WOW, You Canadians and your Healthcare - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

nickerjones · 08-01-2009, 11:15 PM

are LUCKY!!

WOW! I see why Obama wants us to have a Healthcare Plan. Just got the Hospital's Bill from my Appendectomy. They charged me $441 for each Insulin shot they had to give me. Sucks especially since they wouldnt let me take my own Insulin that i brought from home, Double Whammy is that the Insulin cost 100 bucks a month without Insurance from the Pharmacy ... Anyone Else see a Problem with that?

SO just the hospital's bill for the procedure 32k was charged to my insurance which i think i am responsible for 1000 bucks of . This doesnt include the Surgeons fees, anesthesiologist bill. My Mother-in-law was just bewildered. She said in Calgary you walk in, get taken care of , and dont see a bill .

starseed · 08-01-2009, 11:19 PM

Ya, but apparently we have to win a lottery to see our doctor, we cannot choose them, there are so many bureaucrats between us, and the state asks the elderly to kill themselves.

But at least we dont have to be bogged down in debt early in life and at least we live longer and the system costs half as much!

Buzzard · 08-01-2009, 11:25 PM

being diabetic i am very lucky! if i am in the hospital, they give me my insulin, of course no charge..and my husband's 100% insurance plan covers all of my diabetes related drugs and supplies..and diabetics get pretty good care in calgary, as good as can be expected with our healthcare system, on the other hand, people die in our waiting rooms..so not so lucky that way

nickerjones · 08-01-2009, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starseed

Ya, but apparently we have to win a lottery to see our doctor, we cannot choose them, there are so many bureaucrats between us, and the state asks the elderly to kill themselves.

But at least we dont have to be bogged down in debt early in life and at least we live longer and the system costs half as much!

yeah true... i was being a lil sarcastic , i dont agree with Obama's plan. I am however concerned about a 441 dollar insulin shot but really , Ill prob be out 1600 bucks for this emergency surgery so not a huge deal. The plus is i got a private room and the emergency room i was stuck in for 5 hrs before i was admitted had a 27 inch LCD tv with cable by the bed. It wasnt all bad LOL .....

nickerjones · 08-01-2009, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buzzard

being diabetic i am very lucky! if i am in the hospital, they give me my insulin, of course no charge..and my husband's 100% insurance plan covers all of my diabetes related drugs and supplies..and diabetics get pretty good care in calgary, as good as can be expected with our healthcare system, on the other hand, people die in our waiting rooms..so not so lucky that way

Well my insurance right now doesn't cover my Diabetic stuff until November of this year. It Will be 1 year since we got the coverage. The reason is because they allow a gap in insurance of 60 days. I had a gap of 62 days from switching jobs so i got hosed for a year. I have to pay the doctor 150 bucks for a visit but only have to go 3 times a year . When i saw him i told him about the insurance and he has just given me the samples the drug reps give him so i dont have to pay for the insulin.

HOOT · 08-02-2009, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starseed

Ya, but apparently we have to win a lottery to see our doctor, we cannot choose them, there are so many bureaucrats between us, and the state asks the elderly to kill themselves.

But at least we dont have to be bogged down in debt early in life and at least we live longer and the system costs half as much!

Exactly why I would rather have to pay for my health care to have choice and less waiting. It is a joke.

jayswin · 08-02-2009, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOOT

Exactly why I would rather have to pay for my health care to have choice and less waiting. It is a joke.

Is it 'everything in Canada is a joke' night?

Dion · 08-02-2009, 12:14 AM

I'm glad we have the health care we do in Canada. With all the MRI's and visits with specialists that i've had in the last year i'm sure the bill would have been huge had this happened in the States.

starseed · 08-02-2009, 12:19 AM

As has been repeated many times by opposition politicians in the media (the conservatives have been silent about this for obvious reasons), people who urgently need treatment, get it immediately. Non-terminal situations do require waits, and in some cases very long waits, but that is why private clinics are allowed to exist in Canada. IIRC I think we have a much more blended system than people realize. I think someone mentioned on CP that 'radically hippy' BC is more privatized than Alberta.

I think the main problem we have with health care is in the education system. We simply need to train more specialists than we do.

Mike F · 08-02-2009, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOOT

Exactly why I would rather have to pay for my health care to have choice and less waiting. It is a joke.

I don't think there's ever been a doubt that the US system is superior for those who can afford to pay. It's why you don't see Canadian celebrities in hospital waiting rooms.

It's those who don't have the money and either die or have their lives ruined that suffer, and there happen to be millions upon millions who fall into that category.

DOK · 08-02-2009, 12:21 AM

It's a good system in theory. Long line ups for all doctors though. A friend was told she'd have to wait for a specialist to see if she had cancer for 6 months with no chance of going earlier. Basically, they were telling her to save up and go south if she wanted help earlier. But that being said, when the time comes, and you don't get a bill, it's lovely.

Jordan! · 08-02-2009, 12:21 AM

Yeah, I truly don't understand how so many people in AZ are so idiotic about this stuff. I think it all boils down to people not knowing a different system. They're just used to it being this way.,

I'm counting the days until there's a better system here.

HOOT · 08-02-2009, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flameswin

Is it 'everything in Canada is a joke' night?

Apparently it is my new word. I actually noticed it and was going to change it then got lazy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike F

I don't think there's ever been a doubt that the US system is superior for those who can afford to pay. It's why you don't see Canadian celebrities in hospital waiting rooms.

It's those who don't have the money and either die or have their lives ruined that suffer, and there happen to be millions upon millions who fall into that category.

The part that kinda bugs me is that you can't even pay to go ahead of the line for those who are getting the same procedure for free. Instead you have to go to the US to get anything done. I don't know if it is like that for all procedures but it has happened a few times to my Grandpa.

wooohooo · 08-02-2009, 12:56 AM

Well by paying, you're going to be neglecting someone that can't necessarily afford the costs. So who is it to say the rich deserve to live and the poor don't?

MarchHare · 08-02-2009, 01:17 AM

Quote:

The part that kinda bugs me is that you can't even pay to go ahead of the line for those who are getting the same procedure for free.

Are you saying what I think you're saying? Do you really think the wealthy should be able to jump the queue?

corporatejay · 08-02-2009, 01:31 AM

The biggest problem with Canada is that you can't possibly have an intelligent debate about health care reform.

The minute anyone suggests any departure from the status quo, people start drubbing up the U.S. example and how people go bankrupt from medical bills.

But this is the other extreme example, there are plenty of other middle of the road systems that do just fine.

moon · 08-02-2009, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Are you saying what I think you're saying? Do you really think the wealthy should be able to jump the queue?

If they are going to private doctors that won't treat the "regular" folks then they certainly should be able to jump the queue. I don't see how it hurts anyone as the "regular" guy won't be treated by that doctor anyways and other regulars get to move up the list as the rich folks get treatment elsewhere.

If they are using the same doctors, i.e. there are no private doctors, as everyone else then it gets more dicey.

The Canadian health care system sucks when put in practice it just sounds good to Americans because it is a requirement for Canadians to talk about how great universal health care is.

DOK · 08-02-2009, 02:07 AM

Sigh. Ok, I'm not actually certain on my own views on this BUT I wanted to say that I've heard "if you pay to go to a specialist, it actually creates a space in the line for those waiting for free (who can't afford)". So, technically, if you can pay, and you do, are you not really shortening the line?

I don't think the wealthy have more right to live, but if we all paid for what we could, wouldn't the system work quicker and become more efficient? I'm all for high taxes personally, then everyone gets everything and everyone pays their portion of their earnings towards it (then I suppose the rich end up paying for the poors health care then, another sway).

Anyways, just thinking out loud here.

bcb · 08-02-2009, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DOK

Sigh. Ok, I'm not actually certain on my own views on this BUT I wanted to say that I've heard "if you pay to go to a specialist, it actually creates a space in the line for those waiting for free (who can't afford)". So, technically, if you can pay, and you do, are you not really shortening the line?

I don't think the wealthy have more right to live, but if we all paid for what we could, wouldn't the system work quicker and become more efficient? I'm all for high taxes personally, then everyone gets everything and everyone pays their portion of their earnings towards it (then I suppose the rich end up paying for the poors health care then, another sway).

Anyways, just thinking out loud here.

I think what you are advocating is a European model. The ideal health care system...without the euthanasia, of course

Hemi-Cuda · 08-02-2009, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moon

If they are going to private doctors that won't treat the "regular" folks then they certainly should be able to jump the queue. I don't see how it hurts anyone as the "regular" guy won't be treated by that doctor anyways and other regulars get to move up the list as the rich folks get treatment elsewhere.

If they are using the same doctors, i.e. there are no private doctors, as everyone else then it gets more dicey.

The Canadian health care system sucks when put in practice it just sounds good to Americans because it is a requirement for Canadians to talk about how great universal health care is.

you just contradicted yourself. the more doctors in private clinics the less there are available for the public, and if a doctor coming out of med-school has to choose between a private practice for more money or public for less, what do you think he'll choose?

you can't pay the police or fire department for extra care or special privileges, why should another essential service in health care be different? everyone deserves the same access to medial care, money should never have to enter the discussion