Sicko

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I had to warn my husband as well that I would need regular medical care from both the GP and the specialist every 3 months, along with the relevant labwork plus prescriptions. The co-pays for the prescriptions alone work out to nearly $200 a month. The GP copay is $20 and the specialists are $40 each visit. My 2 day hospital stay last summer was about $16000 of which our share after insurance was nearly $2000. I dread the thought of anything happening to my husband that would lose our insurance because I honestly don't know if I would be able to afford the treatment I need to stay alive here in the US. I also worry about his health - because of the expenses and the long waiting times in doctor's offices he doesn't bother to look after his own health as he should. I had to nag him for 3 years to get him to book an 'annual' physical and it turns out he does have some issues that need his attention. The medical profession here is so patient unfriendly, however, that getting him to attend to his own health needs is like pulling teeth! He just wants to avoid the hassle of dealing with them and the insurance companies.

Edited July 6, 2007 by Kathryn41

[Mephys 2]

My husband wants to have children here. The thought of that hospital bill alone scares the freakin ###### outta me! Can you imagine? And then add a child to my insurance policy for another $100 a month or so? Bloody rediculous it is.

I hear ya Reba...hospitalisation is insanely outrageous, even for something like having a baby! Just guessing here, but a typical pregnancy - no complications and depending on insurance - might have cost somewhere around $10K a few years ago. My last pregnancy (thank god for insurance!) was $27,000 and that was 8 years ago. I did have complications and had to see a specialist, but that part wasn't the major expense. The hospital stay...3 days...was the bulk of that charge. After insurance paid I think the bill (the part I had to pay) was somewhere around $2,000 - $3,000 dollars.

Gawd, I'd hate to even guess what a simple pregnancy would cost nowadays.

Thats the biggest thing that I left behind. A job that would have got me a preventive retreat for most of my pregnancy, and then 1 year covered to stay at home with the baby with 6 weeks from the daddy...

Now here in the US myt husband told me you barely have 6 weeks covered, unless your company agrees for it or something. Like ####### I dont wanna put my baby in daycare at 6 weeks old to go back to work And then that bill......all that scares me frankly. I want a kid in the near future, but im really scared of it.

[Jeremy + Kristy 0]

My husband wants to have children here. The thought of that hospital bill alone scares the freakin ###### outta me! Can you imagine? And then add a child to my insurance policy for another $100 a month or so? Bloody rediculous it is.

I hear ya Reba...hospitalisation is insanely outrageous, even for something like having a baby! Just guessing here, but a typical pregnancy - no complications and depending on insurance - might have cost somewhere around $10K a few years ago. My last pregnancy (thank god for insurance!) was $27,000 and that was 8 years ago. I did have complications and had to see a specialist, but that part wasn't the major expense. The hospital stay...3 days...was the bulk of that charge. After insurance paid I think the bill (the part I had to pay) was somewhere around $2,000 - $3,000 dollars.

Gawd, I'd hate to even guess what a simple pregnancy would cost nowadays.

Thats the biggest thing that I left behind. A job that would have got me a preventive retreat for most of my pregnancy, and then 1 year covered to stay at home with the baby with 6 weeks from the daddy...

Now here in the US myt husband told me you barely have 6 weeks covered, unless your company agrees for it or something. Like ####### I dont wanna put my baby in daycare at 6 weeks old to go back to work And then that bill......all that scares me frankly. I want a kid in the near future, but im really scared of it.

Yeah, my fiancee wants kids shortly after she gets here, too. I'm a bit scared as to how much it will cost. Granted, I have good health insurance since I work for the state, but I'm sure it will still cost me a pretty penny. I was absolutely shocked when I heard that Canadians get a year of maternity leave. I think it's great, but I was shocked. I too told my fiancee that I think you get six weeks here, and she was floored. It's a good thing she's planning on only working part time once she's legally able to work over here. I couldn't imagine taking a six week old to daycare, either.

[Mephys 2]

I just asked my husband when he got home for lunch about the cost of a pregnancy, how it happened for his ex wife. He said it depends highly on the insurance company and also on what extras you take. For example if you want a private room at the hospital it costs 800$/day to you because the insurance doesnt cover that , etc, etc. But after 3 kids, he never had to pay bills that high. Relieves me a little for the cost part....but of course doesnt change about the going back to work after 6 weeks....

[designermedusa 0]

The hubby and I are going to see Sicko tomorrow, but my sister saw it already and agrees with most of you and said it was really informative. I can relate to being insured, but still having a tough time. I pay over $200 a month for our medical insurance, and we pay almost a $200 a month for prescriptions. Our copays are $25 and $35 for specialists. My husband has an eye disease and he has to take eye drops for the rest of his life, and he just started a second one that is a third tier on the prescription list. I have migraines, but I sometimes go without my medication because it is so expensive. We are still young, I can't imagine how it will be when we retire and perhaps will have to take even more medicines. I am afraid of having an lab work done because I don't want to get a bill for it. We constantly receive bills from doctor's offices because they say the HMO did not pay the claim, then me or my husband have to spend hours on the phone trying to get it straightened out.

We probably aren't going to have any kids, but I can't even imagine the medical costs involved. Most U.S. companies don't offer a real maternity leave, all you get is short term disability pay and most companies make you pay for that insurance.

[misa 2]

Thankfully I'm not having kids (tubes tied, covered by OHIP!) so I don't have to worry about the bullshit of that 6 weeks thing here.

6 weeks... that is ridiculous! I wish that the concept of family was as important here (and in Canada though the maternity leave in Canada is WAAAAAY better than the U.S.) as it is in most parts of Europe.

[Jeremy + Kristy 0]

Just looked into what I would get if I was a woman and took maternity leave where I work. Basically, you can take up to six weeks of paid FMLA (Family Medical and Leave Act) charged against your sick bank for vaginal deliveries and eight weeks for C-Section. For the child care portion, you can charge the FMLA time off against your vacation bank. After your vacation bank is used up, you can continue unpaid for up to twelve weeks total paid or unpaid.

So, as a potential father, I can also take 12 weeks off, but, only what I have saved in my vacation bank would be paid.

I work at a state university and I'm in a union. Ridiculous if you ask me.

[Mephys 2]

12 weeks total???? only 3 months???? thats sick

Yeah maybe the woman's body is fine....but what about the child??? and if you want to breastfeed???? I dont get it. Thats not human. Specially when its a first kid. I really dont want to think about it now cause I want to wait 2-3 years, but I know its gonna freak me out.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Michael Moore is out to make money. You don't see him sharing it with anyone.

I wouldn't consider myself a Michael Moore fan - think he's often a bit over the top - but the man has a point. The healthcare system in the US - a shame to even call it that - is the worst of any industrialized nation and worse than that of many developing nations. The only thing in which it tops the list is the cost. It's a disgrace for the wealthiest nation on earth to have such a poor excuse for a healthcare system. Michal Moore is right in pointing that out.

And before you smear the man, take note that he even helps those that fill their lives with nothing but distributing useless propaganda against him: Michael Moore Helps His Biggest Nemesis

[trailmix 77]

Bee just about freaked out when I told him that my vaccinations and my visit to the doctor were free. It was like telling him about milk in a bag.

Not criticizing - but because this thread has been moved, just want to clarify that Canada's health care system is not actually 'free'. We pay for it through our taxes and in Alberta for a family we pay $1056 per year as well to AB health care (or 88 dollars a month as it were).

Don't get me wrong, I 100% support universal health care.

Edited July 7, 2007 by trailmix

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Bee just about freaked out when I told him that my vaccinations and my visit to the doctor were free. It was like telling him about milk in a bag.

Not criticizing - but because this thread has been moved, just want to clarify that Canada's health care system is not actually 'free'. We pay for it through our taxes and in Alberta for a family we pay $1056 per year as well to AB health care (or 88 dollars a month as it were).

Don't get me wrong, I 100% support universal health care.

$1,056.00 per annum for a family? Where do I sign up?

I pay about 4 times that just as my portion of the insurance. My employer contributes as well. And that ain't counting Medicaid and Medicare taxes that we get to pay to Uncle Sam on top of that. Altogether the bill easily comes to roughly $10K / year for a family of three. And there are still co-pays in my plan.

Edited July 7, 2007 by ET-US2004

[SqdnGuns 21]

Is there some correlation between a Mike Moore post and the vast majority of reply's in here from Canadian twist?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Is there some correlation between a Mike Moore post and the vast majority of reply's in here from Canadian twist?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm

Yep - this was originally posted in the Canada Forum and was there for a few days before it was moved over here to off topic.

[KarenCee 3]

Is there some correlation between a Mike Moore post and the vast majority of reply's in here from Canadian twist?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm

Yep - this was originally posted in the Canada Forum and was there for a few days before it was moved over here to off topic.

IMHO it should have stayed in the Canada Forum. If it was meant to be in OT it would have been posted here.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Is there some correlation between a Mike Moore post and the vast majority of reply's in here from Canadian twist?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm

Yep - this was originally posted in the Canada Forum and was there for a few days before it was moved over here to off topic.

IMHO it should have stayed in the Canada Forum. If it was meant to be in OT it would have been posted here.

No problem.