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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,538
Gold_AS_Kicker
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Gold_AS_Kicker
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,538 |
I'd be interested to know your opinion on this question.
Those of you who live in places where you have socialized medicine:
If you had a choice, would you choose to have to the socialized medicine, or the system we have here in the USA?
I know there are pros and cons to both, I'm just curious about your thoughts on this.
Janet
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,190
Very_Addicted_to_AS_Kickin
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Very_Addicted_to_AS_Kickin
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,190 |
Im not sure, I think there are probly pros and cons on both sides.
I use to think a system like Canada uses would be great except i hear from SO many people that if it is NOT an emergency they wait MONTHS to have a certain test or procedure or even surgery. I would not be happy with that at all.
On the other hand, even though we have insurance and it is considered good insurance we pay about $300.00 a month which comes out of Bill's check BUT his company gives him like a compensation check (we dont see it) they apply it to the payments. We can see any Dr. we want pretty much and it is just $20.00 per visit. If I have blood drawn or any tests done THERE at the office it is included if I have to go to the hospital or another site then we have a $5000.00 deductible which SUCKS!
About the ONLY good thing I can see happening for me in the near future is since i was approved for disability they said I would be eligible for Medicare in 2/08, once I have medicare then my BCBS will be secondary, but Medicare still has a deductible of $1000.00 then pay 80% so I have to look at all the avenues.
So I am not sure which one would be considered better or cheaper or most cost effective. It will be interesting to see how some others here respond.
Lisa
Speak kindly, Live simply, Care deeply, Love generously, and BLAH, HA, HA, LOUDLY! every chance you get.
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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If you have health insurance in the states the service you get is much better than what the average cdn gets. 84% of Americans have some sort of private health insurance. There are more doctors per capita, there are more MRI and Pet scan machines per patient, waiting times for most procedures are much shorter, there are more front line health care workers - nurses, paramedics, clerks, orderlies. The standards are higher. Why did we have a SARS outbreak and not the U.S.? I'm sure many Chinese were traveling to the U.S. as well. Could it have something to do with cleanliness and sterilization procedures? Makes you wonder.
Here is my knee example:
Injure knee playing soccer
See GP - get referral to specialist?
Specialist - get MRI ordered?
Get MRI - 46 days
Get Surgery - 128 days
7 months from the day of the soccer injury to surgery.
I do not really want to comment about my Sapho condition as I will be too harsh and will really anger many Canadians on this site.
In Canada, we will all be able to get medical care that we need but most often we will not live to see it.
Ali
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,607
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,607 |
Great question - and it's always hotly debated at work (dept of Community Health). I can't wait to check out Michael Moore's new film, "Sicko", about health care. That should be interesting. Michael Moore's website
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 12
New_Member
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New_Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 12 |
Quote:
So I am not sure which one would be considered better or cheaper or most cost effective. It will be interesting to see how some others here respond.
Lisa
The Canadian system is definitely cheaper. Wikipedia has a kind of hodgepodge of numbers from different sources, so I don't totally trust these numbers, but their article comparing Canadian and American health care asserts that the Canadian government spends $1886/person (in US dollars) on health care, while the United States spends $2548. Of course, Canada covers everyone and the United States doesn't.
In addition, on average Canadians spend $630/person on health expenses (either directly or through insurance companies), while Americans spend $2719.
The 'gatekeeper' system which causes delays in elective surgery is one of Canada's main cost-control mechanisms. Obviously, if they raised spending to American levels they could cut waiting times significantly. (Canada's waiting times for emergency surgery are actually shorter than the United States, BTW. And the U.S. times on elective surgery only look good if you ignore people who don't have insurance, or who forego treatment altogether.)
There's an interesting article in The American Prospect comparing health care systems in the U.S., Canada, Britain, France, and Germany.
http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?articleId=12683
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,607
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,607 |
Quote:
Canada's waiting times for emergency surgery are actually shorter than the United States, BTW.
I'm sure they sometimes can be. But I'll bet most Canadians would disagree with that. Waitlist times is the #1 topic when our healthcare system is debated here, because there are serious problems. Waitlist times vary greatly depending where you live within Canada.
And keep in mind it is very difficult to lump "Canada" into one healthcare system as each province (and sometimes several health authorities within each province) operate independently (my move from BC to Alberta years ago was more difficult than moving to New Zealand, health-care wise). There is alot of publicly funded/privately run healthcare going on up here now....and it's always changing. We also seem to be moving towards a tiered healthcare system because people are willing to run over the border to obtain medical case, so in an attempt to get in on this market, private medical facilities are popping up here.
There are a ton of positives and negatives to both. For me, I'm pretty sure my medical costs would be insane in the US, so living here works for me (although my meds are partially covered through the university plan, not our healthcare system). Then again, it initially took me 2 years on a waitlist in BC to get an MRI, and 3 years to get in to see a rheumatologist. Ya win some, ya lose some.
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 714
Decorated_AS_Kicker
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Decorated_AS_Kicker
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 714 |
Hey, my two cents: I love living in Canada, to me it is the best place in the world, of course, I am biased!!  My British Columbia/Canadian health experience has been a very positive one. No one I know has had to wait an excessive length of time for any medical situation. [Besides waiting in the lower mainland emergency rooms. I admit there can be a horrible wait there, unless you have a real emergency {which is what emergency rooms are for, right?? ] When I started my 'AS journey' my GP sent me for bloodwork, which I had that very same day, the results were back in about 3 days, and that day my GP referred me to a rheumy, which I got in to see less than 2 weeks later [very quickly]. The rheumy asked for Xrays which I did the next day, and she upped my Ibuprofen and made me an appt to see her again in about 6 weeks to see how the ibuprofen worked or didn't. I went back to see the rheumy 7 weeks later and she decided it was MRI time. Just shy of 6 weeks later I had my MRI. Pretty quick service, I think. When my GP referred me to the gastro doc 'cause of my liver function tests being too high, I was in to see her within 1 week. She scheduled a liver biobsy for me, and I had that done within 3 weeks. Again, pretty quick service. When my GP wanted me to get an ultrasound of my pelvic area, I was in and had that done 48 hours after having it requested by my GP. Pretty darn quick. I have been very happy with the medical service I have rec'd over the last year. Also, I live in a rural area and I get in to see my specialists quicker than I would if I lived in the Vancouver area [which I used to]. Anyone who has read lots of my posts knows about my daughter Elisabeth who has Cystic Fibrosis [CF] and has had many numerous doc visits and 2 operations all done very quickly and efficiently. I have paid zero cents for any of these medical issues, and I have only the BC medical that everyone over 19 is required to have living in BC. I do not even pay for the BC medical as the government pays [that has to do with the level of family income, we are a 1 income family, as I stay home with the babies and hubby is out there 'banging nails' building beautiful houses for others!!] I admit there are certainly some flaws in the Canadian Medical system but as of yet I have not encountered any of them. I feel very blessed to live in Canada and I sure as heck hope to H..E...double hockey sticks that the medical system will continue to serve me well. Thanks for letting me add my 2 cents in! Cheers, Rita James, 12, Adrian, 10, Elisabeth, 3, my babies!
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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Look here http://www.health.gov.on.ca/transformation/wait_times/wait_mn.htmlAmerican's would not tolerate the wait times we endure. We wait for months to get an MRI or CT and then we find out that radiologist misread most of it. I had sent my MRI\CT scans to John Hopkins and was quite shocked that radiologist here missed so much. Besides the wait time we also need to discuss the quality and expertise of the doctors in Canada and US. Why so many Canadians are going south to get treatments? Ali
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,607
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Joined: Apr 2002
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,370
Colonel_AS_Kicker
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Colonel_AS_Kicker
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,370 |
In my opinion, because I have used the healthcare system alot, Is that it is probably the best anywhere. The only reason that some people have to wait for tests or surgerys is because there is a huge shortage of Dr.'s. I myself have had several MRI's and never have waited more than 2 weeks for the test,usually 1 week. Some wait 6 months or more but sadly alot of it has to do with the referring Dr. If it truley is an emergency, it is done instantly. I have also had several surgeries....back, knee 2x, gallbladder, tonsils etc etc. Never waited long for those....had 4 babies and none of this cost a cent. I just found out I need another surgery, just got the call 2 weeks ago and my surgery is next Wednesday.
Of course there are premiums to pay which I am not sure what they are. My ex still pays my healthcare along with the kids.
That is my 2 cents worth. Sent an email to the hubby to find out what it costs exactly.
Sherri
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