M
mlc
Guest
You do have the option of receiving your health care in the USA. I think we experience the best of both worlds.
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Conversations with Americans
- Thread starter Carmen
- Start date
You do have the option of receiving your health care in the USA. I think we experience the best of both worlds.
Last year I had a great opportunity (while on a cruise) to chat with Americans about Pres. Obama and his political platform. I was stunned to discover how vehemently opposed most of the people were to the idea of universal health care. One of the things that stuck in my mind was the statement "I want the freedom to choose." That is all fine if you have money or good health insurance but what if you don't? The choice then is to suffer and possibly die or to go to the hospital for treatment and face bankruptcy. The sense that I got was that socialism was bad and capitalism was good (the McCarthy era lives on!) They have been totally brainwashed by the health insurance industry.
Our public health care system is awesome and worth every penny of the extra taxes we pay to live in Canada. If anyone is dissatisfied with it, they have the option of lobbying the politicians for better health care.
Our public health care system is awesome and worth every penny of the extra taxes we pay to live in Canada. If anyone is dissatisfied with it, they have the option of lobbying the politicians for better health care.
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CanadianBiker
Well-known member
A big part of the problem are the whiny patients who insist on seeing the doctor closest to them, when they are perfectly capable of traveling an extra 20 minutes to see another. The province introduced a Wait Times initiative a few years ago; if you need a hip replacement, you can have it in your hometown of Brampton in six months or in Windsor next week. Guess what most people choose.
If you have an actual appointment with your doctor and end up waiting 2 hours past the scheduled time, it's up to you to address it. Speak to the office manager and/or the doctor. If not satisfied with the result, go elsewhere. Take control of your own health care to some degree, like any consumer-driven service.
On the other hand, if you just show up without an appointment, realise that so did everyone else in the room and you're all experiencing the result of that well thought-out decision.
When Obamacare was being debated I was asked continuously about the healthcare system in Canada and how it compared. Most American's believe that the government decides which doctor you get to see, what treatment you can have, and when etc. When I explained it was basically a single pay system and your doctor decides the treatment plan for you and all the government does is act like a health insurance company and pay the bill they were surprised.
Of course I also heard how we wait months for simple things and many people die waiting... when told the truth they slowly begin to realise how badly they are being manipulated and lied to about the real state of the Canadian healthcare system.
Oh yeah, they try to refer to it as socialist healthcare and I correct them and use the term universal healthcare, then explain the difference. That also sets off another lightbulb in their brain.
As an example of cost, my partner had coverage through his last employer for the two of us. It still required us to pay $25 per visit for the doctor, 20% co-pay (what we had to pay of the total cost), and a deductible of $2500 per year before coverage kicks in; including the employer subsidy the cost was $1,100 a month.
My crap coverage is $300 a month, with that I pay $35 per doctor visit, 40% co-pay and a deductible of $4,000 per year.
I am so ready to move back to Canada, threads like this remind me why.
Of course I also heard how we wait months for simple things and many people die waiting... when told the truth they slowly begin to realise how badly they are being manipulated and lied to about the real state of the Canadian healthcare system.
Oh yeah, they try to refer to it as socialist healthcare and I correct them and use the term universal healthcare, then explain the difference. That also sets off another lightbulb in their brain.
As an example of cost, my partner had coverage through his last employer for the two of us. It still required us to pay $25 per visit for the doctor, 20% co-pay (what we had to pay of the total cost), and a deductible of $2500 per year before coverage kicks in; including the employer subsidy the cost was $1,100 a month.
My crap coverage is $300 a month, with that I pay $35 per doctor visit, 40% co-pay and a deductible of $4,000 per year.
I am so ready to move back to Canada, threads like this remind me why.
killerkeith
Well-known member
I feel sorry for Americans. Big business is just raping them over there. Even if you have coverage who's to say they will pay for a procedure anyway. The loops holes the Ins companies find make me sick.
Wheelieboy
Well-known member
Had a conversation with an American who's place I was couch surfing at. The conversation of insurance came up. They asked how much I pay on insurance and I said $150/month on my bike followed by a "HOLY CRAP YOU'RE GETTING RIPPED OFF!". They paid something like $50/month. Then I told them I had $1M of coverage followed by "HOLY CRAP, WE'RE GETTING RIPPED OFF!"...Apparently they only have $20k of coverage...and coudlnt sue the 19 yr old who t boned them that racked up their medical bills since he had no assets. So there you have it, what VifferFun was trying to explain to the F insurance crowd..
Another time... "So where you from?"..."Toronto"..."Thats in Saskatchewan right?" *facepalm*....I got the other end of the stick when I didnt know Wyoming was North of Colorado.
Another time... "So where you from?"..."Toronto"..."Thats in Saskatchewan right?" *facepalm*....I got the other end of the stick when I didnt know Wyoming was North of Colorado.
nonsense, I had full coverage for a CBR929 with 1M coverage and protection for uninsured motorist and it was half of what cost for the bike when I moved here. The American dollar was worth alot more in 2002 so the difference was about 30%
Wheelieboy
Well-known member
I dont think you understand. All youve told me is that the nominal price of insurance premiums is more in ontario than in the states even when you take exchange rates into account.
Not even that. All he's said is that his new insurer charged him more in the area he moved to, than his previous one had charged where he was. As if he expects all regions to experience the same claims history and all insurers to rate risks the same way when in fact a 30% difference is easy to find between insurers and regions right in Ontario.
It's a totally different mentality with Americans and government (yeah, yeah, I know, *duh*). Even those who could potentially benefit the most from universal health care will still go to their grave clutching their all-important notions of "freedom" and "choice". The level of absolutely distrust for all forms of government and "socialism" basically trumps anything and everything else.
I had some interesting conversations while touring the US.
Here's one that took place in rural Indiana on my way to the Moto GP. I was stopped along the side of a remote road to take this picture, amongst others;
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_eUO-nENyNac/SQTBTIamfQI/AAAAAAAAAtk/1sOy-ByEzOM/DSCF0283.JPG
A white pickup truck drives towards me slowly and goes by, then a few minutes later he comes back the other way and stops. "You need any help?" he asked.
- No, thanks. I just stopped to take pictures." I said, thinking he was concerned for my wellbeing.
- Well I wouldn't hang around too long if I was you.
- ... eeeerrr ?
- People here don't take too kindly to strangers poking around.
- ... uhhhhh I uhhh, just thought it's such a beautiful countryside...
- Don't be surprised to see the Sheriff come by and start asking questions.
I had to stop and take a breath. I looked at him and he was being serious. He had his kid in the back jumpseat, and he wasn't laughing either.
- You best be on your way now.
- OK. Thanks.
I wanted to stay until the Sheriff showed up, just to see what on earth they could dream up against me, merely taking pictures on a public road. But I actually had to be in Indy at a particular time, so I stalled for a few minutes then packed my stuff and left. Welcome to the U. S. of Aholes.
Here's one that took place in rural Indiana on my way to the Moto GP. I was stopped along the side of a remote road to take this picture, amongst others;
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_eUO-nENyNac/SQTBTIamfQI/AAAAAAAAAtk/1sOy-ByEzOM/DSCF0283.JPG
A white pickup truck drives towards me slowly and goes by, then a few minutes later he comes back the other way and stops. "You need any help?" he asked.
- No, thanks. I just stopped to take pictures." I said, thinking he was concerned for my wellbeing.
- Well I wouldn't hang around too long if I was you.
- ... eeeerrr ?
- People here don't take too kindly to strangers poking around.
- ... uhhhhh I uhhh, just thought it's such a beautiful countryside...
- Don't be surprised to see the Sheriff come by and start asking questions.
I had to stop and take a breath. I looked at him and he was being serious. He had his kid in the back jumpseat, and he wasn't laughing either.
- You best be on your way now.
- OK. Thanks.
I wanted to stay until the Sheriff showed up, just to see what on earth they could dream up against me, merely taking pictures on a public road. But I actually had to be in Indy at a particular time, so I stalled for a few minutes then packed my stuff and left. Welcome to the U. S. of Aholes.
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let me help you. I moved to Canada from the USA and the insurance policy went from $600 a year with full coverage, 1M, to $1200 for the same coverage. Both were big cities.
But that ironic thing is that they do have social programs. They don't seem to have a problem with medicare and medicaid. I bet recipients of those programs wouldn't give them up either.
Americans seems to have a problem with the perception of socialism versus actual social programs. Republicans thrive on feeding this perception.
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I've heard of a few places like that in BC but on that line, I believe it's illegal to photograph a cattle feed lot and maybe a few other agricultural places in the USA. The movie "Food Inc" would explain why.
From a Redneck M/C forum:
A guy posts he's crapping blood and the free clinic doesn't have enough equipment to diagnos his condition. The hospital that can wants $600 to register him and the tests will cost him $10K with treatment extra. He could lose his house and still not be cured.
A friend of another guy got a double whammy after being hit by a semi making an illegal turn. Not enough insurance so he got kicked out of the hospital as soon as his insurance ran out but his hips are not healed yet and he suffers from brain damage. Since he's out of hospital but isn't returning to work he loses his job and will lose his house. Nice.
No or next to no health insurance and minimal vehicle insurance. Deadly pair.
If we are concerned with the state of healthcare, then we should look closely at the intentions of the Liberals and PC's. In my opinion, they are looking to rape and pilllage over 30 years of a good system.....Can you imagine things being a lot worse than they are now? Think about that, when we go to vote...We're all gonna vote, aren't we?
silvrsurfr
Well-known member
thats incredible. you hear about this stuff, you see it in movies - but i dont know how i would react to that. i think it was best you just went on your way. no telling what could have come of it. you're not in your own backyard, but someone else's. who knows what the rules are.
The top marginal rate is 46.41%. Then you're looking at another 1.95% (EHT), 4.152% (UI) on up to $43,200 of earnings, 9.9% (CPP) on up to $43,700 earnings and Workers' Comp - God only knows the percentage on up to $77,600 in earnings. If you're lucky enough to have a health benefits plan, you're probably paying at least another 2% of earnings. Yeah, it includes all the tax you don't see on your pay slip.
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