Health Care in Canada

freedomlover · #11 (**permalink**) 12-13-2006, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by George O Well

"I have an idea that this will be something like the Democrats have in mind."

>>>It's not only Democrats, it's the CEOs at Ford, GM and Chrysler.

This is true. Benefits are one of the largest expenses for any business.

rob · #12 (**permalink**) 12-13-2006, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thornbird

Rob, I think you mentioned about the long wait for surgeries and such. I know the article said something like a 17 week waiting list. I have had many surguries in the last few years and I have never waited that long. Tops, maybe a month and I am in a remote area. In the city like Toronto, maybe you wait a week or two. I have checked with other friends here in Ontario and they have also said the wait is not that long. This is for basic surgeries, not anything like emergency surgery, where they will fly a doctor in asap.

As for sort of paying for your health care with your taxes. You hardly notice it. The 5 or 6 hundred the article mentioned, may seem like a lot. But there are so many tax reductions/deductions you can claim, I have had to pay the government maybe, tops $100 a year. I don't think that is too bad.

As for the use of our Health Care, you are issued a health card, looks a lot like your drivers license. When you go to the hospital for medical procedures or the doctors office, they ask if anything has changed on your card, you say no and that's it. You pay for nothing.

Thorny, thanks for the information, if you can give us some more links it would be greatly appreciated

Thornbird · #13 (**permalink**) 12-13-2006, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob

Thorny, thanks for the information, if you can give us some more links it would be greatly appreciated

www.health.gov.on.ca

Most of the information I gave earlier was just off the top of my head. This link has many different areas you can look into.

George O Well · #14 (**permalink**) 12-14-2006, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freedomlover

This is true. Benefits are one of the largest expenses for any business.

Although I am sure the savings wouldn't be entirely passed through (the unions and shareholders would gobble most of those up), a national health care system could instantly make the Big 3 (and other companies) more than competitive with the rest of the world's big manufacturers.

George O Well · #15 (**permalink**) 12-14-2006, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Still Dizzy

Look at all the doctors from India. The same with Nurses being recruited from the Philippines.

It's called "capitalism".

rob · #16 (**permalink**) 12-14-2006, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thornbird

www.health.gov.on.ca

Most of the information I gave earlier was just off the top of my head. This link has many different areas you can look into.

Thorny, how much does the citizen have to pay for your medical plan or do you pay for it in higher taxes?

Thornbird · #17 (**permalink**) 12-14-2006, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob

Thorny, how much does the citizen have to pay for your medical plan or do you pay for it in higher taxes?

I think it all depends on the amount of annual revenue you have. The larger your gross earnings, the more you would have to pay. I know it isn't an absurd amount of money, because you would hear people complain if it was. It must be included with another tax on the income tax form, because I looked at mine and can find no mention of health care taxes.

freedomlover · #18 (**permalink**) 12-15-2006, 07:17 AM

Thornbird, how is the quality of your healthcare there? Do you get to select you own doctor? Do the doctors seem to give a damn up there? Down here sometimes I feel like cattle. When you go to the doctor, they don't take the time to listen to you, they just run you through like cattle. One of the worst experiences I had, and this is no joke. When my youngest was born, he was 2 months preemie. He was life-flighted to Topeka. He was assigned a Nurse Practitioner and a Doctor by the hospital. I was up there almost constantly. He had many complications (not as many as some up there thank God). Anyway, thru it all, even though I asked to speak directly to the doctor, I never met him. Not once!!!!! And once I started asking for my son to be brought back to my hometown hospital, well it wasn't pretty.

Thornbird · #19 (**permalink**) 12-15-2006, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freedomlover

Thornbird, how is the quality of your healthcare there? Do you get to select you own doctor? Do the doctors seem to give a damn up there? Down here sometimes I feel like cattle. When you go to the doctor, they don't take the time to listen to you, they just run you through like cattle. One of the worst experiences I had, and this is no joke. When my youngest was born, he was 2 months preemie. He was life-flighted to Topeka. He was assigned a Nurse Practitioner and a Doctor by the hospital. I was up there almost constantly. He had many complications (not as many as some up there thank God). Anyway, thru it all, even though I asked to speak directly to the doctor, I never met him. Not once!!!!! And once I started asking for my son to be brought back to my hometown hospital, well it wasn't pretty.

Let me see if I can shine some light on this...

I find the quality of health care here great, the doctors are friendly and helpful, if you don't understand something they will explain and find information for you, so you do understand and some still make house calls.

Where I see my doctor, you will see a listing of doctors, if you see someone you like, just call and ask if they are taking new patients. I live in a small town, so there are about 6 different ones to choose from. Also, when you need a specialist, they will give you a choice of several different doctors.

My doctor, will sit and listen to you for an hour, if that is what it takes. When you leave his office, you feel you got 100% of his attention and the treatment you deserved.

There aren't too many Nurse Practitioneers here. Maybe one or two. But Preemies are not kept here, they would be airlifted to a bigger hospital approximately 2 hours from here. My god daughter was a preemie. I saw the doctor almost daily and he was always asking if we had questions. If you request to see a doctor here, even if he isn't in that day, a message and a time will be taken by the nursery nurse and the doctor will be there at your convience.