Problems in Canada with Socialized Medicine?

[raggedykat]

Yeah, she was actually in tears. Said that she had to leave this country with her son before it started happening here and she was thinking of going to Canada but then she found out that they do that there so she is planning on going to Australia. I didn't have the heart to tell her that they have "socialized" medicine there also.

[Froro]

dels, I hope you don't watch Fox news or Anne Coulter. The lies that one spews about Canada are laughable to us, but many take her on her word.


Raggedykat. So your daughter still believes that actually happens here?

[raggedykat]

No, not my daughter. My bosses daughter. You should hear the stuff they tell me that they believe is true. And I can't say anything for fear of losing my job.

[dels]

OMG don't even write the name of that women. If I see her on any channel it's an automatic "CLICK" OFF to another station! People like herself is what gives Americans and the USA a bad name. Most people in the USA are hard working decent people who live their lives raising their family and living life as best they can, but when I hear people like her, and her blabbermouth is what is shown across the world, you just sit in disbelief and sadly people do believe people like this. Ah and FOX news has over and over said 911 terrorists came in from Canada...NOT. One of the terorists was even issued a new student Visa in January, by the USA after the bombings! I couldn't believe it when I saw that. A few heads were rolling when that was made public. Like I said, clean up ones own house before you judge the condition of anothers!

[Froro]

No, not my daughter. My bosses daughter. You should hear the stuff they tell me that they believe is true. And I can't say anything for fear of losing my job.

phew, but still sad really

[Kiralynx]

For those who like to "Think outside the Fox," an acquaintance of mine has a bumper sticker which says just that:

http://www.cafepress.com/infmomdesigns.404047470

[raggedykat]

And here is the saddest part. It is because of my boss that I am lossing my health insurance. My boss used to have all his family on the companies plan but because of the expense he has now moved his family off to their own private plan and is canceling the companies plan when it is up in Feb. 2010. And I have to sit here and listen to him complain every day about how he is going to lose his health insurance because of our current administration. Someone mentioned in this post about the saying, "let them eat cake". Well, I know how those people felt.

[Arizona-Willie]

Living in Arizona I have met many many Canadian snowbirds.

They all were happy with their medical system --- except for the fact they had to pay thousands of dollars per person when coming to the States for the winter to cover paying the American doctors outrageous fees. I'm not positive but it seems like they paid $4000 each and they could only be out of Canada for 6 months.

People say they don't want a government bureaucrat making decisions about their health care ... but they don't even consider the fact they have corporate bureaucrats making decisions about their health care and getting bonuses for denying that coverage.

Medicare should be open to everyone.

Medicare pays out 97% of its money in benefits and only spend 3% on administration.

Private insurance companies spent up to 30% for administration. Because of spending millions on lawyers figuring out ways to refuse to pay and multi-million dollar salaries and executive bonuses.

Medicare has no million dollar executives and no bonus system for denying care.

Republicants are always crying that people should have choice --- except when it comes to having a choice whether to pay a corporate insurance system or pay into a gov't insurance system.

Given the choice 99% of people would happily pay their premiums to Medicare.

Private insurance companies could still sell secondary insurance.

My Medicare seems to cover approx 68% of the bills and then my secondary kicks in.
Fortunately for me I am retired from a great union and we have had a self insured medical system for many years and that is my secondary now.

[LinkC]

dels - My employers daughter informed me the other day that in Canada they kill all deformed babies and people over the age of 65. That is the rumors they spread here in the states.

Well, that's not true! Aren't the majority of Canadians deformed and over 65???

[Froro]

Arizona Will _ You are about right. My dad pays about $5000 for coverage in the US and a little less for my mom. Yes this is only for six months and there is a long list of things it doesn't cover. They plan their trips around medical issues if they can help it. Even with insurance they do not want to get sick there or need treatment.

That said, while it is a health choice for them to go to warmer weather as my dad's heart can't take the cold weather, it is still their choice and they gladly pay it as they (and we) respect they are going to a different country with different rules/perspectives.

When I went to school in England I didnt' need supplimental insurance. I was covered under the national health system and unfortunately ended up needing some care while there. I had purchased supplimental insurance just in case. When an issue arose I called the insurance company who were going to cover whatever I needed. Turns out I didn't need it in the end. National Health covered my treatment. I never fear getting ill while overseas, but I do fear getting sick in the States even with insurance.

[LinkC]

FOX news has over and over said 911 terrorists came in from Canada

Nope! Janet Napolitano (The Obamination Head of Homeland Security) erroneously said that in a FOX interview. Later, Senil-tor McCain quoted her on FOX and elsewhere. She is stupid and he is brain-dead, but neither of them is employed by FOX, that I know of.

What's your source that FOX "over and over said" that? Surely you aren't spreading untrue statements...

[MapleG]

Hmm, I have to remember one of my health goals this year is to reduce my blood pressure (and hopefully CPAP helps),but reading some of these posts sure ain't helping my pressure!
In any event, I am Canadian, and am happy with the system. It could be improved, but most systems could. It is certainly a decision each country makes for itself over what style of health coverage/plan/system to have, and I am not trying to convince anyone in any other country what to do. I know that there are no Canadians going to bed tonight worried about how to pay for a medical procedure, or wondering if they will be deemed uninsurable. Surely, that alone is worth something.

No one in Canada refers to our Health Plan as "Socialized Medicine". We just call it a Public Health plan---and to be honest, we really don't think about it very much at all. It is just there, and available to all residents. After all, there are public schools, public universities, public libraries, public police forces and fire departments etc. All for the common good, I think.

Again, it's up to the citizens of the US to decide what they want. Good luck!

[mdintx]

Living in Arizona I have met many many Canadian snowbirds.

They all were happy with their medical system --- except for the fact they had to pay thousands of dollars per person when coming to the States for the winter to cover paying the American doctors outrageous fees. I'm not positive but it seems like they paid $4000 each and they could only be out of Canada for 6 months.

People say they don't want a government bureaucrat making decisions about their health care ... but they don't even consider the fact they have corporate bureaucrats making decisions about their health care and getting bonuses for denying that coverage.

Medicare should be open to everyone.

Medicare pays out 97% of its money in benefits and only spend 3% on administration.

Private insurance companies spent up to 30% for administration. Because of spending millions on lawyers figuring out ways to refuse to pay and multi-million dollar salaries and executive bonuses.

Medicare has no million dollar executives and no bonus system for denying care.

Republicants are always crying that people should have choice --- except when it comes to having a choice whether to pay a corporate insurance system or pay into a gov't insurance system.

Given the choice 99% of people would happily pay their premiums to Medicare.

Private insurance companies could still sell secondary insurance.

My Medicare seems to cover approx 68% of the bills and then my secondary kicks in.
Fortunately for me I am retired from a great union and we have had a self insured medical system for many years and that is my secondary now.

As a provider, I would like to loudly echo this. Private insurance plans are devastatingly bad for a provider's business. The costs of billing, phone time, denials, and paperwork are significantly affecting business. I currently don't accept any insurance in my private practice and hear nightmarish stories from peers who do. In addition, reimbursement rates have been declining every year. My wife, who works at a hospital, has to deal with ever increasing and changing bureaucratic demands insurance places upon them. Half of her day is spent with paperwork rather than face to face time with patients.

The only insurance program I'm gearing up to accept is Medicare. It pays more than any of the others and requires no pre-authorization. The billing will be far more effortless than dealing with BCBS, Aetna, or United. I've already spent countless hours on the phone with them getting absolutely no where.

[roster]

......
Again, it's up to the citizens of the US to decide what they want. .........

Yes! I agree with if you are saying that each individual should decide what he wants to do with his money and his health insurance.

But if you are saying it is the "citizens", collectively, who should legislate a national policy for all, you are incorrect and do not understand our civics.

But I forgive you for not knowing U.S. civics; most of our population does not know U.S. civics either.

It is not true that the citizens have the right to set federal legislation. We are not a democracy. Democracies are evil because they do not respect the rights of minorities and individuals.

We are a constitutional republic that decides a few things in a democratic way. But our Constitution is the basis of our government and "the people" cannot vote into law something that is disallowed by the Constitution. Neither can our democratically elected officials.

[cflame1]

dels - My employers daughter informed me the other day that in Canada they kill all deformed babies and people over the age of 65. That is the rumors they spread here in the states.

Well, that's not true! Aren't the majority of Canadians deformed and over 65???

Not likely LinkC... considering I'm a Canadian expat (and I'm no where near 65)!