Canadians on US Health Care reform

[thetreble 19]

But what system are they believing in, you know? They don't even know what a more socialist health care system would be like as it's never been offered to them. They may like the idea of it but hate it if something similar happened here.

I'm really interested in seeing what will happen here. To be honest with you, it's kind of pointless talking about it in a way because if they do decide to overhaul the health care system in the US, it will take a decade at least to do so.

[Arabella 4]

When my fiance told his mom he was moving to the US to be with me, she said she was disapointed and one of her reasons was our healthcare system. It made me sad because I will be taking care of him and will be doing all I can to provide for him yet it won't be good enough in her eyes because of the system.

I would happily have moved to Canada to be with him but I am the one with the job, the house, and I have kids who have both sets of grandparents within a few miles of where I live. I tell him that when my kids are in college we'll move to Canada.

Edited July 26, 2009 by Arabella

[Sprailenes 47]

But even Canadians don't know much about the system down here. I have had many friends ask me: "Giving up free health care?"

Free???

It's far from free.

I never minded paying extreme taxes, I don't mind taxes and I agree with taxes. But calling the system free is just a bit far.

Edited July 26, 2009 by Sprailenes

[MrsCat 6]

The only thing I can say is, we pay over $400/month for health insurance. And when you go to the doctor, you have to cough up another $20 copay. What the f was the $400 for that month?!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

No, the system in Canada isn't free. It is paid for through taxation. It is, however, universal, and is based upon the premise that collectively we are able to afford more and do more than each of us would be able to accomplish on our own. It is akin to pooling our money (through taxation ) to pay for the roads in front of our homes or the bridges over the river. I have never minded paying taxes either because we did get value for those tax dollars. You just have to attend a budget meeting for a municipal council one time to see exactly what is spent on items of mutual benefit to appreciate the wisdom in the system. The US system isn't based on a collective good - it is based upon an individual profit - and it shows because that is the result - individual profit.

[Sprailenes 47]

The only thing I can say is, we pay over $400/month for health insurance. And when you go to the doctor, you have to cough up another $20 copay. What the f was the $400 for that month?!

I know right.

No, the system in Canada isn't free. It is paid for through taxation. It is, however, universal, and is based upon the premise that collectively we are able to afford more and do more than each of us would be able to accomplish on our own. It is akin to pooling our money (through taxation ) to pay for the roads in front of our homes or the bridges over the river. I have never minded paying taxes either because we did get value for those tax dollars. You just have to attend a budget meeting for a municipal council one time to see exactly what is spent on items of mutual benefit to appreciate the wisdom in the system. The US system isn't based on a collective good - it is based upon an individual profit - and it shows because that is the result - individual profit.

I agree.

And believe me, I pay way more now for health care than I did in Canada through taxes.

[MrsCat 6]

The only thing I can say is, we pay over $400/month for health insurance. And when you go to the doctor, you have to cough up another $20 copay. What the f was the $400 for that month?!

I know right.

I'll tell you what the $20 copay is for. Its the disincentive to use your $400 worth of health insurance for the month. Because if its something minor, you're probably saying in your mind, meh it'll go away, I already spent $400 this month, no point adding another $20 to it. So the health insurance company keeps the $400 because you were too cheap to cough up another $20. Its a racket really.

[thetreble 19]

It's true. I never understood why you still have to pay these co-pays when you already pay monthly? Jared has never explained it to me either. I figure he's just too used to it to even think it's worth explaining!!

It's funny how opposite two places can be when it comes to these sorts of things. Like, in New Jersey, the school districts must pass a budget. Well, whoever pays tax in that district gets to vote on whether or not they think the school budget should pass. So, they've got a sort of "town hall" style meeting and basically parents decide if they should pass their own school budget or not. It's so bizarre to me. It seems people get more into that then who the hell they are going to vote for in this Fall's election for Governor of NJ.

[MrsCat 6]

No, the system in Canada isn't free. It is paid for through taxation. It is, however, universal, and is based upon the premise that collectively we are able to afford more and do more than each of us would be able to accomplish on our own. It is akin to pooling our money (through taxation ) to pay for the roads in front of our homes or the bridges over the river. I have never minded paying taxes either because we did get value for those tax dollars. You just have to attend a budget meeting for a municipal council one time to see exactly what is spent on items of mutual benefit to appreciate the wisdom in the system. The US system isn't based on a collective good - it is based upon an individual profit - and it shows because that is the result - individual profit.

I agree.

And believe me, I pay way more now for health care than I did in Canada through taxes.

Agreed!

When Chris' coworkers make snide remarks about Canada's "socialized" medicare and how we pay for everyone else to see a doctor. I just say that I am happy the my countrymen have access to health care and have no problems paying tax dollars for that. I'd rather pay for that, than to pay for rebuilding schools, hospitals and funding security in Iraq. They usually shut up.

[thetreble 19]

See, just two different ways of looking at it Cat! I agree with you! I'd rather spend a few more dollars a day getting a poor kid some health care then building and stabilizing other countries. Whatever happened to, you know, taking care of you own

[DeadPoolX 9]

I've experienced both the American and Canadian versions of health care. Neither one is perfect, but if I had my choice, I'd go with American health care. It does cost more, but as with most things in life, you get what you pay for.

In the U.S., I've never had to wait more than a few days for any procedure. If I wanted to see a doctor -- a specialist, not a GP -- I could do so within a day or two. There was never any wait and I certainly didn't need a referral. Did I need health insurance? Yup. I had Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Texas and it certainly wasn't cheap, but it paid for my prescription medication and I never had to wait to see a doctor. That alone makes the cost worth it.

In Canada, it's difficult to find a GP who is even accepting patients. Once you do, however, you need to get a referral from them in order to see a specialist. Then it's time to play the "waiting game." I've used this example before, but in May my GP scheduled an appointment for me to see an ENT. The earliest I could get squeezed in was the middle of August.

BC Health Care requires premiums (despite the fact you also pay for it in taxation) and it doesn't cover prescription medication. For that I'd need separate insurance from a provider like Blue Cross. Some benefit.

But that's the Canadian health care system -- everyone gets it, but expect long wait times, extra costs in premiums and higher taxes and the need for private insurance if you require medication.

Edited July 26, 2009 by DeadPoolX

[Marilyn. 340]

nm

Edited July 26, 2009 by Marilyn.

[minnew 4]

I have no problem paying taxes wither as long as I am getting the value of my tax dollar, but unfortunately for some people like myself, members of my family and others close to us we do not see the tax dollar value, even living in a decent sized city a choice of which doctor or specialist to go to. It can vary from province to province in Canada how good the level of service and care is provided, as well as if you live in a urban or rural centre. Alot of times other pressures can be put on the system such as doctor and nurse shortages, recruitment and retention, and budgets.

What the US decides to do with healthcare may or may not mimic what Canadian healthcare is, health care for all is certainly not free. Like someone else said, the US likes minimal government involvement in their daily lives. While I do not believe in turning away patients who are sick and in need of dire medical care, I think the US needs to be careful especially in the situation that they are in right now with the over 10 million illegal immigrants are currently residing in the US. If your tax dollars are going towards a mutually shared program then the payment of taxes by those using it need to be mutally shared. Now whose to say that they aren't already getting taxes deducted off their checks by from employers who hire them knowingly or unknowingly as illegal workers? I have no idea.

[La Souris 19]

Agreed!

When Chris' coworkers make snide remarks about Canada's "socialized" medicare and how we pay for everyone else to see a doctor. I just say that I am happy the my countrymen have access to health care and have no problems paying tax dollars for that. I'd rather pay for that, than to pay for rebuilding schools, hospitals and funding security in Iraq. They usually shut up.

+1

My husband has a really good insurance, all paid for by his employer, and still, this is getting me worried... If I compare the taxes I'm paying in Qc with what I'll have to pay in MA, there is not that much difference; the services you get back though are, well, really different...

(maybe my familly and I are lucky, but we never had trouble finding a doctor or seeing a specialist when it was required... I'm in Montreal, maybe it's harder in rural areas, I don't know...)

Edited July 26, 2009 by La Souris

[Flames9_RN 358]

Good and bad points to each countries healthcare system! if your a "me me me" type of person and seeing others go without, one might prefer the USA system! If ya have good insurance down here, your probably doing very well. of course it depends who is paying for that insurance. if most is out of ur pocket, that hurts, but if ur lucky, ur employer picks up most of the tab, and thats prob where 1 comes out ahead. But it can still take time to see a Dr here, all depends on ur situation and how popular ur Dr is. takes my wife 4-7 months in advance to get a physical completed, because her Dr runs a very busy practice. I have never had to wait more than a week, maybe my Dr just sucks,lol Hospital where I am hopefully to be employed at is a private hospital, show up with no insurance, or cant pay for it out of pocket, they will stabilize you and send ya off to another hospital that gets state funding!

My family in Stoon have never had a problem with being seen, dad has had 3 heart operations and got in asap. Of course I have known friends with less severe problems, and yes it has taken awhile to get surgery. One of the first things one asks about at a job interview, how is your health benefits!!