Canada Health Care Story

Isobel - posted on 09/14/2009

I can't imagine more of a compromise...I, as a liberal am very disappointed in him. Still anything is better than the corporations in charge

Jenny - posted on 09/14/2009

I think the problem is you are afraid of your government. It doesn't matter what they propose at this point. Your minds are already made up.

Amie - posted on 09/14/2009

Quoting Laura:

these stories have been aired in Canada for the past 2 years, keep your eye out, I think you'll find that not too many insurance companies or HMOs care about the law. That's why I can't understand why you guys are fighting so hard to keep them in charge.

Ya that's what I can't understand either. It's not about the best care possible, unless you want to pay the most for it. I found a youtube clip about this thing actually. =) Here it is....

Isobel - posted on 09/14/2009

these stories have been aired in Canada for the past 2 years, keep your eye out, I think you'll find that not too many insurance companies or HMOs care about the law. That's why I can't understand why you guys are fighting so hard to keep them in charge.

Amie - posted on 09/14/2009

wth?! Bugger...My post was saying...

Health care here is federally funded but run on the provincial level.

It really depends on who you talk to in Canada and which province they are in as to what you will hear. LOL! As you can tell already.

Laura, I think if it's something covered by your card in your province it will be covered out of province. At least it works that way for us. Less paperwork and less hassle. They just bill our province. haha.

Isobel - posted on 09/14/2009

First...for Christa who has never heard of patient dumping...these are just the first two that popped up on my search.

http://www.sacbee.com/ourregion/story/21...
http://www.gasdetection.com/news2/health...

Second:

Our universal health care covers all doctor's visits, all treatments administered by a doctor, and any treatments (including medications) that you get in a hospital.

Oh...and I don't know about other provinces (each one is different) but Ontario will reimburse you for medical bill incurred outside the province.

And Third, none of ever said that our system was perfect...please stop saying it because it's simply not true...I for one would love the one that Obama proposed two weeks ago (not the new one)

Finally...The new proposed bill is proposing tort reform and has dropped the public option- I should think that now that all your issues have been addressed you will eat your words? Didn't think so.

Jenny - posted on 09/14/2009

Quoting Christa:

So dentist appointments, dental work, optometrist appointments, prescriptions, glasses and travelers insurance aren't covered by UHC? What do those who don't have private coverage do?

Bring their wallets.

Jenny - posted on 09/14/2009

Oh extended benefits. Now I'm with ya. I thought you meant a two tiered system with publicand private options. It covers dental, optical, prescriptions, massage, acupuncture, naturopaths, out of country medical expenses and a bunch of other "extras" not covered by Universal Health Care. Dental is a biggie for me, I think it should be covered by UHC except for cosmetic stuff. Luckily my partner is in union so we have 100% dental coverage for the kids and 90% for us.

Jenny - posted on 09/14/2009

Because some people with money believe it should buy them front of the line care whereas most of us believe it should be based on need. There is no need for private insurance, some people just believe they are entitled to more than others if they have money.

Amie - posted on 09/14/2009

Oh and the private rooms that you do get that are covered are pretty bare and blah. It all depends on which ward you are on and how many beds are available on that ward.

Amie - posted on 09/14/2009

Private insurance here covers a private deluxe room. Which are nice but I don't mind sharing a room with someone.
Private insurance also covers our dentist appointments, dental work, optometrist appointments, prescriptions, glasses and travelers insurance. That's just a few of them. Any or all can be covered, it depends on what you pick.

Isobel - posted on 09/14/2009

I'm pretty sure that I have seen MULTIPLE exposes on that very subject...they are treated minimally then released before they are ready (some not even aware of their surroundings) in front of missions...the hospital is kind enough to pay for the taxi though ;)

I'm quite certain I saw or heard at least three or four of these stories before the media lost interest.

Amy - posted on 09/14/2009

Quoting Jenny:

Are you sure you don't dump people on the street outside of hosiptals because I seen a Youtube video that showed that you did? My point with that is propaganda is proganda is propaganda. This video does not demonstrate the norm and the norm is where the discuss should focus.

No, I have not had a life threatening illness that required immediate attention. I'm 29 and have so far been healthy. I've only been in the hospital myself to have my tonsils out and to have two babies via planned C-section (baby was breech). However, many of my family members and freinds have been in for more serious issues that are across the map. No one has had to wait a huge amount of time for any medical service or surgery. For my tonsillectomy I was on the list for 4 weeks before I got it done. It was being done to stop a recurring sickness I was having so I don't think that is too long for a prevantative surgery. Even for the minor things I've needed such blood tests and xrays I've never waited longer than 30 mniutes and I consider that reasonable. No the system is not perfect and again, no system is. It however is pretty damn good and no Canadian has had to declare bankruptcy for medical issues. I'm proud of that.

No, people are not dumped out on the street in front of hospitals, If a person goes to the ER, the ER (required by law) has to see them whether or not they have insurance or money to pay. It doesn't even have to be a life threatening condition.  So no, people aren't going to die because of no insurance, and I have known quite a few who have given false identity to avoid being billed.

 There are Pro's and Con's to every plan, If you look at it as a whole, and don't believe it will work for your family, well there is a reason. I personally don't want the plan that is currently under review. I believe there are too many loop holes and issues, and my feeling is that if our current representatives are "above" the public option, they see a lot of the cons (not too many pro's)as well.

Amie - posted on 09/10/2009

Here's another interesting youtube video to get people thinking... Not to beat a dead horse or anything but it really is a good video.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jng4TnKqy...

Amie - posted on 09/10/2009

I know Laura. That's just one of many stories I have on how our system does work. I have my own but don't feel like posting personal stories because if one of them does say something I may act inappropriately.
Misinformation seems to happen a lot though in the states when it comes to other countries (especially Canada) and how it runs.

Isobel - posted on 09/10/2009

I love that people on the right say that the Canadian system sucks for those who are seriously ill, but when given specific examples that prove that theory wrong, they completely ignore them. Is it possible yet to admit that maybe, just maybe you have been exposed to some, just some misinformation?

Amie - posted on 09/09/2009

I was talking about this after I logged off earlier with some of my friends. Obviously another Canadian. She had a story that she wanted me to post on here.
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My niece is 19 months old and has had 3 major heart surgeries, 2 minor heart surgeries, and is scheduled for her 4th and hopefully last major heart surgery on October 16th - all of these surgeries are life threatening and very serious - my sister when she was 5 months pregnant had an ultrasound tech tell her that there was something, just a little off, in her ultrasound and so they immediately ordered a battery of test, and scheduled appointments in Vancouver for her - 12 hours from the time that the 'something off' was discovered and the only reason it was 12 hours is because my sister had to get from here, to there. When they called to make the appointment they asked if (literally) 2 hrs after the phone call would be acceptable. The receptionist had to explain that my sister would have to travel to Vancouver in order to even be in the city and the lady was like "Oh, ok, well I won't worry about re-arranging this afternoon but we can fit her in tomorrow at 3? Is that enough time for her to get here?"
So our health care when it comes to URGENT things, they do not piss around and wait. And ya know what? They have ZERO BILLS to do with my niece's hospital stays, AND they are also apart of different organizations that help pay for the medication that she needed after wards, as well as travel costs AND hotel stays.
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That's just one story about how well our system does work. There will always be down falls for either side of the debate. But I, as well as many Canadians, get tired of hearing that our health care sucks. It doesn't on the whole. It works.

There are provinces that offer privatized care if you want to pay for it. Some do, some don't. There is also Blue cross that pays for all the extras for us with no where near the hassle that it is in the states. We keep receipts, send them in, reimbursement. That's the end of it.

I'm off to make supper though. Hopefully that one story is enough for you to start asking a few more questions and stop bashing our system.

Amie - posted on 09/09/2009

Quoting Brenda:

Amie - there are others who have proposed ideas such as mine in a clear manner. They are just getting hushed up by the Democratic Empire.

I meant on here. People get really worked up and then go off on tangents, which really isn't helpful and then is hard to separate the rant from their points. Not always and not everyone but some.

I also would just like to add that I don't think it's so much that they are getting hushed up but that the hardcore, die hard, loud mouths paint such a bad picture for that side the rational ones get drowned out in the noise.

Brenda - posted on 09/09/2009

Amie - there are others who have proposed ideas such as mine in a clear manner. They are just getting hushed up by the Democratic Empire.

Jenny - posted on 09/09/2009

That really sucks Brenda, stuff like that is the last thing you want to be thinking about when trying to get a family member, or yourself, well. I hope everything turned out well for her after the surgeries.



That is why I believe private enterprise has no business in health care. When my mother had her brain surgeries she spent three months in a private room and it allowed us to really focus on her and not worry if we would be covered or not.



Health care isn't about common sense, it's about believing no one should be denied care especially because of money and that no one should go broke because they are sick. It's about making sure our families and all families are kept safe and healthy. To me, it is a moral issue.

Amie - posted on 09/09/2009

Quoting Brenda:

You want a personal experience? Ok. My youngest sister was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis II. She developed bilateral tumors on her auditory nerves in her brain. The doctors did three surgeries to remove them which left her deaf. She became a candidate to receive the first PAVI brainstem implant, which was her 4th brain surgery. All of these surgeries had to be performed in LA, CA. This was about 3 years ago.

Guess what? My mother is still receiving billing saying she owes thousands of dollars when it should be covered by her insurance. Want to know why? Well, the insurance co. will only cover a semi-private room for my sister's hospital stay. At this particular hospital, they have NO semi-private rooms. The rooms are only big enough to fit the bed and a chair that my mother slept in for days while my sister was recovering. There was no room for another bed to make it a semi-private room. But yet, the surgery could only be done at the LA hospital.

So, for the past few years, the hospital and insurance company have been wasting time, energy, money and paper sending claims and denials back and forth and the bill is still outstanding.

To fix our economy, we need to work on things like tort reform, no pre-exisiting conditions, portability (lose your job, or change your job, you still keep your insurance), tougher regs on insurance companies to cut down ridiculous waste, (like my sister's example.) and put limits on frivolous malpractice suits. We also need to regulate drug companies and put limits on how much they can charge for the drugs they manufacture.

This would save the country money, get more people better health care, AND preserve our freedoms.

There is more info to read in another thread I posted a while back. I posted my father's proposal to his state legislators on how to help fix our system. He has been an internal medicine doctor for 39 years. He has seen just about everything. I, myself, have worked with insurance/billing as well and can testify to the nonsense that eats up resources.

Our health care system needs a big does of common sense, not an overhaul.

That is a terrible story and I'm sorry your family had to go through it.

You have good ideas. I wish more people would put forth what they want in a clear and concise way. 

I have no idea why Canada's system keeps getting dragged into it either. Our system is not like the one Obama has put forth.

Brenda - posted on 09/09/2009

You want a personal experience? Ok. My youngest sister was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis II. She developed bilateral tumors on her auditory nerves in her brain. The doctors did three surgeries to remove them which left her deaf. She became a candidate to receive the first PAVI brainstem implant, which was her 4th brain surgery. All of these surgeries had to be performed in LA, CA. This was about 3 years ago.

Guess what? My mother is still receiving billing saying she owes thousands of dollars when it should be covered by her insurance. Want to know why? Well, the insurance co. will only cover a semi-private room for my sister's hospital stay. At this particular hospital, they have NO semi-private rooms. The rooms are only big enough to fit the bed and a chair that my mother slept in for days while my sister was recovering. There was no room for another bed to make it a semi-private room. But yet, the surgery could only be done at the LA hospital.

So, for the past few years, the hospital and insurance company have been wasting time, energy, money and paper sending claims and denials back and forth and the bill is still outstanding.

To fix our economy, we need to work on things like tort reform, no pre-exisiting conditions, portability (lose your job, or change your job, you still keep your insurance), tougher regs on insurance companies to cut down ridiculous waste, (like my sister's example.) and put limits on frivolous malpractice suits. We also need to regulate drug companies and put limits on how much they can charge for the drugs they manufacture.

This would save the country money, get more people better health care, AND preserve our freedoms.

There is more info to read in another thread I posted a while back. I posted my father's proposal to his state legislators on how to help fix our system. He has been an internal medicine doctor for 39 years. He has seen just about everything. I, myself, have worked with insurance/billing as well and can testify to the nonsense that eats up resources.

Our health care system needs a big does of common sense, not an overhaul.

Amie - posted on 09/09/2009

Umm my point in posting the Shona Holmes links and story was this.

I can not find any other real information on this woman. The Shona Holmes story was jumped on by the republicans in the states and then they used her as a poster child for the Canadian Universal Health care system. Which in the end, was bedunked on how serious her condition was. SHE LIED. Not only to American people but to Canadian people. She even had the galled to try and sue the Ontario government for reimbursement. Gimme a break....

If someone can provide me some more information on this woman here. Then I will read it and make an informed decision on where she stands. Taking things at face value is never a good idea.

Also, as Jenny said, there are many that cross the border both ways for varying reasons. That fact seems to get forgotten in all the hoopla.

Jenny - posted on 09/09/2009

I don't know Gina, why do thousands of Americans come to Canada every year for our system? Why do many Americans buy prescription drugs in Canada? Because we offer different things.

Dana - posted on 09/09/2009

Quoting Gina:

My question is, why did that Canadian woman come to the U.S. in the first place to get treatment if their healthcare system is so great. As far as twisting a story, it can go either way.

And what would be the other way?

Gina - posted on 09/09/2009

My question is, why did that Canadian woman come to the U.S. in the first place to get treatment if their healthcare system is so great. As far as twisting a story, it can go either way.

Dana - posted on 09/09/2009

Thank you Amie, it just goes to show how a certain group can take something, twist it to fit their agenda and then parrot it like it is fact. Shonda Holmes should be ashamed of herself and so should everyone involved. Of course they are probably above shame....

Amie - posted on 09/09/2009

Sounds like another Shona Holmes story. Ridiculous....



http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/real...



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shona_Holme...

Dana - posted on 09/08/2009

How funny, everytime I get a notice that someone posted I always think it says Canada Heatlth SCARE story.....lol

Gina - posted on 09/08/2009

I just wanted to note, that I am not trying to be rude or sarcastic in anyway.

Gina - posted on 09/08/2009

No, I don't work for insurance, but I just feel that if there is only one option, then the government can screw you and no one would know. I do think that there should be some kind of healthcare reform, and there is problems with the insurance companies. It just comes down to that I don't trust the government to be my nanny. I like the saying.. " A government big enough to give you everything is big enough to take it all away".

The thing is, Medicaid and medicare is our type of government run healthcare, and it is broke. Here are the facts, medicare has an unfunded liability of 38 trillion. When medicare was created it was estimated to cost about 12 billion by 1990. The actual cost? 107 billion... proving once again that government cost estimates are about as accurate as Iranian vote counts.



I am glad that you are happy with your healthcare in Canada, but as far as I know we have had our medicaid/medicare programs around longer than your healthcare system. Let's just give it longer to see if it goes broke too. We all know it's broke in Europe.

Isobel - posted on 09/08/2009

Gina...do you work in insurance? just curious

Isobel - posted on 09/08/2009

Quoting Gina:

I'm assuming you've never had a life threatening illness which would require immediate action. I can see how this system would work for preventing certain things, but we all know that people do get really sick and need immediate care which they can't afford to wait in line.

We don't dump people in the streets here when they are sick. The ER's can not turn anyone away due to lack of payment. So technically we already have a universal type system in place, but in my opinion it will kill any competition to make it a public option where we have no choice but to recieve our healthcare thru the govt. Who is going to keep the govt. honest if there is no other option?

As a matter of fact, my best friend's daughter developed bacterial menengitis (sp?) when she was 4 months old...brought to the hospital with flu symptoms, she was immediately diagnosed and sent to Sick Kids Hospital (World Renowned despite the fact that it's not in the US) lived there for 4 months.  As a result of the illness she now has a full set of dentures and one leg is 6 cm (3inches) longer than the other.  Her dentures, and possible leg lengthening surgeries are covered.

My father and Stepfather are both diabetics (type a) and have been immediately hospitalized, several times due to complications due to their illness.  In fact... when my father broke his ankle and refused to amputate (despite strong recommendations from his doctors) the government paid for several surgeries attempting to save the leg...then covered a nurse to come to his home and help him take care of the leg.

Our system is not perfect...I support Health Care Reform here as a matter of fact.  But Please, Please stop listening to the garbage the Insurance Companies are shoving down your throat.

I know you have a mind of your own...please slow down and think

Dana - posted on 09/05/2009

This is the kind of crap that is polarizing our country. It seems all I do in this community is comment on ridiculous far out there bullcrap.



I've never heard anyone say we need to follow Canada's heathcare exactly. I ALWAYS hear about how we can look at Canada and Switzerland for a general outline and tweak things to make it better. I don't know the insides and outs of Canada's heathcare, I only know people's opinion and what the media tell us. The only ones who can speak to that are Canadians and as this lady says, she was born in Canada, now lives in the US. Her references to her experience all come from when she was a CHILD. I'm sure over the YEARS Canada has tweaked things themselves.

We have an awesome opportunity to change heathcare and propaganda like this does NOTHING for anyone. Most people see it for what it is.....

Jenny - posted on 08/19/2009

Again it is NOT the norm. She is not an accurate representation of our system although she looks very convincing in her red pantsuit ;) How does her saying IF she had the emergency brain surgery in Canada she would have died prove anything at all? It is not even remotely related to a fact. My mom had two emergency brain surgeries in Canada and is alive and well. That is a fact.

Propaganda is using misleading information to sway an opinion and that is exactly what red pantsuit lady is trying to do. Funny how she is speaking on behalf of Washington, I'm betting she is no longer a citizen?

Gina - posted on 08/19/2009

Also I want to add that Propoganda is based on rumors. This lady is speaking from a personal experience.

Gina - posted on 08/19/2009

I want to mention that this system would kill any more growth in the small business sector. Their taxes are going to be raised which is going to force them to lay people off to be able to afford the new taxes. At a time like we are in now, I think this is the last thing that we as Americans need to do.



Yes, I think our healthcare needs fixed, I think the way we could fix it is by making it a lot tougher for class action law suits, and to stop treating illegals. That would just be a start, but I do not believe government is our solution.

Jenny - posted on 08/19/2009

Are you sure you don't dump people on the street outside of hosiptals because I seen a Youtube video that showed that you did? My point with that is propaganda is proganda is propaganda. This video does not demonstrate the norm and the norm is where the discuss should focus.

No, I have not had a life threatening illness that required immediate attention. I'm 29 and have so far been healthy. I've only been in the hospital myself to have my tonsils out and to have two babies via planned C-section (baby was breech). However, many of my family members and freinds have been in for more serious issues that are across the map. No one has had to wait a huge amount of time for any medical service or surgery. For my tonsillectomy I was on the list for 4 weeks before I got it done. It was being done to stop a recurring sickness I was having so I don't think that is too long for a prevantative surgery. Even for the minor things I've needed such blood tests and xrays I've never waited longer than 30 mniutes and I consider that reasonable. No the system is not perfect and again, no system is. It however is pretty damn good and no Canadian has had to declare bankruptcy for medical issues. I'm proud of that.

Gina - posted on 08/19/2009

I'm assuming you've never had a life threatening illness which would require immediate action. I can see how this system would work for preventing certain things, but we all know that people do get really sick and need immediate care which they can't afford to wait in line.

We don't dump people in the streets here when they are sick. The ER's can not turn anyone away due to lack of payment. So technically we already have a universal type system in place, but in my opinion it will kill any competition to make it a public option where we have no choice but to recieve our healthcare thru the govt. Who is going to keep the govt. honest if there is no other option?

Jenny - posted on 08/19/2009

Well that's a steaming heap of propaganda. You will find bad stories in ANY system. There are billions more stories of the good it has done but you tend to gloss over those parts when making your ill conceived points. I spent every day with my mother in the intensive care ward for three straight months. Every person in that building was receiving top of the line care and the people working there were dedicated and compassionate. Anonymous video lady does not convince me otherwise, I have EXPERIENCED this care for my entire life and have never been left wanting for anything.



Of course it's not perfect and no system is but it stomps all over dumping people in the street who have no money to pay for their hospital visit or qualifying people for treatment based on their ability to pay. People are more important than money, why do I have to convince Christians of this. Really, why?

Brenda - posted on 08/19/2009

I love how Canadian's play down the wait. "Oh, you just have to wait a little longer". Ok, 3 years would test the patiences of Job when he was really ill (which he was at one time).



These stories we hear are testament to the fact that the Canadian UHC is not as perfect as some would like you to think. This is not a perfect world and UHC is not a perfect solution, nor is it the right decision for American's to keep their civil liberties intact as the HR 3200 Bill is currently written.