Canadian Health Care

[Insidious Von]

This week I got my bill from William Osler Health System on my small matter of impending death on March 14/15.

I was impressed by how detailed it was, it came down to ambulance service not covered by OHIP, the bill came out to $115.00. After my insurance differential $45.00 came out of my pocket.

So I decided to look at how much it would cost, if I got the same care in America if I was a member of my NJ family. After HMO coverage depending on severity of the heart attack the bill would be between $76,000.00 to 38,000.00.

As Geitz Romo used to say, i'sn't that amazing Petey!

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-much-would-a-heart-attack-cost-you/

 

[Insidious Von]

Btw I posted the numbers on a YT channel and got censored.

 

[smallhatchet]

This week I got my bill from William Osler Health System on my small matter of impending death on March 14/15.

I was impressed by how detailed it was, it came down to ambulance service not covered by OHIP, the bill came out to $115.00. After my insurance differential $45.00 came out of my pocket.

So I decided to look at how much it would cost, if I got the same care in America if I was a member of my NJ family. After HMO coverage depending on severity of the heart attack the bill would be between $76,000.00 to 38,000.00.

As Geitz Romo used to say, i'sn't that amazing Petey!

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-much-would-a-heart-attack-cost-you/

Your ambulance bill should be covered by your insurance company.

 

[Mr Deeds]

People in the states cry socialism when talking about universal healthcare until they need medical help

 

[jcpro]

People in the states cry socialism when talking about universal healthcare until they need medical help

Socialism????! The government takes half of my income so others can have "free" healthcare, yet a measley 500 patients can overwhelm our hospitals. I am definitely overpaying.

 

[JeanGary Diablo]

People in the states cry socialism when talking about universal healthcare until they need medical help

The funniest -- scratch that -- the stupidest argument I've ever heard someone in the US make about universal healthcare is that providing people with universal healthcare is the "first step to becoming Venezuela". Yes, I actually heard someone say that.

 

[Uncharted]

Socialized Healthcare is good.

Canada's form of Socialized Healthcare is shit.

 

[Insidious Von]

Your ambulance bill should be covered by your insurance company.

It depends on what you prioritize when negotiating a health plan for employees. More emphasis went into dental and eye services when the plan was hammered out, I was expecting to cover arrears for ambulance. Considering I made 4 trips in all, the cost was negligible. Canadian Health Care has improved markedly, I waited a matter of days for my second MRI as a follow up to the car accident. One of my relatives paid $860 to get an MRI in Buffalo for his father - he ended up dying anyway.

 

[spraggamuffin]

Btw I posted the numbers on a YT channel and got censored.

Probably not to upset American health Insurance companies like Kaiser Permanente, and the host of Medical operations in the US and around the world, that say medical should come at a cost to you and never free.
In the country I'm originally from, if you don't have the means you go to the public hospitals.
If you have moola, property etc you can go the private route but must pay a portion up front before any service can be supplied, even emergencies.

 

[smallhatchet]

It depends on what you prioritize when negotiating a health plan for employees. More emphasis went into dental and eye services when the plan was hammered out, I was expecting to cover arrears for ambulance. Considering I made 4 trips in all, the cost was negligible. Canadian Health Care has improved markedly, I waited a matter of days for my second MRI as a follow up to the car accident. One of my relatives paid $860 to get an MRI in Buffalo for his father - he ended up dying anyway.

Sorry IV,

I meant to say your home/auto insurance. Call if you're not sure if its covered. No point to pay for something that might be covered that you're paying for already?

Most pay ambulance. I've submitted twice and it was covered both times.

Your auto insurance covers tow truck for so many kms as well that people dont know about. Just submit the receipt.

 

[Insidious Von]

Understood, my car was never in use.

This is the call of my group health plan, not my home/auto insurance. Had they refused to pay, then yes my auto insurance would have been activated. It's only $45.00, considering they went the extra mile, increasing my odds of survival, I don't mind.

 

[The Oracle]

Socialized Healthcare is good.

Canada's form of Socialized Healthcare is shit.

It was astounding I would say about 30 years ago and things went down hill fast.

Don't get me wrong if you need emergency care yes we are well taken care of.

But if you have a chronic condition not so much.

I was on a conference call with one of the most prominent HRT doctors in the province last week and he told us that Canada is about 20 to 30 years behind in quality of treatment in that field.

While I support universal health care and have no problem being taxed for it, I also am in favour of a two tier system.

If you want to stay in Canada and pay for specialized care then I see no reason why you shouldn't be able to do that.

 

[danmand]

It was astounding I would say about 30 years ago and things went down hill fast.

Don't get me wrong if you need emergency care yes we are well taken care of.

But if you have a chronic condition not so much.

I was on a conference call with one of the most prominent HRT doctors in the province last week and he told us that Canada is about 20 to 30 years behind in quality of treatment in that field.

While I support universal health care and have no problem being taxed for it, I also am in favour of a two tier system.

If you want to stay in Canada and pay for specialized care then I see no reason why you shouldn't be able to do that.

I disagree that the service is that bad in Canada. It is not up to the standards of the MAyo Clinic, but neither are most hospitals in USA

I agree with you on the last two paragraphs.

 

[Darts]

I also am in favour of a two tier system.

If you want to stay in Canada and pay for specialized care then I see no reason why you shouldn't be able to do that.

I think the U.K has a dual system unless it changed when I was sleeping. I think their rationale is that the people willing to pay themself takes some load off the "freebie" system and keeps the money in the U.K. instead of people going to and paying in the U.S.

I think NHL hockey players have some kind of private system. They seem able to get an MRI within minutes.

 

[danmand]

I think the U.K has a dual system unless it changed when I was sleeping. I think their rationale is that the people willing to pay themself takes some load off the "freebie" system and keeps the money in the U.K. instead of people going to and paying in the U.S.

I think NHL hockey players have some kind of private system. They seem able to get an MRI within minutes.

All countries I know off allow a two tier system. Canada is unique in disallowing it. But it does not matter; USA acts as another tier for us.

 

[ogibowt]

It was astounding I would say about 30 years ago and things went down hill fast.

Don't get me wrong if you need emergency care yes we are well taken care of.

But if you have a chronic condition not so much.

I was on a conference call with one of the most prominent HRT doctors in the province last week and he told us that Canada is about 20 to 30 years behind in quality of treatment in that field.

While I support universal health care and have no problem being taxed for it, I also am in favour of a two tier system.

If you want to stay in Canada and pay for specialized care then I see no reason why you shouldn't be able to do that.

i read your first sentence............and i say this...public funding by successive right wing govts has been slashed repeatedly, as a percentage of GDP....delisting and defunding is a problem, and you are getting your wish by stealth....a 2 tier system...

 

[danmand]

i read your first sentence............and i say this...public funding by successive right wing govts has been slashed repeatedly, as a percentage of GDP....delisting and defunding is a problem, and you are getting your wish by stealth....a 2 tier system...

Exactly, the conservatives cut funding to health care, and then complain about service.

 

[Darts]

All countries I know off allow a two tier system. Canada is unique in disallowing it.

Almost all my travels are on the company's dime so health care is taken care of should it be required. Also, the life insurance proceeds triples if you die while on company business.

I only went to Brazil once and once was more than enough. That was one place where I thought the company's health insurance or worse life insurance might have to kick in.

 

[jcpro]

i read your first sentence............and i say this...public funding by successive right wing govts has been slashed repeatedly, as a percentage of GDP....delisting and defunding is a problem, and you are getting your wish by stealth....a 2 tier system...

Right because how soon we forget that conservative McGuinty delisting such unnecessary services as physio or eye care or that other conservative Paul Martin balancing the federal budget by downloading and cutting transfer payments across the board- including for healthcare.

 

[danmand]

Right because how soon we forget that conservative McGuinty delisting such unnecessary services as physio or eye care or that other conservative Paul Martin balancing the federal budget by downloading and cutting transfer payments across the board- including for healthcare.

Harper had nothing to do with it????????