pregnant... what are my options?

[pocheros 101]

Yes I know they are conservative down there. My husband is one of them since he's from Alabama (hello bible belt!) One of the things he does love about Canada is the socialized health care. Maybe not the way we have to achieve it, but to be frank and honest, the health care system down there confuses me darn near to death.

I hear you! Once my hubby got sick while we were still long-distance and I told him he should go to the doctor, and he said "But I don't know how to go to the doctor!" This seemed funny to me, but now that I'm here I actually understand what he meant :S

[The Mean Lady 604]

i dont mind the tax part so much to pay for your healthcare but its the wait time that kills me.

my SIL has been waiting three months to see an allergist to find out why her son almost died

[The Mean Lady 604]

I hear you! Once my hubby got sick while we were still long-distance and I told him he should go to the doctor, and he said "But I don't know how to go to the doctor!" This seemed funny to me, but now that I'm here I actually understand what he meant :S

uhhhh no no i feel bad for you now.

clearly something was miscommunicated to your husband and now you.

seeing a doctor is NOT confusing O_O

[Ms Hogan 295]

I highly recommend for you to give birth wherever you are best insured and then deal with registering the birth abroad. Your child is entitled both Canadian and American citizenship through you and your husband no matter where you give birth.

I delivered 5 months ago and our U.S. hospital bill was about 25k. We have good insurance but you still end up paying quite a bunch out of pocket.

It cost you $25,000 to have a baby? Were there complications or extra care needed? I hope you don't mind me asking but I'm just shocked!

[Hugglebuggles 60]

My delivery, hospital stay and all prenatal care was $1,000 out of pocket, total. That's not too bad. But, without health insurance it would have cost $17,500 for me + $5,000 for the baby, so $22,500 all together. She had some breathing difficulties at birth, but that was the only "complication" It's ridiculous.

I have an acquaintance who got very ill and ended up spending 45 days in the ICU. He didn't have health insurance, and now has a $400,000 hospital bill. He can't pay it, obviously, so it's in collections and his credit is ruined for a very long time. Can't buy a house, car, anything. Health insurance is just an absolute must given what can happen.

[pocheros 101]

uhhhh no no i feel bad for you now.

clearly something was miscommunicated to your husband and now you.

seeing a doctor is NOT confusing O_O

Locating a doctor that's in network, determining if there's hidden fees at the doctor's office, figuring out what your insurance will and will not cover, etc. is what I was referring to. It's a hassle that usually involves calling multiple staff workers who aren't much more informed and also make mistakes because they are overworked and underpaid. Recently a hospital that is likely getting shut down in Las Vegas and has also been sued multiple times for fraud and medical negligence tried to wrangle a couple thousand dollars out of me that I didn't owe, it took almost 6 months to resolve but that didn't keep them from trying to ding my credit. I would never have to deal with this bullcrap in Canada, though. How is this not confusing when in Ontario all I had to was flash my OHIP card at a secretary? Coming from a socialized healthcare system to American healthcare is very disorienting. You don't need to feel bad for me. :| This is getting off topic though.

Edited January 25, 2013 by pocheros

[Flames9_RN 358]

Yes, calling a dr/dentist and asking if they accept your insurance is not good enough! I found that out the hard way with a dentist,lol Sure they accepted my insurance, but were not in the newtwork--so there charges were not capped. Huge difference!

[The Mean Lady 604]

You guys are finding it difficult because you're going the wrong way or have terrible insurance.

This is how you do it:

http://public.hcsc.net/providerfinder/search.do?corpEntCd=IL1&WT.svl=FADButton

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

You guys are finding it difficult because you're going the wrong way or have terrible insurance.

This is how you do it:

http://public.hcsc.net/providerfinder/search.do?corpEntCd=IL1&WT.svl=FADButton

Really, I've never had those issues in my whole life!

I don't get it.

[The Mean Lady 604]

Really, I've never had those issues in my whole life!

I don't get it.

I have found the medical system in Canada a little more irritating.

• Hearing about my SIL not be able to just make an appt with an allergist and waiting 3 months.

• Hearing about how prescriptions are a separate plan from the free healthcare - that one kills me

• And my husband tells me how it's REALLY hard to find a family doctor around here.

People just won't accept patients and tell them they're not open for new ones.

I had that issue once with a dentist in the US and I still find it stupid

And I saw his doctor once and she felt like a complete crock

I've been having pain in my left knee since november 2011 and I saw her in march 2012

She told me to walk up and down stairs and it would get better and "have a nice day"

I drove 40 minutes for that?!

And the next day, I had to move and you know what I did? walk up and down stairs

And for the next 2 weeks, I could barely function, I was in SO much pain.

[The Mean Lady 604]

In defense of the Canadians complaining about the US, there are a LOT of USC on HMO plans that complain about them, but I feel those people are, as I stated, extremely misinformed or just can't follow directions.

If you're on an HMO, your doctor decides what doctors you should see next, and they're ALWAYS in your network.

And my HMO full covers any hospital/diagnostic procedures that my doctor refers me to.

I pay 20 bucks to see the doctor and 40 for a specialist (####### doctor, lady doctor, surgeons, etc)

But if the surgeon tells me that I need brain surgery? Covered.

If the ####### doctor tells me that they can fix my boobs? Covered. (though insurance denied that one)

And seeing the lady doctor, I can have any tests I want done from paps, to HVI tests to STD checks.

I had a full workup of all of that december 2011 and it cost me $350. Now, just $40.

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

I have found the medical system in Canada a little more irritating.

• Hearing about my SIL not be able to just make an appt with an allergist and waiting 3 months.

• Hearing about how prescriptions are a separate plan from the free healthcare - that one kills me

• And my husband tells me how it's REALLY hard to find a family doctor around here.

People just won't accept patients and tell them they're not open for new ones.

I had that issue once with a dentist in the US and I still find it stupid

And I saw his doctor once and she felt like a complete crock

I've been having pain in my left knee since november 2011 and I saw her in march 2012

She told me to walk up and down stairs and it would get better and "have a nice day"

I drove 40 minutes for that?!

And the next day, I had to move and you know what I did? walk up and down stairs

And for the next 2 weeks, I could barely function, I was in SO much pain.

Oh the stories I could tell you about Danish healthcare....we'll have to swap sometime, but I am lucky that my husband is alive.

[The Mean Lady 604]

And Idk why people love PPOs so much.

I guess they are for rich people that like choice.

You end up paying more monthly for your PPO.

Your deductibles are higher for your PPO.

And what do you gain? The option to see whoever you want whenever you want.

The only other thing PPOs are for is for people switching coverage whose current doctors are not in the new network.

That happened with my sister.

Oh and people that travel can have a PPO

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

And Idk why people love PPOs so much.

I guess they are for rich people that like choice.

You end up paying more monthly for your PPO.

Your deductibles are higher for your PPO.

And what do you gain? The option to see whoever you want whenever you want.

The only other thing PPOs are for is for people switching coverage whose current doctors are not in the new network.

That happened with my sister.

Oh and people that travel can have a PPO

I have a flex POS and I rather like it. I don't like having a primary care doc and prefer to self refer and pick who I want. It is sort of like PPO, I guess.

[The Mean Lady 604]

The only thing I DESPISE about the US healthcare system is single vs spousal vs family.

I pay 110/mo for my insurance plan (money i've never seen, it comes straight out my paycheck).

My employer also pays 110 for me as the total cost is 220.

So, to add my spouse, I would understand if it were 220 since my employer won't pay for him obv.

But, the additional cost to me is $540! WHERE is the logic in that?!

For my mom to PPO single, it was like $225 per month for her.

For a family PPO, it was $1400. WHAAAAT?!

Everyone could get their own individual plan for cheaper than that.

Unless you are the Duggars, a family plan at that cost is NUTS.