Just got out of the hospital....

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

The whole deal with illegal aliens is also a wierd US thing. With socialized medicine (actually one payer system), nobody here really cares who gets health care. Everybody deserves it, even illegal immigrants because they are human beings.

No, it's actually pretty similar to the US if you don't have coverage. They'll treat you if you have a life threatening condition but you're going to get a bill at the end. They can also refuse you for treatment for non emergency care if you can't demonstrate an ability to pay for it.

Luckily for Canadians we have universal coverage, but that doesn't help travelers without insurance or illegal immigrants. They will still get billed for services and things like surgery or other expensive care may be delayed or refused if they can't pay for it. Obviously in imminent life threatening situations they will treat you, but it's usually the same in the USA. Either way, if you don't have coverage your getting a bill for it. Canada's just smarter about it and has universal coverage so people aren't in financial ruin from getting sick.

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by Ice

They should shop around. My entire family is fully insured for 750.00 per month. We pay extra to go to whatever doctor we want without needing permission or referrals. If we went to an HMO it would drastically reduce the cost. That amount gives us full medical, dental, vision and prescription coverage for four people. My husband is diabetic and has been since he was a child. I know private insurance isn't a perfect system, but the fact is, if you live in the US you need insurance. You don't have to pay 800.00/month for an individual to be insured.

I'm curious, is that without any employer contributions?

I've had some Americans brag about how cheap their covereage is, but they neglect to mention that their employer is paying 75% of their premiums. Not that I'm saying that's what you're doing, it's just that some people don't really take that into account.

[Temporary_User]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

The whole deal with illegal aliens is also a wierd US thing. With socialized medicine (actually one payer system), nobody here really cares who gets health care. Everybody deserves it, even illegal immigrants because they are human beings.

Nice try with the whole "because they are human beings" but that simply is not true. If anyone could just come up here for all the care they need and no one cared could you imagine the amount of US citizens that live close to the border that would be coming up here for all their treatment needs? It would cripple the system.

Thankfully, they can't just come up here for free treatment, they would still have to show their health-card that shows that they have backing and the work will be payed for.

Of course serious life threatening things would be taken care of, but they will still hassle the person for payment.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Temporary_User

Nice try with the whole "because they are human beings" but that simply is not true. If anyone could just come up here for all the care they need and no one cared could you imagine the amount of US citizens that live close to the border that would be coming up here for all their treatment needs? It would cripple the system.

Thankfully, they can't just come up here for free treatment, they would still have to show their health-card that shows that they have backing and the work will be payed for.

Of course serious life threatening things would be taken care of, but they will still hassle the person for payment.

FWIW and IIRC, illegal immigrants in Canada have gone to court for medical coverage based on their Charter Rights. I don't know how these cases turned out.

[Suzles]

Sorry to hear about the gall stone problem. Not that it is any comfort but they say that the pain you have had is the closest a man will ever get to the pain of child birth - so some sympathy is due to you. I had my gall bladder out about five years ago (keyhole surgery). Had to wait weeks for the stone that was blocking my bile duct to move (I was an interesting shade of yellow). I wished in retrospect that I had made more fuss in the year prior to the operation. A year when I had a lot of pain. Still I have to give the highest praise to the UK National Health Service for the care I received. If you have gall stones get rid of the gall bladder - then you will never have this pain again.

On a side note my husband, on one of the many mercy dashes he had to make to the hospital with me before my surgery, found that hitting as many pot holes as he could with the car could shift a gall stone - not really recommended but it did work. Don't worry, his Jag was fine.

Good luck.

[Ice]

Originally Posted by opendoor

I'm curious, is that without any employer contributions?

I've had some Americans brag about how cheap their covereage is, but they neglect to mention that their employer is paying 75% of their premiums. Not that I'm saying that's what you're doing, it's just that some people don't really take that into account.

My husbands employer contributes 170.00, which is what would cover him 100% if he chose the cheapest individual coverage. Like I said, we choose to pay more for convenience. With my husband having a chronic disease and my son playing hockey, I find comfort knowing I have every option open to me when choosing their care. We also take advantage of taxfree medical spending accounts for any incidental medical expenses or deductibles. That way, everything we spend on healthcare is paid for with income we don't pay income tax on.

My sister-in-law has no contribution for her coverage at 220.00 per month as she is unemployed. There are options to reduce costs. She has Kaiser, which is a not for profit company. However, she can only go to their hospitals, see their doctors, use their pharmacy, etc. When she needed surgery for kidney stones she had to wait two weeks, in extreme pain, for her surgery date to arrive to her...in the mail!! She's really at their mercy as far as appointment times for everything and that would drive me crazy.

Like I said, its imperfect and I feel lucky that I'm able to have a lifestyle where I have the ability to choose coverage that I feel is perfect for me. When I was younger, I had an HMO that cost me 36 per month out of pocket with no copays. I remember when I had my first son, my hospital bill was 8.00, because they charged me 5.00 for TV and 3.00 for the phone and my insurance didn't cover that. haha. Whatever. My second one was exactly the same way except I chose to have a private room, which was 150.00 for two nights, and not covered by insurance. I think HMO's are ideal for young people who are at low risk for illness or injury because they are so inexpensive. You just have to have patience for the wait times and referrals for specialists, tests and other procedures.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by PIMking

Yes, since I can read into the future and see that my gall bladder is toast. Also Birmingham is only 40 mins away from me. I'm getting insurance but it wont make a difference since this will be a pre existing condition. Before you try to be a jack ass and pull the classic one liners on CP think before you do.

No you can't read into the future - that is why you buy insurance. Much like if I knew I wouldn't be pulled over by the police or get in any accidents I wouldn't insure my vehicle, but I don't so I do pay for insurance. Instead of getting overly defensive act like you have learned your lesson and suck it up like a man.

I don't see how Birmingham being close is of any importance.

[PIMking]

well since tuesday is 6/1/10 the new law for healthcare takes affect so basically an insurance company cannot deny me for pre existing conditions.

[Shin Pad]

[QUOTE=PIMking;2525142]well since tuesday is 6/1/10 the new law for healthcare takes affect so basically an insurance company cannot deny me for pre existing conditions.[/QUOTE

That's great, but I wonder how much extra you'll pay in premiums for pre-existing conditions? I'm sure it'll depend upon what it is...

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by Ice

I just think there's a way to do that without allowing our goverment, which has a terrible track record spending taxpayer dollars, to be the entity overseeing a new huge project like healthcare.

It's amazing how much blind faith people put in private enterprise vs government. I've worked with a couple of health care insurance providers and they wasted so much money on (a) lavish salaries for executives, (b) perks for the employees and (c) projects of very questionable value.

People are being gouged for very little return and they are happy with it because there can't possibly be wasted money... it's private enterprise!!!

-=-=-=-=-
Personally, I think the MRI should go to the person that most needs the MRI today, not the person who has the most money.

[Cactus Jack]

Originally Posted by boobaloo

Likely because the insurance payments are higher than a mortgage payment would be. I have friends in Tennessee whose health insurance premiums are about $800/month EACH, and they don't have any health issues. She said it would be at least double that if they were sick. Ah the world of free enterprise......

I know a married couple in their late 20s in Manhattan. Dude has a sweet job with one of the large investment banks and he pays $600 a month for health insurance for himself and his wife. That is AFTER the large percentage the company pays, and these people are young, healthy, non-smokers. Unbelievable.

Originally Posted by boobaloo

You do realize that in Alberta there are no health care premiums and you can go wherever you like as well. Doesn't cover prescriptions, vision (exams under 18 are covered) and dental

Prescription drugs aren't covered but the costs in Canada are subsidized by our taxes, which is why they are cheaper in Canada than the US.

Originally Posted by PIMking

It's not a socialized health care system like Canada.

Originally Posted by Ice

My other main point is that, like it or not, if you live in the US there is no socialized medicine, therefore you need insurance or you need to be able to afford to pay for medical costs out of pocket. If you choose not to buy medical insurance, you risk dealing with a situation like the OP is dealing with.

Not a shot at you two but can we please stop calling it "socialized medicine?" There is nothing socialized about it. It's amazing how the US public has bought that line after decades of being drilled with that term and giving it a negative connotation. I had a Yank come up to our office and start talking about Canadian healthcare. His first time in Canada, he was telling me, a Canuck, that he knew all about the system and how we need government permission to seek medical attention and how the government picks our physicians for us.

If Canada's healthcare system is socialist because it comes from tax revenue and strives for equality, then the US has countless socialized institutions.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by Cactus Jack

Prescription drugs aren't covered but the costs in Canada are subsidized by our taxes, which is why they are cheaper in Canada than the US.

No, they aren't subsidized. They're cheaper because Canada caps the price that can be charged for them.

[mykalberta]

Do you or dont you have health insurance?

What are the laws in Alabama regarding this? I cant really give an opinion without knowing the law down there.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Cactus Jack

I know a married couple in their late 20s in Manhattan. Dude has a sweet job with one of the large investment banks and he pays $600 a month for health insurance for himself and his wife. That is AFTER the large percentage the company pays, and these people are young, healthy, non-smokers. Unbelievable.

Yeah, my parents pay $600 a month for theirs. See, they're saving money!

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by PIMking

It is kinda sad that the doctors are more interested in making more money than helping people.

Everytime I go out to eat and dont want to pay I feel the exact same way.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by PIMking

Obamacare wont take affect for 4 years. They take the money and (hopefully dont piss it away) will provide insurance at discounted rates to people like me and for the people that cant afford it now. (the ones already on medicade) will get free iinsurance.

So basically Obamacare take taxes from everyone and still charge for insurance at a discounted rate.

It's not a socialized health care system like Canada.

You wont get free insurance under Obamacare, you will be paying the govt for insurance vs now you have the choice to buy insurance or to buy a car and make payments on it.

With Obama care the amount you pay for insurance is supposed to be lower than when you would pay a private insurer now.

[PIMking]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

You wont get free insurance under Obamacare, you will be paying the govt for insurance vs now you have the choice to buy insurance or to buy a car and make payments on it.

With Obama care the amount you pay for insurance is supposed to be lower than when you would pay a private insurer now.

Yes I know, Also we get taxed and have to purchase Obamacare so it will probably be the same anyways.

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

You wont get free insurance under Obamacare, you will be paying the govt for insurance vs now you have the choice to buy insurance or to buy a car and make payments on it.

Well, it's pretty much the same thing here. We pay for our health care via our taxes. So the Canadian government has "taken away my right" to decide if I want to be covered or not, or whether I'd rather use that money towards a better car. Just nobody mistakes Harper for a Communist. Though, that said, lots of people did mistake Tommy Douglas for one.....

[nickerjones]

Im diabetic and pre existing conditions in the states are a crock haha..... I had insurance through my job in Branson, Missouri and it covered my DIabetes. When we moved to Oklahoma I took a job that didnt have insurance because my wife new job would have insurance . There was a gap from our move to her insurance going into effect of 32 days.
Her insurance said since we had a gap of over 30 days they wouldnt cover my diabetic supplies for a year.... I thought it was stupid, but I talked the doctor into giving me the sample insulin for a year and it worked out. Its quite expensive if I would have paid out of pocket. I think for my insulin and needles its over 500 bucks a month .