Sicko

[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.

No problem.

Thanks Reinhard...we just didn't want to see a nice discussion go all ballistic as is typical in OT.

[Lance27 19]

YAY its back in the Canada forum

[~Nini~ 2]

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.

Oh, I know Canada's health care system is not "free". What I meant to say was, I didn't have to pay money up front for my visit or for my shots. I'm quite cognizant of the fact that I pay for it through my taxes and $600-ish to BC MSP for myself.

[misa 2]

Yay! It's moved back!

[Fuzzness 2]

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.

Oh, I know Canada's health care system is not "free". What I meant to say was, I didn't have to pay money up front for my visit or for my shots. I'm quite cognizant of the fact that I pay for it through my taxes and $600-ish to BC MSP for myself.

Don't forget sales tax. That pays for everything too. Alberta is a wealthy province too so other provinces might pay even more.

[KarenCee 3]

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.

Oh if only my premiums were $88 a month! Try over $200 EVERY month! That's double what one pays in AB...and that doesn't cover copays and meds. Once the premium is taken out and our meds are purchased, we've paid out OVER $400 a month. On top of that we have sales tax, which none of it goes to medical care. Canada's system is a heck of a lot better than anything the US has to offer.

[Reba 2]

I dunno what the monthly payment in Ontario is (which is where I used to live, but they re-instated the user fee to OHIP after I left) but my weekly insurance and tax payments here in North Carolina are:

Medicare - $2.93 (which I will never be able to use!)

Short Term Dis - $1.82 (only covers me)

Dental Ins - $10.40 (covers both me and hubby)

Health Ins - $75.49 (covers both me and hubby)

Long Term Dis - $1.44 (also only covers me)

Total = $92.08 weekly

Plus, whatever portion of income taxes that may or may not go to healthcare costs.

Not to mention the co-pays and other things that health care providers ding you for here if you ever have the misfortune of needing their "services"

I seriously want to retire to Canada. There's no way we'll be able to afford health care in the US when we're retired.

And as for the whole pregnancy thing, IF I decide to try it, it ain't gonna be cheap by any means. I'm infertile, with no tubes so IVF is our only option. When James' parents died he socked away some of that inheritance to a bank account for specifically just that purpose. IF I ever give in and give it a try (I'm just too freakin old!). So I'm not expecting any sort of "normal" pregnancy. In Ontario, most costs would be covered except the stimulation drugs (for me anyhow, with bi-lateral tube blockage....unless they've changed the coverage again) Which themselves can cost in the thousands of dollars per cycle!

And the whole 6 weeks maternity leave thing is bloody barbaric if you ask me! I can get 3 months (unpaid) leave at my current job I think, but even that isn't long enough IMO. sheesh! At least my husband doesn't work, so we wouldn't have to hand a baby over to a stranger at day care when its so young. But still. Barbaric! And they say Family Values are important here. pfffffffffft. bullocks! I just don't see it.

[Caladan 19]

We're looking forward to seeing it. It boggles my mind that universal health care just hasn't become a point of American pride, like we think it's better that people go bankrupt because it's good for the moral character or something.

[Reba 2]

well, actually its because for several generations now the government and media have been saying that to have universal healthcare would increase everyone's income taxes to "like Canada, 50% or something" (where they get that number is beyond me), AND because having "socialist" healthcare would be akin to going Communist.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I dunno what the monthly payment in Ontario is (which is where I used to live, but they re-instated the user fee to OHIP after I left) but my weekly insurance and tax payments here in North Carolina are:

Medicare - $2.93 (which I will never be able to use!)

Short Term Dis - $1.82 (only covers me)

Dental Ins - $10.40 (covers both me and hubby)

Health Ins - $75.49 (covers both me and hubby)

Long Term Dis - $1.44 (also only covers me)

Total = $92.08 weekly

Plus, whatever portion of income taxes that may or may not go to healthcare costs.

Plus whatever your employer pays into the insurances for you. Anyone that has gotten a COBRA notice after leaving a job with benefits knows what the premiums are w/o the employer contribution and group discount. A grand a month easily when you're on your own.

[trailmix 77]

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.

Oh if only my premiums were $88 a month! Try over $200 EVERY month! That's double what one pays in AB...and that doesn't cover copays and meds. Once the premium is taken out and our meds are purchased, we've paid out OVER $400 a month. On top of that we have sales tax, which none of it goes to medical care. Canada's system is a heck of a lot better than anything the US has to offer.

I agree, Canada's system is a heck of a lot better than anything in the US has to offer.

We pay as much as they do, for those of us who are not subsidized, our income taxes are much higher. We do have the benefit of having an 'equal' coverage for all - and that is truly the benefit - and how it should be.

As a 'for instance' - just looking at a paycheque here from this week, the tax withheld is 25% - is that what you are paying in taxes?

Edited July 7, 2007 by trailmix

[Emancipation 2]

I think we have a great deal in Health Insurance here in CT.. Haven't had to use it but the guys at work all tell me it's amazing coverage.

It's only about $32.00 weekly for us (couple), empolyer pays 80% of premium, 25$ co-pay for us for appointments etc., and the dental premiums are paid for entirely by my employer. That's EXACTLY what we would have paid for "supplimental" insurance premiums (Blue Cross) in Canada.. So.. I honestly can't complain here on my end.

Had we gone with my husbands "insurance" (ie. rip off) from his work it would have been 400$ per month - and it had almost NO coverage).

My employer seems to get it (perhaps cause he's a father of 4 children and knows how important health coverage is), and the company is small enough it has joined a group of independant businesses here in CT to provide insurance for the whole group.

I read everyone elses' stories and I am feeling blessed that we have what we have.. But it does add to the pressure of keeping the job I have.. Where else would we get such a good package really ???

Oh and I'd pay 40% taxes if it gave me peace of mind for my family.. Let's hear it up for GOV intervention!!

Edited July 7, 2007 by Emancipation

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I think we have a great deal in Health Insurance here in CT.. Haven't had to use it but the guys at work all tell me it's amazing coverage.

It's only about $32.00 weekly for us (couple), empolyer pays 80% of premium, 25$ co-pay for us for appointments etc., and the dental premiums are paid for entirely by my employer. That's EXACTLY what we would have paid for "supplimental" insurance premiums (Blue Cross) in Canada.. So.. I honestly can't complain here on my end.

While this is great, it is also tied to your employment. Should you ever want to - or God forbid have to - change employers, or even if your employer would merge with another, your coverage would change. Most likely not for the better.

[Emancipation 2]

I think we have a great deal in Health Insurance here in CT.. Haven't had to use it but the guys at work all tell me it's amazing coverage.

It's only about $32.00 weekly for us (couple), empolyer pays 80% of premium, 25$ co-pay for us for appointments etc., and the dental premiums are paid for entirely by my employer. That's EXACTLY what we would have paid for "supplimental" insurance premiums (Blue Cross) in Canada.. So.. I honestly can't complain here on my end.

While this is great, it is also tied to your employment. Should you ever want to - or God forbid have to - change employers, or even if your employer would merge with another, your coverage would change. Most likely not for the better.

Which is exactly why I said...

"I read everyone elses' stories and I am feeling blessed that we have what we have.. But it does add to the pressure of keeping the job I have.. Where else would we get such a good package really ???"

I realize that it is not a forever thing and I honestly am not sure it's a job I want to keep - but with the insurance, I'd be a fool NOT to stay in some respects..

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I think we have a great deal in Health Insurance here in CT.. Haven't had to use it but the guys at work all tell me it's amazing coverage.

It's only about $32.00 weekly for us (couple), empolyer pays 80% of premium, 25$ co-pay for us for appointments etc., and the dental premiums are paid for entirely by my employer. That's EXACTLY what we would have paid for "supplimental" insurance premiums (Blue Cross) in Canada.. So.. I honestly can't complain here on my end.

While this is great, it is also tied to your employment. Should you ever want to - or God forbid have to - change employers, or even if your employer would merge with another, your coverage would change. Most likely not for the better.

Which is exactly why I said...

"I read everyone elses' stories and I am feeling blessed that we have what we have.. But it does add to the pressure of keeping the job I have.. Where else would we get such a good package really ???"

I realize that it is not a forever thing and I honestly am not sure it's a job I want to keep - but with the insurance, I'd be a fool NOT to stay in some respects..

Must have missed that somehow. But yeah, that hits the nail right on the head. Unfortunately.