Holier then thou attitude

[Sprailenes 47]

Yea I don't really like my insurance coverage either. I like the fact that I can call my doctor and see them the same day I call, or I have the option of looking for a second opinion if I want one. I like not having to be referred to a specialist. It's great for me. BUT what's good for the goose isn't always good for the gander and a lot of Americans don't have or can't afford insurance.

Edited October 20, 2010 by Sprailenes

[Marilyn. 340]

When I first got to Canada and had to go get my blood drawn somewhere other than at my drs office I was shocked!~ My primary dr is in a town of 1200people and she draws blood and has xrays right there in that location! Having to make an appointment to get blood drawn is annoying.

this happens in the US too.. we always have to go somewhere else to get blood drawn... and it kind of sucks because our health insurance covers blood-work 100% but only if it is done in a doctor's office.. if we have to get it done elsewhere they only pay 80%... we also have to go elsewhere to get any kind of tests done, like x-rays etc...

a few years ago in Canada a friend of mine had cancer and she was treated within a short period of time, she didn't have to wait months and months

we have in-network coverage too but we have a PPO so we have a huge selection of doctors to choose from...

I think a lot of the differences in medical care might have to do with where you live in Canada or the US...

[OBX 51]

Yea I don't really like my insurance coverage either. I like the fact that I can call my doctor and see them the same day I call, or I have the option of looking for a second opinion if I want one. I like not having to be referred to a specialist. It's great for me. BUT what's good for the goose isn't always good for the gander and a lot of Americans don't have or can't afford insurance.

I will say not having to wait for anything is the one upside and so far everyone I have dealt with has been very patient with me trying to explain the whole insurance deal.

Yes, it makes me think that as we get older perhaps we should consider moving back .... even sooner of Sarah Palin were to ever get elected.

Oh I'm heading back for sure! My husband holds both US and Canadian citizenship so once retirement hits for him it's back north! I just can't see using up a huge portion of retirement income to pay for supplemental healthcare.

[sly_wolf 199]

Oh I'm heading back for sure! My husband holds both US and Canadian citizenship so once retirement hits for him it's back north! I just can't see using up a huge portion of retirement income to pay for supplemental healthcare.

It would be interesting to see what other Canadians plan to do. I suppose it will also depend on what happens with healthcare in the future both in the US and Canada.

[Gemmie 142]

Growing old here isn't appealing to us at the moment either.

My husband's grandfather has Alzheimers and needs 24/7 care but he can't get into a nursing home because in the past, he had money (that his wife spent over the years). They can't afford home help as they were charging $8,000 per month, and all the 'elderly services' can do is take care of him during the day but aren't able to be there in the mornings and evenings which is when he needs it most. So my in-laws have to go to his house every morning to wash him, feed him, and take him to a day care centre and then go to pick him up at the end of the day.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I agree with the health care thing, the canadian way is THE way to go... But that's just me!

I do LOVE Americans as they have been the nicest down there in Indiana. I have to disagree with the whole health care thing. My hubby has insurance for us. He got in to see a surgeon for his knee and an mri, xray all within one day.

In Ontario I have heard of people, including myself to wait 6 months just for a specialist appt, then maybe another 6 mths for surgery to be booked. It's crazy different in the usa. I even had to see a specialist (obgyn) they had booked an appt. here and it took 9 months just to get in. Over there I got in about 2 days..problem solved. We die in Canada before we ever get cancer treatments, people live in constant pain and suffering for months just to see a Dr. here. It's not FREE! Our taxes are enormous..etc..etc.. Okay i'm off my soapbox. I heart the USA...and Canada of course, but some things are just so different and that's what makes us all unique eh?

Just to bring some perspective to this - my experience of the US and Canada health systems has been the exact opposite - I end of waiting far longer here in the US than I ever did in Canada for regular doctors and specialists. In fact, I haven't even been able to see my regular doctor for over 2 years because he is so booked up months in advance - I always see his Nurse Practitioner instead. The emergency situations in our family in Ontario (including mine) were seen to within minutes of arrival at Emergency and in my brother's case he was in emergency surgery within 20 minutes of arrival. I was under a doctor's case in less than that. My experience here with what was diagnosed as a stroke took 7 hours waiting in emergency for a doctor to see me and admit me, then without a diagnosis except that it wasn't a stroke, I was discharged 1 1/2 days later still with all the symptoms - (it turned out to be spinal nerve impingement from a ruptured lumbar disk) and our share of the medical costs totalling over $5000. So, having experienced both systems I will say i will take the Canadian system over the US system any day of the week.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

It seems like Canadian politics are only entertaining enough to captivate it's own audience, let alone a global one a couple times each decade, when the Bloc Quebecois gets cranky and decides that that they need a vote to secede.

Still, the voter turn out for most elections in Canada generally approaches 65 to 70 % of registered voters; the US is lucky if they reach 50%. The last federal election was considered one of the highest turnouts ever in the US with 56.8% turnout. During the Primaries this summer here in Georgia there were some precincts that didn't even break into the teens in voter turn out.

http://www.sfu.ca/~a...al-turnout.html

http://www.infopleas...a/A0781453.html

http://blogs.ajc.com...rnout-very-low/

Edited October 20, 2010 by Kathryn41

[warlord 73]

a few years ago in Canada a friend of mine had cancer and she was treated within a short period of time, she didn't have to wait months and months

My mother went through this in Ontario a few years ago. Discovered brest cancer, got it diaganosed, surgically removed, treatment etc all in no time at all. Within a few months of diagonsed, she was back to normal (very small cancer). All of course for free too. I told her about people having to wait a super long time for anything and she laughed and asked "is that what you silly Americans are making up to use as a defence not to use universal health care?"

Back in 1997 before I moved here, they had shut down a few emergency wards in Windsor and we were left with like 2. That caused a huge issue and waits were like 9+ hours in packed waiting rooms with people sleeping on the floor etc. This was because at the time many doctors weren't taking new patients so that was the only choice.

Here I make a doctors appointment at 8am and get in a few hours later. Of course that's just my doctor, not sure about anyone elses.

Last year though when I ripped my muscle playing raquetball, even though I have insurance, it still ended up costing me around $700 out of my own pocket with all the co-pays and other things needed.

Oh well that's a medical topic, but Americans are more fun loving then Canadians from my experience. Canadians remind me of old East Germany behind the wall, all sullen with frowns and dislike to most others, while Americans are like the free living West Germans, much happier etc. Kind of a weird analogy, but at parties and such, here we talk about a ton of things and have fun and laugh etc. At parties in Canada I go to, it's all politics and local issues and stupid Americans as the topics and none of it is fun, more like grumpy old people sitting around complaining about everything...

[sly_wolf 199]

Still, the voter turn out for most elections in Canada generally approaches 65 to 70 % of registered voters; the US is lucky if they reach 50%. The last federal election was considered one of the highest turnouts ever in the US with 56.8% turnout. During the Primaries this summer here in Georgia there were some precincts that didn't even break into the teens in voter turn out.

http://www.sfu.ca/~a...al-turnout.html

http://www.infopleas...a/A0781453.html

http://blogs.ajc.com...rnout-very-low/

The persistent TV ads here in the US must be turning voters off. My wife and I think its absolutely ridiculous and our read of the ads is ..... they are all corrupt. Lol, so who wants to go out and vote for someone corrupt.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Still, the voter turn out for most elections in Canada generally approaches 65 to 70 % of registered voters; the US is lucky if they reach 50%. The last federal election was considered one of the highest turnouts ever in the US with 56.8% turnout. During the Primaries this summer here in Georgia there were some precincts that didn't even break into the teens in voter turn out.

http://www.sfu.ca/~a...al-turnout.html

http://www.infopleas...a/A0781453.html

http://blogs.ajc.com...rnout-very-low/

Voter turnout is an indicator of absolutely nothing. Belgium has voter turnouts of upwards of 98%, so are they even better voters?

Edited October 21, 2010 by Rob & Mel

[sly_wolf 199]

Oh well that's a medical topic, but Americans are more fun loving then Canadians from my experience. Canadians remind me of old East Germany behind the wall, all sullen with frowns and dislike to most others, while Americans are like the free living West Germans, much happier etc. Kind of a weird analogy, but at parties and such, here we talk about a ton of things and have fun and laugh etc. At parties in Canada I go to, it's all politics and local issues and stupid Americans as the topics and none of it is fun, more like grumpy old people sitting around complaining about everything...

Again I think thats all based on where you came from and where you are now. My experience has been the oposite so far. The Canadians I hung with were all crazy .... in a fun way of course. I am not finding quite the same where I am now.

Although I have to agree people from either side of the border can be opiniated about each other.

[sly_wolf 199]

Voter turnout is an indicator of absolutely nothing. Belgium has voter turnouts of upwards of 98%, so are they even better voters?

Maybe we would get better results if we ran the elections like American Idol or America has Talent:P

[VanessaTony 3,567]

This isn't about me (Aussie) but...

My experience is:

- small country town = gossip (yep same as Aus)

- family units aren't as.. strong as in Aus (big shame... I like my family mostly, my husband doesn't like his and honestly neither do I... bunch of fruit-loops)

- customer service is better (though it could be my "charming" accent )

I don't know really. When I first arrived (and lived in Houston :S) it was a little bit scary. Everything was new. I didn't know what bread was good (turns out none of it), or cheese (again, none), or chocolate (whoever told me Hersheys was good obviously lost their tastebuds LONG ago :S but then I like vegemite ), I didn't realise how "australian" some of my words were until I got blank stares from people and wasn't exactly sure why... I got REALLY sick of people on the phone not understanding my accent and in all honestly it didn't seem like they tried too hard either.

The schooling, ###### pay rates, bad/expensive health care and growing old scare me the most. I think it doesnt' help my experience with the level of education here is my

16 y/o sister-in-law that could have come straight out of the movie "mean girls" (the ditziest one but mean as the Queen bee), pay... i could get used to because stuff is cheaper. Health care is fine as long as you have a job. I don't like the unknown though. In Aus I know I'm not going to get a ridiculously large health bill for visiting the doc here it's like "I cut my arm off.. but before you touch it.. how much will this cost me?". Growing old is the SSA stuff mostly... my experience with that being my husbands uncle who lives off disability because he did drugs during his teens (he's late 20's like us) and now has all sorts of health issues, and also his grandmother... who lives in a stingy little apartment and uses people like there's no tomorrow...

Okay i have a decision. American's fine, it's my in-laws i can't stand :S Think I need to train my dog to react to a code word for "escape" if they ever try and visit...

Edited October 21, 2010 by Vanessa&Tony

[Krikit 1,164]

Oh wow. I've had to wait a minimum of a week to get a Dr's appointment both here in VA and in FL. You guys with same-day service are lucky! lol. I even begged to get an appointment sooner and they said no can do. I've never had bloodwork done at the Dr's office, either. It's all done in independent labs.

[Danu 19]

I think a lot of the differences in medical care might have to do with where you live in Canada or the US...

This. I haven't seen too much difference in my medical care in either place. Wes has great insurance so all I pay is $10 to see the Dr, all my tests are free and done on site (with Keiser is like...all Dr's are in the hospital, which was kind of odd). So yeah, the paying to see my Dr is a bit wierd, but its not so bad. My Dr in Canada did blood and everything onsite, only thing that you needed to go offsite for was xrays and such, but you were always in and out of the hospital very quickly. Had to get referred to a specialist for my heart and had the specialist call me the day after I saw my Dr with an appointment for the day after that. 2 days wasn't so bad. I never waited more than a few days for a drs appointment, same day if it was urgent. All this said though, I lived in Kingston, which while it does have Dr shortages isn;t as bad as other places and does have a lot of local specialists, and if the local ones are too busy TO and OT aren't so far away. I imagine people living in rural area's have it worse because they have to travel farther and their dr's offices/hospitals might not be linked up in the same kind of way ours were. Same here, I live in a super populated area so I imagine again the healthcare I have here is better than say...somewhere in rural arkansas, where theres not much at all.

For mean Americans/Canadians, I too haven't seen a real divide in anything. I've seen a lot more racist ones down here but..(and I know this sounds horrible) to an extent I can understand where they are coming from. I have noticed that people do tend to look shocked when I say excuse me or thank you