Soaring costs force Canada to reassess health model

[roster]

Canada's provinces are taking tough measures to curb healthcare costs, a trend that could erode the principles of the popular state-funded system.
....
In some ways the Canadian debate is the mirror image of discussions going on in the United States.

Canada, fretting over budget strains, wants to prune its system, while the United States, worrying about an army of uninsured, aims to create a state-backed safety net.
....
Scotia Capital's Webb said one cost-saving idea may be to make patients aware of how much it costs each time they visit a healthcare professional. "(The public) will use the services more wisely if they know how much it's costing," she said.

"If it's absolutely free with no information on the cost and the information of an alternative that would be have been more practical, then how can we expect the public to wisely use the service?"

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100531/hl_nm/us_health_3

[Slinky]

Our insurance has always required that we pay our own office calls. We were paying $35 an office call regardless how much time we spent w/the doctor. Then, in 1996 when our family doctor developed a brain tumor and subsequently died we were in for one RUDE awakening!!! We'd never even heard of billing in time increments! You can imagine my shock and anger when the first family doctor I "shopped" charged me $120 for an initial office call!!! To compound my anger at the end of our visit when I went to pay my bill the staff couldn't tell me what I owed! They used an outside billing service. I'd never heard of such as thing as that either! About 2 months later, maybe a little less, when I got the bill for $120 I hit the roof! I was NOT nice to the staff and refused to pay that $120. I sent them $50 and told them if they wanted more they could see me in court!

Boy! Did "I" have a LOT to learn!!!! The doctor was most gracious and accepted the $50 and that was the end of it. But I still had a lot to learn about medical practicies today. I will say again - I got better medical care in the 60's and 70's than I do today. And for a whole h*ll of a lot less money!

The problem is HMOs, insurances and Medicare have driven up health care costs so much there's no way we could go back to having patients pay their own office calls. Still I think it would HELP if patients had to pay a portion of each office call when they go to see the doctor, even if that portion is based on ability to pay. What people get for nothing they seldom appreciate and often abuse.

[Nord]

How selective of you... Roster.

Here's the "bottom line" from your quoted article...

"It's an area that Canadians don't want to see touched," said TD's Burleton. "Essentially it boils down the wishes of the population. But I think, from an economist's standpoint, we point to the fact that sometimes Canadians in the short term may not realize the cost."

Not quite the same thing as what you suggest... Let's see this boils down to businesses and the stock market (same thing) want to be more profitable. What else is new !!!
The big difference between Canada and US situation is that we have had it since Tommy Douglas and we know we want to keep it. There seems to be more angry debate in the US whether it will end up being good (??? for who). In Canada... we know that answer... Quote "It's an area that Canadians don't want to see touched," said TD's Burleton."

Roster... If you want to make Health Care statements to sway the unknown vote... stick to what you know.

Nord

[nanwilson]

Roster
One of the reasons our health care costs have skyrocketed is that the population have had good care for little $ for so long. They totally abuse the system by visiting the doctor for every sniffle and hangnail, when they don't need to be there.
Some of us do realize that there is no cure for a cold...it will be gone in 10 days to a week, but some have to plug up the clinics and offices with their first sneeze. Granted, seeing a doctor if there are complications from that cold is fine, but to seek antibiotics for a sniffle..........get a life!! The only people benefiting from this abuse of the system, is the doctor, he/she get paid regardless.

Gotta get off my high horse and go do something constructive...this is a subject that "sticks in my craw" as they say......Cheers
Nan

[DreamStalker]

How selective of you... Roster.

....snip ....

That is his typical Fox spin technique, learned from the master historical revisionist, Glen Beck the cow patty rodeo clown.

Roster... If you want to make Health Care statements to sway the unknown vote... stick to what you know.

Nord

That bird brain doesn't know crap.

Wait!

I take that back.

The ONLY thing he does know is crap.

[BlackSpinner]

But Health outcomes often better in Canada than U.S.: review

The death and disease rates for patients in Canada are the same or lower than those for people with similar diagnoses treated in the United States — even though per capita health-care spending is higher south of the border, a study suggests.

[Froro]

Why are you so obsessed with our health care system here Roster? Seriously....

The model you guys are using, or even proposing is vastly different than what we use. They are not comparible.

It works for us. The majority of people in our country are satisfied with it, give it a rest already.

[DreamStalker]

I think I am beginning to understand that bird.

He is stuck in a more primitive evolutionary state of mind such that he feels compelled to territorial markings of his myopic economic philosophy.

In other words, he comes here on a regular basis to mark the forum with his scent of political conservatism much like a wild animal does with its natural environment.

[Nord]

I think I am beginning to understand that bird.

He is stuck in a more primitive evolutionary state of mind such that he feels compelled to territorial markings of his myopic economic philosophy.

In other words, he comes here on a regular basis to mark the forum with his scent of political conservatism much like a wild animal does with its natural environment.

Could be...

I thought he just enjoyed "stirring the pot" to get reactions...
It also exercises his mind so that no more brain cells die w/o a fight.

I also considered the model of "tongue in cheek" while he strengthens the forces of Democracy against the forces of evil.
I think I would miss him if he didn't stick to the script.

Nord

[DreamStalker]

I think I am beginning to understand that bird.

He is stuck in a more primitive evolutionary state of mind such that he feels compelled to territorial markings of his myopic economic philosophy.

In other words, he comes here on a regular basis to mark the forum with his scent of political conservatism much like a wild animal does with its natural environment.

Could be...

I thought he just enjoyed "stirring the pot" to get reactions...
It also exercises his mind so that no more brain cells die w/o a fight.

Nah. To late for that ... for that fight is futile.

I also considered the model of "tongue in cheek" while he strengthens the forces of Democracy against the forces of evil.
I think I would miss him if he didn't stick to the script.

Nord

I respectfully disagree here too. He does not support the forces of "democarcy". He instead promotes a corporate oligarchical republic supported by an anarchic economy.

The script grows wearisome.

[Slinky]

Awe, come on, guys. Just ignore his posts if they get under your skin that bad. Heck, you could just be playing right into his hands and he's just stirring the pot to get you guys going.

[Nord]

I respectfully disagree here too. He does not support the forces of "democarcy". He instead promotes a corporate oligarchical republic supported by an anarchic economy.

The script grows wearisome.

I'm not so sure.
He certainly "lives" the part and perhaps he believes most of what he says, but...
he enjoys this daily posting to "fight again" on a site that is obviously very interested in Health Care and I would venture to say...
not that many share his vision of the world from the view from his Den.

I believe that if you, in particular, didn't "rise to the occasion"... it would not be fun at all.
I believe he considers this banter recreational therapy...
He might even be unhappy if he converted you.

Nord

[DreamStalker]

I respectfully disagree here too. He does not support the forces of "democarcy". He instead promotes a corporate oligarchical republic supported by an anarchic economy.

The script grows wearisome.

I'm not so sure.
He certainly "lives" the part and perhaps he believes most of what he says, but...
he enjoys this daily posting to "fight again" on a site that is obviously very interested in Health Care and I would venture to say...
not that many share his vision of the world from the view from his Den.

I believe that if you, in particular, didn't "rise to the occasion"... it would not be fun at all.
I believe he considers this banter recreational therapy...
He might even be unhappy if he converted you.

Nord

Well then. As happy as a clown he shall remain.

[Bob3000]

Wow, so much hate, one-liners and name calling in this thread. I guess sometimes that's all a counter-argument can rely on!

[DreamStalker]

Wow. Did you guess all that on your own?

Impressive.

Isn't CPAP therapy wonderful?