Canadians on US Health Care reform

[Sprailenes 47]

Yes! I read that yesterday. Very good article as well kathryn!

[LiLMermaid 2]

I worry about my asthma here too. 3 of us have asthma its under control but with as many allergies as we have it can get ugly fast. I hate how they give us the run around on the puffers we use, like the steroid. We left Canada using flovent and salbutamol ( we get down here and get put on symbicort then after a year on that we get switched to pulmicort cause the insurance felt like it. And how the manufacturers don't have a generic brand yet for albuterol so we have to pay an arm and a leg for the name brand. it irritates me because we have the generic brands back home for the longest time.

Anyways, living in the Sault my whole life I got some of the crappy end of the health care like no Doctor for 5 yrs and the walk in clinics being backed up 5 hours or just not being opened at all, to having my son break his arm and not having one of the 5 orthopedic surgeons come in so they send us to Timmins to get his arm set. My daughter and other son got treatment right away. My daughter had her appendix burst she had a CAT scan right away and surgery done before morning. My oldest boy broke his arm and had surgery right away too. It all depends in the Sault who's turn for their specialist to take off Timmins Sudbury or the Sault. I guess if its real b ad they get called anyways but its their way of making it known that the doctors need help out here.

Now I like the easy access of Doctors here they are everywhere, its not that long of a wait to see most of the specialist we had to see, but I can't compare Central Arkansas to Sault Ste. Marie cause its not a fair comparison. We are in the middle of it all here and in the Sault well your in the middle of know where.

The cost of insurance for the 6 of us is crazy the co pays are just dumb and we don't have vision or dental, drugs are still more expansive then we pay back in Canada. So ya I would love to have what I had back in Canada but have the extra doctors and easier access to them then the Sault. But I guess I could of moved out of the Sault and got that too. I miss health care in Canada.

Hope I didn't ramble on and made sense

Danielle

I was born and raised in the Sault as well. I haven't lived there in years but I have some family there still and the healthcare is ####### there right now. They are too busy improving their hospital and not concentrating on the quality of their care right now. My niece was there visiting some family a month ago and she had to go to the ER because she was puking up blood. They didn't even run any tests....sent her home and told her to go see her family Dr when she got back to Toronto in a week.

[trailmix 77]

Okay, my solution to health care:

1. Put health care into the hands medical doctors and nurses. I bet they know just a little more about treating patients than an insurance company or the government.

2. Emphasize preventative measures. Sometimes you can't prevent something and all you can do is treat it. However, if prevention can be achieved by either avoiding a health issue or reducing its severity, why not do it? Regardless of which system -- American or Canadian -- exists, if people took better care of themselves and tried to prevent health problems more than expecting a "miracle cure" from their doctor, it'd have to help out.

I could not agree with you more regarding preventative medicine. The company I work for changed our insurance program (which was the standard PPO previously) four years ago and has seen a HUGE decrease in costs. They made two moves.

Well, I would suggest that you would want to be sure that regardless of who is running your health care that you are willing to have them dictate to you what you can or cannot do. So if you don't smoke or drink, you are not overweight you don't participate in risky activities like mountain climbing and bungi jumping - you are not a driver under 25 or over a certain age - then you will be favoured with lower rates?

In the U.S. smokers are already penalized with higher rates - none of the other factors are taken in to account (that I have mentioned above) - but if the focus is to be on prevention - well they probably will be.

I don't think the argument is that some companies don't have good health care plans - because obviously some do (like yours Somber) - however for every person that has a good healthcare plan with their company there are probably 10 with no healthcare plan and 10 with a lame one.

As an example, this is what the company where my Husband worked (in Florida) offered:

- $6000 deductible per year

- After the $6000 they pay 20% - until you reach a deductible of $11,000 (per year)

We paid $400 per month for that. While it did include dental and vision (they were a cheap part of the plan) - it included zero medical (no prescription co-pay etc) until you met those deductibles.

Now they did offer other plans at first and no doubt many people at his company had paid higher rates for years. A couple of months ago they cut out all other plans and now only offer the one above.

What if someone requires regular trips to the doctor for prescriptions, for example - do you quit your job and try to find someone with better benefits?

The U.S. system is completely screwed up and anyone that supports it, that I have seen, is one of the few that A. Is offered a decent plan at work for a decent price and B. Likes their job.

What kind of system attaches your healthcare to a job?? A system that wants to keep you....at your job. In Canada, supplementary insurance is seen as a small perk that you are able to buy if you want to - in the U.S. it's a huge part of the employment system.

The U.S. system needs a gigantic overhaul, I think Obama is absolutely right to move forward quickly with this. Enough talking, time to overhaul.

Edited August 8, 2009 by trailmix

[DeadPoolX 9]

What kind of system attaches your healthcare to a job?? A system that wants to keep you....at your job. In Canada, supplementary insurance is seen as a small perk that you are able to buy if you want to - in the U.S. it's a huge part of the employment system.

The U.S. is a far more work-oriented society than most countries, including Canada. That's not to say Canada or any other nation are full of slackers, but look at how the U.S. operates:

1. No "long weekends."

2. Federal holidays mean squat unless you work for the government or a bank.

3. Two weeks vacation (it's rare you'll find more and sometimes you'll get less).

4. No overtime pay if on salary.

5. Maternity leave is extremely limited.

6. Health care is often acquired at your job.

All of this boils down to the U.S. putting work ahead of every other aspect in life.

[thetreble 19]

What kind of system attaches your healthcare to a job?? A system that wants to keep you....at your job. In Canada, supplementary insurance is seen as a small perk that you are able to buy if you want to - in the U.S. it's a huge part of the employment system.

The U.S. is a far more work-oriented society than most countries, including Canada. That's not to say Canada or any other nation are full of slackers, but look at how the U.S. operates:

1. No "long weekends."

2. Federal holidays mean squat unless you work for the government or a bank.

3. Two weeks vacation (it's rare you'll find more and sometimes you'll get less).

4. No overtime pay if on salary.

5. Maternity leave is extremely limited.

6. Health care is often acquired at your job.

All of this boils down to the U.S. putting work ahead of every other aspect in life.

This is very true and I think it stinks! When my husband puts in 80 hours a week at the restaurant, I'm often wondering what the hell we are doing with our lives. Every one I work with is pretty much overloaded with work to the point where I'm currently working on weekends to catch up.

I'm not a fan of the work comes before everything thing. I guess I'm more of a European thinker in that way. Especially where we live in the North East, it's work or bust! Everything is about money, who has it, who doesn't, who is living where...it's kinda disgusting actually.

[sly_wolf 199]

What kind of system attaches your healthcare to a job?? A system that wants to keep you....at your job. In Canada, supplementary insurance is seen as a small perk that you are able to buy if you want to - in the U.S. it's a huge part of the employment system.

The U.S. is a far more work-oriented society than most countries, including Canada. That's not to say Canada or any other nation are full of slackers, but look at how the U.S. operates:

1. No "long weekends."

2. Federal holidays mean squat unless you work for the government or a bank.

3. Two weeks vacation (it's rare you'll find more and sometimes you'll get less).

4. No overtime pay if on salary.

5. Maternity leave is extremely limited.

6. Health care is often acquired at your job.

All of this boils down to the U.S. putting work ahead of every other aspect in life.

This is very true and I think it stinks! When my husband puts in 80 hours a week at the restaurant, I'm often wondering what the hell we are doing with our lives. Every one I work with is pretty much overloaded with work to the point where I'm currently working on weekends to catch up.

I'm not a fan of the work comes before everything thing. I guess I'm more of a European thinker in that way. Especially where we live in the North East, it's work or bust! Everything is about money, who has it, who doesn't, who is living where...it's kinda disgusting actually.

I agree. I have never seen so many people who need to hold down 2 jobs like here in the US. I think America in general has a lot to learn from some of the European countries. There is really a false sense of that "better standard of living".

[MapleLeafBaby 1]

This is one of the most disturbing parts of moving to the US...at least for me

It may take 2-3 months to see a specialist in Canada, but at least everything is covered...it's never even a thought.

We have been getting quotes for coverage and a family plan we are being quoted $1200/month! #######?!?! As well, I have suffered from a back injury years ago, and all the companies we have looked into, are excluding anything back related. So I'm basically screwed! Any care required for my back I have to pay out of pocket! As well, they are giving us issues with my son's coverage saying that he needs an SSN, which I can't get until AOS starts rolling in...our travel insr we came on, is running out

I am very not happy with US healthcare...I know many people that dishonestly continue to use their Canadian Health Care, long after moving to the US...it's unfortunate that when something is so difficult it forces people to try and manipulate the system.

My only saving grace is that my husband and his brother are in the medical industry...as well many of our friends, so it eliminates some of the exposure...but not all.

It frustrates me to no end...I try not to think about it cause I get so mad!!!

Edited August 15, 2009 by poprocks

[Sprailenes 47]

The medical care here is also very inconsistent.

[DeadPoolX 9]

The medical care here is also very inconsistent.

True, but that could be said of anywhere.

[Sprailenes 47]

I don't think you know what I mean. My husbands care is very very different from mine and my sons care is different from both of ours. Since my work switched insurance providers it's been nothing but headaches for everyone I work with. We're insured, but it's not good insurance.

My husband works at a small but successful design firm, recently one of their interns got into a motorcycle accident. It totally changed their coverage and they had to get rid of certain aspects of their plan all of their rates went up. It doesn't just hurt the people, it also hurts the businesses. Small businesses especially. The plan also excluded families, so my son all of a sudden had no care.

We had to put him on state care while we shopped around for a provider. We paid the highest amount allowed for that state care. My experience with state care was pretty frustrating, only because I was only allowed to see 3 doctors who were no longer taking patients and had to play phone tag with the insurance company. Luckily we got him off, but it came at a very high cost.

We pay about 600.00 a month for all of us to have health care... that doesn't include the possible 1000.00 out of pocket that I will have to pay IF I hit my deductible.

I tear up when I write this and I am not asking anyone for sympathy, I just feel like I'm a number down here. I don't feel like a person at all. In Canada, I apologize for the holier than thou attitude BUT I felt like a person.

600.00 a month almost is half of our rent. 600.00 a month is two car payments. Thats our entire grocery budget with 200 left over for whatever. But no we're paying that just so we can have health insurance.

I just find that disgusting. Sorry but it completely disgusts me.

Edited August 15, 2009 by Sprailenes

[Sprailenes 47]

What kind of system attaches your healthcare to a job?? A system that wants to keep you....at your job. In Canada, supplementary insurance is seen as a small perk that you are able to buy if you want to - in the U.S. it's a huge part of the employment system.

The U.S. is a far more work-oriented society than most countries, including Canada. That's not to say Canada or any other nation are full of slackers, but look at how the U.S. operates:

1. No "long weekends."

2. Federal holidays mean squat unless you work for the government or a bank.

3. Two weeks vacation (it's rare you'll find more and sometimes you'll get less).

4. No overtime pay if on salary.

5. Maternity leave is extremely limited.

6. Health care is often acquired at your job.

All of this boils down to the U.S. putting work ahead of every other aspect in life.

This is very true and I think it stinks! When my husband puts in 80 hours a week at the restaurant, I'm often wondering what the hell we are doing with our lives. Every one I work with is pretty much overloaded with work to the point where I'm currently working on weekends to catch up.

I'm not a fan of the work comes before everything thing. I guess I'm more of a European thinker in that way. Especially where we live in the North East, it's work or bust! Everything is about money, who has it, who doesn't, who is living where...it's kinda disgusting actually.

Word!

Whatever happened to family time? Spending time with your families? Oh people can't because they HAVE to work to be able to afford the 'better life' for their families.

[trailmix 77]

You are absolutely right Sprailenes - it is inconsistent. There is this illusion that if you are a fine family, working, that health insurance is just there for you. In a lot of cases it is not - it is not affordable - it is restrictive.

It's also interesting what you say about the 3 doctors available with the plan you had - that were no longer taking patients. It mystifies me when Americans against health care reform say things like 'will I be restricted on what doctor I can visit??'

They already are! Well unless they are the wealthy few that don't mind paying a lot more.

Edited August 15, 2009 by trailmix

[Sprailenes 47]

It's true. My son had 3 doctors he was allowed to see and when I called them they said they were no longer taking patients. It was really frustrating. This was the time the schools were trying to get him classified as ADHD and I couldn't find a freaking doctor under his own plan. It was so upsetting. The school was calling me at least once a week, at work, at home telling me I needed to get him in to a doctor and I was TRYING. I would get off the phone and just cry. Then they'd say: "He can see one of our doctors" and I didn't trust that.

The insurance company finally found a doctor and she was great. My son really liked her and he was comfortable with her, but then we switched providers and she was no longer his doctor. So we had to find a new one.

The deal with my husband before I moved down was that we wouldn't have to worry about health care... and there was a time when we didn't. But ####### happens, and now I feel like we kind of got screwed. We fought about it for a while too. We fought about the money, where that 425.00 for Ethan's care was going to come from etc. Like most families, we live and adhere to a budget. We pulled through but life changes when you have to pay that kind of money out for something regardless of how much you make. Nothing prepares you for it.

I feel like I should be going to the doctor at least once a week with the amount we pay, you know get my money's worth out of the deal.

We all have insurance and I guess that's good, but health care shouldn't cause a rift in your relationships or strain your bank account. We're worrying about it for the wrong reasons.

Edited August 15, 2009 by Sprailenes

[Sprailenes 47]

Oh and I just want to add, that if I was a single mother I would probably have to work two jobs even though my day job pays decent. So who's raising my son?

Oh America, you had me at 'freedom' and now I'm sucking on your teet.

[OBX 51]

You are absolutely right Sprailenes - it is inconsistent. There is this illusion that if you are a fine family, working, that health insurance is just there for you. In a lot of cases it is not - it is not affordable - it is restrictive.

It's also interesting what you say about the 3 doctors available with the plan you had - that were no longer taking patients. It mystifies me when Americans against health care reform say things like 'will I be restricted on what doctor I can visit??'

They already are! Well unless they are the wealthy few that don't mind paying a lot more.

Excellent point! This is exactly what goes through my mind every time I watch the drama that is unfolding here about healthcare reform.