Palin admits to traveling to Canada for health care

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

In November of 2009, Sarah Palin — who is always suggesting that health care reform will lead to socialism — insisted that Canada needs to reform its health care system to “let the private sector take over.” But this past Saturday in Calgary, Canada — at “her first Canadian appearance since stepping down as governor of Alaska last summer” — Palin seemed to deviate from her fear of socialized Canadian medicine when she revealed that her family may have benefited from the Canadian system:

PALIN: We used to hustle over the border for health care we received in Canada. And I think now, isn’t that ironic?

...

Palin’s experience also highlights the fact that American medical-tourism to Canada is common, despite conservatives’ claims that Canada’s health care system drives Canadians into the states. “Every year, thousands of Americans undergo surgery in other countries” where they can receive the same care “at half the price.” “In 2007, an estimated 750,000 Americans traveled abroad for medical care; this number is anticipated to increase to six million by 2010″ — far outpacing the number of Canadians coming into the United States for medical treatment. It’s good to know that Palin was once one of them.

http://thinkprogress.org/2010/03/08/palin-canada-travel/

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Maybe she did this before she went to Russia?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

My FIL has scheduled a non-urgent heart surgery out here in CA. He was able to go to the cardiologist last week and schedule an appointment for the procedure before the end of this month.

In fairness, that doesn't happen under the nationalized systems - for non-urgent procedures, you are usually put on waiting list.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

In fairness, that doesn't happen under the nationalized systems - for non-urgent procedures, you are usually put on waiting list.

The insurance-based system we have in the US is very good as long as you're not part of the individual or small group market. The current reform proposal is targeted at those two segments.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The insurance-based system we have in the US is very good as long as you're not part of the individual or small group market. The current reform proposal is targeted at those two segments.

Of course, I don't know what my FIL's out of pocket will likely be for that procedure... The price of a new car is not uncommon.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Of course, I don't know what my FIL's out of pocket will likely be for that procedure... The price of a new car is not uncommon.

Hopefully, a Kia and not a Lexus

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Even so its 5 figures more than you'd pay in Canada or the UK.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Even so its 5 figures more than you'd pay in Canada or the UK.

Not that my experience in large-group policies is necessarily representative, but I've never had a plan with a maximum yearly out of pocket of more than 5,000.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

He has some sort of 50:50 plan, I think he said. Get to choose your own doctor, but pay through the nose.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

He has some sort of 50:50 plan, I think he said. Get to choose your own doctor, but pay through the nose.

50:50, wow. There was a corporate townhall where I work back in 2004 where employees were quite loud about the fact that our employer was incentivizing us to go to an 80:20 plan instead of a 90:10 plan. 50:50 would have meant mass exodus.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

50:50, wow. There was a corporate townhall where I work back in 2004 where employees were quite loud about the fact that our employer was incentivizing us to go to an 80:20 plan instead of a 90:10 plan. 50:50 would have meant mass exodus.

We switched to a low deductible plan. Last year we hit that with one pelvic exam for the wife. I am convinced now.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

We switched to a low deductible plan.

Good call. High deductibles are for people who don't quite get what insurance means.

[scandal 951]

Good call. High deductibles are for people who don't quite get what insurance means.

Au contraire. It depends upon what kind of risk you are insuring for.

In the case of my homeowners policy, I take the highest deductible they offer. My thinking goes that what I'm really insuring for is catastrophic loss - the house burns down, or a a whacked out Australian trips and breaks his pinkie on my porch steps and sues for an Australian housecleaner's salary. The kind of thing that would actually break me without insurance. For the little stuff- I'm quite happy to self insure and not even file a claim. So why would I want to pay extra for a low deductible?

Now health insurance is a bit different since you're much more likely to be making claims each year. Still, the same rough principle applies.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Now health insurance is a bit different since you're much more likely to be making claims each year. Still, the same rough principle applies.

Health insurance is very different for that very reason.

[Ali G. 37]

My FIL has scheduled a non-urgent heart surgery out here in CA. He was able to go to the cardiologist last week and schedule an appointment for the procedure before the end of this month.

In fairness, that doesn't happen under the nationalized systems - for non-urgent procedures, you are usually put on waiting list.

I don't know about the UK but if you have supplemental private health insurance in AUS, it's just as fast.