skookum said:
High,
In Canada EVERBODY has medical insurance and pays peanuts for it compared to the US.
This is the way it should be. Period.
Just my 2 bits worth
skookum
Having lived on both sides of the border. Yes Canada has free medical at a price. You need a doctor's referral to get tests, if you can find a doctor that need more patients otherwise happy hunting for one. Once you get a referral, your tests probably will be booked within the next 6-8 months. Then it may take another 6 months to a year to be booked for surgery if needed. Heaven forbid if you have cancer, lung problems, diabetes etc. By the time your seen, diagnosed or get treatment you might as well be dead. That's what the Ca medical system hopes for. Now if your injured, dis-membered in an auto accident, dying etc. you'll go right into surgery. Common flues, cold, cuts, etc. can be treated in the emergency centers of hospitals free but you may have to endure 4-12 hour waits in the waiting room. Don't expect sympathy from any of the hospital staff while you wait. It's free to be treated at the hospital emerg. By the way, many hospitals are understaffed when it comes to doctors working in Emerg.
Not all treatments,surgery, drugs are covered by the Gov't anymore. They are taking more off the free list every year. Many drugs that are free in the US are not here. You still need a health plan and prescription plan here in Canada and not many employers here will offer them. If they do they are pretty bad for what you pay, unless you belong to a Union. As it looks my wife is going to need some drug not covered by Canada's medical system, only drug that will work, it's going to cost us over $500 a month for it. I no longer work at a Unionized company that with a medical plan that would cover it. How's this for cheap union health care coverage cost $10 a week. Best part covered prescriptions.
My wifes needs continuing medical problems, been there done that. Will say if you need medical tests, surgery etc. in the US you can get it within a week in many cases before the problem goes from bad to deathbed, you can live to see tomorrow.
And you want to talk about dental plans insurance coverage, be lucky if you have some here or have enough money saved up. If not dentists will do a quick extraction for several hundred dollars.
Yank is quicker and cheaper than fixing. I lived in a small city and took 7 months to get an appointment at a dentist that would even look at you without first handing over average of $250 just to get a privilege to see the dentist. Then talk about the cost of dental work............be lucky you live in the US. By the way realized how much dental cost after noticing the city I lived in, most folks teeth were crooked, missing, decaying etc. Seldom saw nice teeth when someone smiled. I payed the price this year $4000 in new crowns etc. Lucky I found the best dentists I have ever went to, superb dentistry, knew what he was doing and how to use his tools. Who tried to save you money and had a payment plan you can afford. So I had the work done, that I had put off for several years. Choice of between taking the bus, new used car or dental work had to be made. Dental won out.
So it's not all rosey up here when it comes to medical and dental treatment. You have a better chance of getting fast medical treatment without complications in the US than Canada but it still may cost you. At least you won't be walking with a limp, needing a cane, walker etc. as you would be here after Canadian surgery because by the time you had to wait until you were treated, your aliment progressed from mild to wild......But, financially the Canadian health care system doesn't send you into the poor house, you don't have copays, medical bills that pile up month after month that you can't even begin to pay, drugs you can't afford. You can still enjoy life with out worrying about owing your life's savings to the US healthcare industry or the US goverment.
Overall, if in good health and if in need of an occasional in/out hospital visit with a non threating life aliment(s) in need of treatment. No worries, Canadian hospital visit(s) treatment is free.
Just go to emerg and endure the wait. Both US and Canadian Health Care have their plus and minus. We moved back to my wife's home country Canada because we just couldn't afford the
US medical treatments, surgeries, it was financially sending us spiraling down into the poorhouse. Our nest egg went to support doctors and surgeons yachts, big houses, multiple expensive SUV's etc. By the way we did have a very good health care plan coverage by my wife's employer while in the US which cost us about $$$ month, wasn't cheap.
By the way, many more wealthy Canadians will travel to the US, Mexico or Europe to get on the spot medical treatment and surgeries.................that will let them live a much more normal life afterwards.
Thank goodness, for my age, I'm in excellent shape and in no need of medical treatment, besides the occasional visit to the dentist. At this time for me personally, Canadian health care is all I need.
.THEY TOOK IT TO COURT AND HAVE LOST THE FIRST ROUND ,DUE TO A LIBERAL JUDGE.SO,LOOKS LIKE MANY JOBS WILL BE LOST.THINGS ARE GOING TO GET WORSE STARTING JANUARY.GOD HELP US ALL
TYPICAL LIBERALS
