Healthcare - US vs Canada

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Originally posted by dustygoon@May 19 2005, 12:02 PM


Back to the original question i had....I guess i am not going to get stats but do most of you agree that the lower income earners are better off under Canada's health system than the US one?

I don't think you ever could get stats because it's way to broad a thing to measure.

I wouldn't agree low income Canadians are better off than low income Americans. If anything, it's the lower middle class in the US that gets pooched - those who aren't quite poor enough to qualify for medicaid, but not well employed enough to have good health benefits at work.

It's not the care down there that kills you; its the bill.

[tjinaz]

Here in AZ, my company picks up the bill for all my medical, dental, and long term disability. Vision is extra but I don't need it and my wife used a pretax medical savings account to get Lasik last year so she won't need the vision either. I have to pay for my family but it is only $200 a month. Copays are $15 per visit and $10 for perscription. The cost to me for the birth of my daughter was about $700 and that included a 3 day stay for my wife at the hospital.

The Care is pretty good. I can go to the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale if need to.

[notoepik]

Originally posted by tjinaz@May 19 2005, 07:26 PM
Here in AZ, my company picks up the bill for all my medical, dental, and long term disability. I have to pay for my family but it is only $200 a month. Copays are $15 per visit and $10 for perscription.

I want your insurance!! B-)

I think ours is high because we are a small group and well, seem to be a rather unhealthy lot :P

All in all, I am glad to be able to pay it, rather have to have Medicaid

[Sylvanfan]

Us in Alberta pay 88 a month for health care premiums.

Yeah, but $88 covers an entire family whether it's two people or 12 in that family. A single 25 year old guy would pay $44 assuming that individual earns over the income threshold where they no longer qualify for assistance. But considering theres no provincial sales tax, than $44 isn't so bad. Also most employers will pay that for you unless you're a draftsmen.....