Cheaper healthcare in Canada?

[giraffemd 0]

Neither did I. Lived in AB and SK and the health care was way better than here. Paid premiums in AB but they were actually paid by the college I taught in. Never paid a cent for labs.

I lived in BC and paid 38.00 a month for family premium. Covered everything with no crazy *co-pays* or other nonsense......I never had to wait for anything, always got into my Dr. and nothing was *not covered* under medical insurance....sure wish I could say the same for here. I pay $400 a month for family insurance through my work (Blue Cross) and my husband had to pay $1200 for an untrasound on his knee that the insurance would not cover..

I don't know one person who lost their home because they had the misfortune to get sick.

hmmmm....wonder which system is better????

Sorry to tell you my dear friend, but your job coverage svcks. My college paid all my premiums and secondary insurance with no cap for prescriptions.

And people DO go bankrupt in the US because of medical bills. A LOT.

The Canadian system is better. Hands down. Tried them both and the US one absolutely svcks.

Yup, my health care is not the best, but it is better than a lot. Many people I know have to stay in a job just for the medical....and what about pre-existing conditions and all sorts of small print that the insurance won't cover.....that doesn"t happen in Canada that I know of, and I don't recall knowing anyone back at home that lies awake at night wondering how to pay the medical bills. Well perhaps things may change now that there is someone in the White House that actually cares about that sort of thing

[Sprailenes 47]

Never had a bad experience. Though I take Symbicort and thats 118.00 in Canada without a prescription plan, and down here its 20.00 with a plan. I didn't have a prescription plan in Canada, unfortunately I would pay for all of my medications out of my own pocket.

Prescriptions weren't covered by OHIP. Though my doctor would frequently supply me with samples of different variations of inhalers, and Symbicort worked great.

There have been times I have gone to the emergency because my doctor wasn't available and my town didn't have a walk in clinic and I have waited about two hours just to get in to see someone, but again that was because I didn't have an emergency.

I always found the American health care system to be the joke. I mean if someone can't afford it, they don't get to use it, and if they choose to use it, they can risk getting into financial troubles because of it. I could see how making a lame decision about buying a home, or car, or using credit cards could get someone into financial troubles, but a broken arm shouldn't.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Never had a bad experience. Though I take Symbicort and thats 118.00 in Canada without a prescription plan, and down here its 20.00 with a plan. I didn't have a prescription plan in Canada, unfortunately I would pay for all of my medications out of my own pocket.

Prescriptions weren't covered by OHIP. Though my doctor would frequently supply me with samples of different variations of inhalers, and Symbicort worked great.

There have been times I have gone to the emergency because my doctor wasn't available and my town didn't have a walk in clinic and I have waited about two hours just to get in to see someone, but again that was because I didn't have an emergency.

I always found the American health care system to be the joke. I mean if someone can't afford it, they don't get to use it, and if they choose to use it, they can risk getting into financial troubles because of it. I could see how making a lame decision about buying a home, or car, or using credit cards could get someone into financial troubles, but a broken arm shouldn't.

Thats not true about the USA medical system entirely! Yes some hospitals are truly private! If you go there and ur not badly injured with no insurance they will turn u away! Or if u are badly injured, they will stabilize you and send you to another hospital that has a contract with the state.

Hospitals that do have a contract with the State see everyone, even those without insurance. and yes they will bill ya, but you will get seen.

I never had a bad experience in canada,but I was military so it was free, even the drugs. But my ex was covered under the provincial plan and it was great.

Here in the USA, I can't complain as we have Federal Blue/cross blue shield, prob the same plan as carla. I can see any Dr I want and do not require referrals. I'm not even sure what we pay a month, but $300 sounds about right and the employer picks up the rest.

Plus and Negatives of each system. It did take me quite awhile to find a family Dr. But I did go see a specialist a few weeks back and it was pretty quick! My parents in Saskatoon get great service, so all depends where one resides

[Sprailenes 47]

I was talking about going to the hospitals in Canada. I have only been to the hospital down here once and I saw a doctor right away. I can't speak for hospitals down here because I have only been to one. But if I hadn't been on my husbands health plan at the time the bill would have been 2000.00.

[trailmix 77]

Deadpool, sorry you had a bad experience - but you and I both know that you are comparing apples and oranges here.

You are not covered by a provincial plan in Canada yet, therefore you are comparing the cost for going to the Dr. in Canada with zero health insurance coverage to going to a Dr. in the U.S. with health insurance.

As for the drugs, the doctor should have asked you if you have drug coverage and if not he should have offered a generic - much cheaper (for the antibiotics).

I really am sorry you are having a hard time.

Edited November 17, 2008 by trailmix

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Neither did I. Lived in AB and SK and the health care was way better than here. Paid premiums in AB but they were actually paid by the college I taught in. Never paid a cent for labs.

I lived in BC and paid 38.00 a month for family premium. Covered everything with no crazy *co-pays* or other nonsense......I never had to wait for anything, always got into my Dr. and nothing was *not covered* under medical insurance....sure wish I could say the same for here. I pay $400 a month for family insurance through my work (Blue Cross) and my husband had to pay $1200 for an untrasound on his knee that the insurance would not cover..

I don't know one person who lost their home because they had the misfortune to get sick.

hmmmm....wonder which system is better????

Sorry to tell you my dear friend, but your job coverage svcks. My college paid all my premiums and secondary insurance with no cap for prescriptions.

And people DO go bankrupt in the US because of medical bills. A LOT.

The Canadian system is better. Hands down. Tried them both and the US one absolutely svcks.

Yup, my health care is not the best, but it is better than a lot. Many people I know have to stay in a job just for the medical....and what about pre-existing conditions and all sorts of small print that the insurance won't cover.....that doesn"t happen in Canada that I know of, and I don't recall knowing anyone back at home that lies awake at night wondering how to pay the medical bills. Well perhaps things may change now that there is someone in the White House that actually cares about that sort of thing

OMG!! Sorry - I thought I was responding to DeadPool

I totally agree with you!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Gee DeadPool, you sound like you are describing my multiple experiences with the medical system HERE in the US. I have never had as bad experiences back in Canada as I have here - longer wait times, higher prescription costs (the copay here equals the total cost of the same product back in Canada), emergency room waits of over 6 hours for a critical condition (they admitted me) - and yes, the stool sample is do it yourself at home here in the US as well. I'm sorry you had this experience but I suspect, from reading your other posts about life in Canada, that you were looking for negatives - and found what you were looking for. When your probationary period for health coverage kicks in there will be no fees for medical exams or doctors - just prescriptions, and your employer - or your wife's medical coverage through work - should cover those substantially or wholly.

[Tankgurl38 0]

Sounds like Deadpool isn't covered by any Provincial Health Care or Blue Cross right now and he is walking into the doctors offices as an uninsured person.

I had to go to the doctor last time I was down in the Seattle visiting my boyfriend. It cost me $150 for a doctors visit, being unisured down there. So it is expensive for healthcare in both the US and Canada if you don't have any coverage.

Just my thoughts.

[DeadPoolX 9]

You're right -- I don't have a provincial health care plan nor do I have Blue Cross Blue Shield in Canada. I do have PPO coverage with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, but I don't think BCBS in Canada would care much about that. For reference, I'm in Vancouver, British Columbia.

I'd be happy to get provincial health care and BCBS, but I am not eligible yet for it (and won't be for a couple of months). Even after I am, I've been told here that it will take an additional three months to become fully insured.

Perhaps, once my provincial health care plan and BCBS sets in, I'll be happier and maybe most costs are taken care of. But that doesn't do me a lot of good right now, when I absolutely require medication and have a pretty nasty infection running through my body. I can't afford to purchase most of my medication (which is why I'm rationing it) and I certainly can't afford the doctor visits and lab work.

From my what I've read, provincial insurance won't absorb the cost of drugs. BCBS won't pay for the medication if you have any medical conditions prior to joining, as well. That doesn't surprise me much, which is why everyone lies to health insurance companies. If people told the truth, they'd most likely be turned down (I know someone who was rejected for simply having migraines) or at best, get an extremely limited plan that covers practically nothing.

Moving to and setting up in Canada has been an unbelievably expensive proposition. So much so that in three months time, I've spent over $20,000 USD. My savings are running low and with my investments in Fidelity going down due to the stock market (I've lost over $15,000 without spending a cent), I can't afford these large bills. Because of this, I'm hesitant to see a doctor or get my prescriptions filled. Money is more important right now than my health. A sad fact, but it's ultimately true.

Maybe I'm not using a completely fair comparison method here. It's hardly surprising, however, that I am very unsatisfied with what I've seen so far. Forgetting about health insurance of any type, those who're employed in the medical profession (to some degree or another) should have more working knowledge than their patients. I even had to explain what "BID" meant in medical terminology.

Contrary to some commentary here, I was not looking for negatives. Overall, I like Canada a lot. I would have been thrilled if none of what I described had occurred. Are there some issues that I find unusual or somewhat disturbing here? Of course. But it's a nice place and if I have to live somewhere other than the United States, Canada is my first choice.

PS - I'm not the Canadian government's best fan. I have trouble liking something that misspells my name and refuses to change it, despite mounds of evidence proving what my name. The fact they lost my PR Card the first time around certainly doesn't help matters. I recently received it... over three months after landing (with my name incorrectly spelled, of course). I also had to pay to fix a problem the government created on my SIN card. Call me crazy, but I think if they made the mistake, they should eat the cost.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

You're right - they made the mistake they should absorb the cost. Make an appointment with your local MP's office and have his staff work on getting your PR card corrected and a refund for the SIN mistake. There should be absolutely no fees charged for any of that and being a PR is not supposed to make any difference in the service given to you than for a Canadian citizen. Good luck.

[Wis-Can 0]

You're right - they made the mistake they should absorb the cost. Make an appointment with your local MP's office and have his staff work on getting your PR card corrected and a refund for the SIN mistake. There should be absolutely no fees charged for any of that and being a PR is not supposed to make any difference in the service given to you than for a Canadian citizen. Good luck.

I agree, they should absorb the cost, they probably won't though. I had to go in to Vital Statistics to get another birth certificate because the one they already issued me was incorrect. It had the wrong birthdate on it. They had it as the 9th instead of the 19th. I showed then the old one, and their response was, that will be $25 dollars. I argued till I was blue in the face, but all I got was, if you want a corrected one, it will be $25 dollars. I gave up, I needed it so I paid the $25. bucks, and very nicely said, how sad it is that I have to pay you to correct your own mistake. Their local MP might be able to do something for them to getthe PR card corrected, hopefully!

[Flames9_RN 358]

Sask screwed up my birth cert when I requested the long form one! They didn't charge me for it, and the expedited the delivery of it.

[Carlawarla 1]

You're right -- I don't have a provincial health care plan nor do I have Blue Cross Blue Shield in Canada. I do have PPO coverage with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, but I don't think BCBS in Canada would care much about that. For reference, I'm in Vancouver, British Columbia.

I'd be happy to get provincial health care and BCBS, but I am not eligible yet for it (and won't be for a couple of months). Even after I am, I've been told here that it will take an additional three months to become fully insured.

Perhaps, once my provincial health care plan and BCBS sets in, I'll be happier and maybe most costs are taken care of. But that doesn't do me a lot of good right now, when I absolutely require medication and have a pretty nasty infection running through my body. I can't afford to purchase most of my medication (which is why I'm rationing it) and I certainly can't afford the doctor visits and lab work.

From my what I've read, provincial insurance won't absorb the cost of drugs. BCBS won't pay for the medication if you have any medical conditions prior to joining, as well. That doesn't surprise me much, which is why everyone lies to health insurance companies. If people told the truth, they'd most likely be turned down (I know someone who was rejected for simply having migraines) or at best, get an extremely limited plan that covers practically nothing.

Moving to and setting up in Canada has been an unbelievably expensive proposition. So much so that in three months time, I've spent over $20,000 USD. My savings are running low and with my investments in Fidelity going down due to the stock market (I've lost over $15,000 without spending a cent), I can't afford these large bills. Because of this, I'm hesitant to see a doctor or get my prescriptions filled. Money is more important right now than my health. A sad fact, but it's ultimately true.

Maybe I'm not using a completely fair comparison method here. It's hardly surprising, however, that I am very unsatisfied with what I've seen so far. Forgetting about health insurance of any type, those who're employed in the medical profession (to some degree or another) should have more working knowledge than their patients. I even had to explain what "BID" meant in medical terminology.

Contrary to some commentary here, I was not looking for negatives. Overall, I like Canada a lot. I would have been thrilled if none of what I described had occurred. Are there some issues that I find unusual or somewhat disturbing here? Of course. But it's a nice place and if I have to live somewhere other than the United States, Canada is my first choice.

PS - I'm not the Canadian government's best fan. I have trouble liking something that misspells my name and refuses to change it, despite mounds of evidence proving what my name. The fact they lost my PR Card the first time around certainly doesn't help matters. I recently received it... over three months after landing (with my name incorrectly spelled, of course). I also had to pay to fix a problem the government created on my SIN card. Call me crazy, but I think if they made the mistake, they should eat the cost.

The worst thing about this whole thing is that you're feeling like #######. I'm sorry you're not feeling well, and have to absorb these costs on your own rather than wait. It's no fun being sick. Please listen to Kathryn about getting your MP involved. She worked for an MP, so has valuable information for you to attempt to get this paperwork name stuff fixed.

Hope you're feeling better soon.

[thetreble 19]

I'm sorry, as well, to hear you are not feeling well Deadpool. I have experienced those long, 3 hour waits in Ontario Urgent Care clinics for most of my life.

As far as my coverage though, I never paid for a cent of anything. Everything was taken care of by OHIP and my dad's supplemental insurance. Like Sapphire said, a lot of people seem to be under the impression you don't need secondary insurance in Canada. That is what helps pay the costs of tests and medications.

Any way, as soon as you get your insurance, your costs will surely go down to almost nothing. But, I'm afraid those long lines aren't going any where.

But just to make a note, I finally got a family doctor that I am going to regularly. 2 weeks ago I went in for my 4:00 appointment and was not even seen until almost 6pm. Just a sign of a doctor taking on too many patients. If I go to the hospital or to a care clinic, I expect to wait. But I was NOT happy with waiting for my family doctor I had made an appointment with 3 weeks prior to my visit.

[DeadPoolX 9]

Thanks for the kind words. I've been in so much pain that I generally get about an hour of sleep at most. The rest of the time, I'm in complete agony (plus I often feel nauseated). When I'm awake, I can barely move and I feel like I could pass out because I hurt so much. I'm not a wimp when it comes to pain (having had migraines on a regular basis my whole life, I'm pretty used to it), but the only way I can function is if I'm completely hopped up on painkillers. Even then, it's only tolerable.

I apologize if I seemed overly critical (and perhaps a little unfair in my comparison) of the Canadian healthcare system. I'm sure it's great once provincial health insurance and BCBS is set into motion. Intellectually, I know this. However, it's hard to realize that when I've lost around $35,000 (probably more by now) due to expenses and the stock market tumbling. I don't even have a full-time job here to compensate. With that in mind, it's become very difficult to pay for medication or any procedures I need done. Adding in the frustration of long waits (which I am not accustomed to at all) and unprofessional staff, I think it only seems natural that I'd be a little annoyed.