but it seems like every time I've needed medical attention, it has been pretty great once you actually get it.

[Mad Mel]

Originally Posted by Table 5

For myself only, I pay $400 a month for so-called health insurance where I have to pay $55 each time I got visit a doctor, the hospital deductible is $3,500 (ie. you pay up to this amount per visit), have a $100 Prescription deductible (ie, you basically always pay). Oh, and I can only got to select list of c-list doctors and hospitals or otherwise I have sub-minimal coverage. And trust me, you still wait for hours at the hospital.

If you're a family with a couple of kids, expect to pay $1500k a month for health insurance.

That's pretty brutal, man. I'm insured privately here, because I'm on a visa and not eligible for public health cover. Costs me a little over $100 / month (just an individual, no family).

[troutman]

Originally Posted by burning_acid1

You're lucky - my wait is about an hour at my family doctor. I usually try to be the first appointment of the day so he is less likely to fall behind schedule.

I'm amazed that people show up an hour early for a lawyer appointment. If you showed up an hour early for a doctor appointment, you could be waiting 2-3 hours.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by fotze

Sounds like you're whining actually

Considering you started this thread because you're too good to wait around an office, I wouldn't call someone else a whiner.

Originally Posted by fotze

So the moral of the story is, become friends with a Doctor.

Better yet, I'm marrying the daughter of a doctor. And my brother is a gastroenterologist so if I have any explosive diarrhea in my future, I'm set there too. Life is good.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Mad Mel

That's pretty brutal, man. I'm insured privately here, because I'm on a visa and not eligible for public health cover. Costs me a little over $100 / month (just an individual, no family).

That seems reasonable....then again Australia always felt like a warmer version of Canada, so I would expect them to be similar in that regard too. Basic life costs (ie, health care and education) is actually one of my biggest reasons for wanting to move back to Canada. Down here it's depressing when you sit down and do the numbers.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by fotze

You had no solutions for your crappy deal until this post.

Boy you sure know me so well.

[JustAnotherGuy]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Until you sit there for 3-4 hours in excruciating pain.

The problem is there is no "system" in place to distinguish between minor, medium and serious cases. Top that off with the current system rewards hypocondriacs. I recently fractured a rib and went into the "urgent care" centre. My understanding is that is for people who are going to need x-rays and such; but you aren't going to die. I waited while the following went ahead of me:

- guy who pretended to be dying; then walked out 15 minutes later with a spring in his step.
- lady who needed a prescription refilled.
- kid who needed his cast re-done for the 3rd time because he kept taking it off.
- countless kids with the sniffles.

However once I stopped being the nice guy and lost it a bit I got seen right away. (In as much pain as I was- I still think I stayed on the good side of being a jerk; but just barely.)

The system is broken when I look at that $3K per year and seriously think about it.

You needed the guy at the desk at the clinic in Crowfoot. One lady was trying to jump the line because the doctor was not taking any more patients that day. Her symptoms all of a sudden got worse and he didn't buy it. She tried all possible angles for about 10 minutes. But it didn't work.

Then another lady came in and was obviously in bad way and they took her immediately.

[zuluking]

Originally Posted by fotze

Kind of getting sick of the sh4tshow medical system. A 10 second diagnosis requiring a 4 hour wait.

I have seen these clinics on 17th like Preventous or the Copeman clinic. The websites seem vague. Can you pay a fee and get to see a doctor in a timely fashion? Fees look like $3000 per year. Which if you get to get really good service would be worth it.

Anyone go to any of these clinics? Are they what I think they are?

Blasphemer! Now, back in line!

[Sr. Mints]

I never have to wait more than 5-10 minutes to see my family doctor.

However, it's getting into a specialist that is a real treat. I would consider paying 3k/year if I thought it would help in that regard.

About a month ago I had an MRI on my spine (like I do every few years), and they happened to spot that my bladder holds ~1300cc's of liquid. My family doc got me into a Urologist, but in frickin April!

$3000/year for the peace of mind that my bladder won't explode by then or that I don't have cancer or ebola virus of the bladder or whateverthefck.

I'm actually going to research what options are out there. Thanks, thread.