Thank you Health Care Reform!!!

[Shelley]

I've had several surgeries by plastic surgeons (medical problems, not cosmetic) and the thing that bothers me is the long wait times in Canada. I waited 1 year for a consult only to have my appointment cancelled the day of the appt and told the surgeon could not help me over the phone. I waited one year to hear that. The wait times to see  plastic surgeons for non emergent problems vary from 6 months to a 1 year. If I was in the ER , it was urgent problem, I would be seen soon by a specialist.

Cosmetic surgery is not covered and you pay out of pocket. If I wanted lipsuction done I would be seen by a plastic surgeon  for a consult and surgery faster compared to a reconstructive problem for problems such as carpal tunnel, older hand injury etc.

It's  frustrating when a medical problem causes you pain and limits your function and you have to wait a long time.

Otherwise I'm fine with the Canadian health care system. It's the wait times that tick you off.

 

[divadoll]

Originally Posted by Shelley /img/forum/go_quote.gif

I've had several surgeries by plastic surgeons (medical problems, not cosmetic) and the thing that bothers me is the long wait times in Canada. I waited 1 year for a consult only to have my appointment cancelled the day of the appt and told the surgeon could not help me over the phone. I waited one year to hear that. The wait times to see  plastic surgeons for non emergent problems vary from 6 months to a 1 year. If I was in the ER , it was urgent problem, I would be seen soon by a specialist.

Cosmetic surgery is not covered and you pay out of pocket. If I wanted lipsuction done I would be seen by a plastic surgeon  for a consult and surgery faster compared to a reconstructive problem for problems such as carpal tunnel, older hand injury etc.

It's  frustrating when a medical problem causes you pain and limits your function and you have to wait a long time.

Otherwise I'm fine with the Canadian health care system. It's the wait times that tick you off.

If you did not have medical coverage in the US or could not afford medical coverage, would you ever get to see a doctor about your hand?  If you could not afford the co-pay, would you be able to get treatment?

 

[Shelley]

^ If I didn't have medical coverage, couldn't afford coverage and the co pay I doubt I would be seeing a doctor about my arm/hand. Unless I came into money or a family member was willing to help /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

I wish there was a way we could reduce the wait times in Canada to see specialists. We need more specialists and it would be great if the gov't could figure a way to reduce the wait times. Otherwise I'm satisfied.

 

[divadoll]

It always feels the longest when your are in pain.  I guess its hard to get the best of both worlds.  I still would take our system over US which I think is a scary system where there is a possibility of being denied service all together without any form of recourse.

 

[Carol D.]

I used to buy my own health insurance, but had to drop it almost 2 years ago when the cost was raised to almost $800 a month, just for me. It cost me about $275 a month when I signed up in 2003. I have no chronic diseases or anything. I'm not on any prescription medications either.

When I called the insurance company and asked why they kept raising my premiums, they essentially told me that that's their policy. I had been a customer for 5 years, had to use my policy for gall bladder surgery in '05, nothing else. When I asked if I could cancel my current policy and apply for a cheaper one, as the prices for a new policy was WAY cheaper than what I was paying, they told me that I could try that, but they probably wouldn't accept my application.

We DO need an overhaul of health insurance here in the US, but the current mess is looking bad. President Obama had to compromise it so much in order to get it passed that it doesn't benefit much of anyone now.

Carol

 

[Dianerrs]

The US system terrifies me. I'm constantly getting sick with strep (at least 3 times a year- why I still have tonsils, I do not know..), and every single time requires more than one visit to the hospital. I make less than $20,000 a year, so there's no way I'd be able to afford to go get treated if I had to pay $100s for health insurance. The thought of possibly not being able to see a doctor when you need to see a doctor is completely terrifying. 

The Canadian system seems so much better. Except for the fact that my city doesn't have a fully operational hospital. It's only open 8am-8pm every day, so the running joke here is you can only get seriously hurt during those hours- otherwise you have to drive 45 minutes to the next town over that actually HAS the fully operation hospital for our area. My only gripe with the system is that they keep trying to take away our access to proper health care IN town. :/

 

[divadoll]

Originally Posted by Dianerrs /img/forum/go_quote.gif

The US system terrifies me. I'm constantly getting sick with strep (at least 3 times a year- why I still have tonsils, I do not know..), and every single time requires more than one visit to the hospital. I make less than $20,000 a year, so there's no way I'd be able to afford to go get treated if I had to pay $100s for health insurance. The thought of possibly not being able to see a doctor when you need to see a doctor is completely terrifying. 

The Canadian system seems so much better. Except for the fact that my city doesn't have a fully operational hospital. It's only open 8am-8pm every day, so the running joke here is you can only get seriously hurt during those hours- otherwise you have to drive 45 minutes to the next town over that actually HAS the fully operation hospital for our area. My only gripe with the system is that they keep trying to take away our access to proper health care IN town. :/

Seriously?  Where in BC are you that your hospital is only open 12 out of 24hrs in a day?  I am 15 minutes away from 2 hospitals with an emergency that operates 24/7.

 

[Dianerrs]

I'm in the Kootenays. It's a joke here.

Oh, and the services we DO have at our hospital? They slowly seem to be trying to take away. Right now, we're in a battle with Interior Health just to stop them from removing the Ultra Sound machine from the hospital. Not everyone can drive 45 minutes just to get to an appointment, especially when the public transit here is a joke.

 

[reesesilverstar]

Originally Posted by Darla /img/forum/go_quote.gif

Hmm I did my benefits selection for next year.  Nothing really changed in terms of the offerings from last year.   Health care cost is the same as last year in terms of the monthly  cost and the deductibles are the same as well.   I think it comes down to how aggressive the company wishes to be in holding down costs and not really a result of the health care changes euphemistically referred to as "Obama-care".   

I really fail to see why there is so much uproar over the so called "Obama-care".   Frankly it has been a long time coming that some meaningful health reform be enacted.   Let's face it there were 8 years under Bush where both the executive and legislative branches were Republican and not a single thing was done regarding health care I am sad to say as a registered Republican.  And the changes that were made some people claim do not go far enough but in spite of the political climate I think it was a worthy achievement.    The issue over pre-existing conditions and removal of spending caps, expansion of Medicare to include more people  and health exchanges are all steps in the right direction.  I seriously doubt all those candidates that proposed dismantling "Obama-care"  have a single idea that is worth promoting.   I have checked out some of these anti Obama care web sites and its all fear mongering and complaints that abortion availability is being expanded.

*Ding-ding-ding!*

 

[divadoll]

Originally Posted by Dianerrs /img/forum/go_quote.gif

I'm in the Kootenays. It's a joke here.

Oh, and the services we DO have at our hospital? They slowly seem to be trying to take away. Right now, we're in a battle with Interior Health just to stop them from removing the Ultra Sound machine from the hospital. Not everyone can drive 45 minutes just to get to an appointment, especially when the public transit here is a joke.

I will put that on my list of places I would not want to move to.  Scary.  The Kootenays is pretty to visit... not good to live in.

 

[Dianerrs]

It is a bit ridiculous, I don't understand why they're doing that, especially since the population here IS growing.

 

[Dragonfly]

In Ontario, there are a few rural hospitals that are only open during the day, for walk in emergencies such as stitches and broken bones.

Of course they are open to the public for non emergency medical care.

The two biggest emergencies that a hospital faces are cardiac and head trauma.

In order to have a functioning emergency department, the hospital must have qualified staff, equipment, and surgical staff with operating room, available at all times.

Since this cost a lot of money, the smaller rural hospitals do not receive money to sustain this type of emergency room.

However, there is always a hospital (with emergency services available) that can be reached within an hours drive.

If the hospital does not provide emergency treatment, they may still be able to stabilize patients in need of critical care. Then they transfer the patient to the closest hospital that can successfully treat the patient.

Bottom line:

If it is not a life threatening emergency, drive to the nearest hospital that is open 24 hours.

If it is a life threatening emergency, always call paramedics - they can air medivac the patient if need be.

....................................................................................................................................

Something else to add:

In Ontario, a patient taken to hospital by ambulance, must be seen and signed off by a doctor at the emergency dept, before the ambulance is available to pick up or transfer another patient.

Since the ambulance must be available to other patients, this means that regardless of whether the patient is critical or not, they will be seen before all the patients in the emergency room or waiting room.

Words to the wise if you think your loved ones have cardiac or stroke symptoms.

 

[divadoll]

Originally Posted by Dragonfly /img/forum/go_quote.gif



Something else to add:

In Ontario, a patient taken to hospital by ambulance, must be seen and signed off by a doctor at the emergency dept, before the ambulance is available to pick up or transfer another patient.

Since the ambulance must be available to other patients, this means that regardless of whether the patient is critical or not, they will be seen before all the patients in the emergency room or waiting room.

Words to the wise if you think your loved ones have cardiac or stroke symptoms.

This is not the case in BC.  A doctor may sign off and assess whether or not the patient is critically in need of care or not.  If not, they make you wait in the emerg waiting room like everyone one else.  My DH was seriously injured in a dirt bike accident.  He fell and landed on his shoulder.  What he thought was a dislocated shoulder, turned out to be a broken collar bone along with a broken shoulder blade.  He also sustained 5 broken ribs and a slightly punctured lung.  We waited in emergency for 3hrs after he arrived via ambulance. 

 

[Katie-Gaslight]

i pay roughly $125 for an excellent EPO plan for 2 people (husband & me). no complaints from my side which is essentially what i had back in germany, but paid more (through taxes). no complaints from me.