Health Care..what do you think?

sherri_chickie · 12-05-2009, 11:23 PM

I would really love to hear the Canadian and American opinions on universal health care. Americans maybe you can enlighten me as to why the country seems so opposed and Canadians maybe you can shed some light on how it works here.

I personally love our system, I've lived in both and a good portion of why I came back to Canada was because of our health care system. I had gall bladder surgery, and then went back in a few days later with a raging infection. How much did the operation cost me? $0. How much did a week in the hospital on morphine, percoset and antibiotics cost $0. I just got to focus on getting better and not " how the hell am I going to pay for this ( even just a co-pay can be insane) I do pay more in taxes up here, but seriously the additional taxes is less than what I paid monthly for shitty insurance in the states. Plus prescriptions here are MUCH cheaper than in the U. S.

And in the states the people are already paying for the healthcare of people on welfare, gives no incentive to get off and get a job if you are going to lose your healthcare, dental and vision benefits. I saw it a million times where I worked.

marko138 · 12-05-2009, 11:36 PM

I think we need to do something but at the same time I don't want anything to change. I'm fortunate enough to work for the Gov't and I've got outstanding healthcare benefits and I don't pay a dime for them.

'73 H1 Triple · 12-06-2009, 12:03 AM

Although something needs to be done, I sure as hell don't want Obama creating another 112 gov't agencies ( last count in the 2037 pages of the proposed health care plan ) to run his marxist/socialist healthcare plan.

Tsunami · 12-06-2009, 12:58 AM

I'm for universal healthcare, but if its gets passed here I think it will take a lot of time to work out the kinks. I rather move somewhere, where its already established!

The arguments I have heard against it is that the quality of our care will go down because the doctors will be making less money. And the reason why our healthcare is great is because our doctors have to compete for their business. I haven't really heard many great arguments...our healthcare isn't that great, we rank behind a lot of European nations.

I don't know enough about if it works or doesn't work to have a real objective opinion, but I am losing my health insurance this month and its scary. If I end up needing emergency care, I will not be able to afford it or will probably not get the best care because they know I don't have insurance.

People get denied procedures here all the time because their insurance won't cover it or insurance won't cover people with preexisting conditions. Its pretty shitty if you ask me.

I'm interested to hear the opinions of those in the medical field.

101lifts2 · 12-06-2009, 01:01 AM

If left up to the U.S. government, it will eventually go broke or certain groups will be very very rich.

101lifts2 · 12-06-2009, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sherri_chickie

.... Plus prescriptions here are MUCH cheaper than in the U. S. ......

Yeah simply because the U.S. does all the research and these other socialistic countries reap the benefits. Imagine if Canada had to research and develop every single drug. Your taxes would be doubled....at least.

There is no such thing as a free lunch....

tommymac · 12-06-2009, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 101lifts2

Yeah simply because the U.S. does all the research and these other socialistic countries reap the benefits. Imagine if Canada had to research and develop every single drug. Your taxes would be doubled....at least.

There is no such thing as a free lunch....

Sure there is, its all the drug companies and the perks they try to give so we prescribe their medications.

I think they are way too powerful right now and thats a major problem.

Tom

Cutty72 · 12-06-2009, 07:14 AM

idk... I'm deployed with a guy who's wife is canadian... they both hate the canadian healthcare system. Too slow and indecisive. She has been waiting 2 years to get her gall bladder removed.

cbrchick · 12-06-2009, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cutty72

idk... I'm deployed with a guy who's wife is canadian... they both hate the canadian healthcare system. Too slow and indecisive. She has been waiting 2 years to get her gall bladder removed.

Funny....

Where does she live? We are a "have not province" compared to others in Canada and gall bladder surgery is a breeze. If it really needs to come out, they take it out. Infected stones, blocked ducts...depends on the degree of the gall bladder issue. Simply having periodic pain isn't a pre-req for surgery.

Having lived in Texas (like Sherri) and now work in the Canadian Health Care System... I gotta say, it ain't bad. Sure I pay higher taxes, but I'd rather more people receive tx than go by the wayside. And if anyone thinks our Drs/Medical facilities are sub-par b/c we are socialized, your mistaken.

Shit loads money go towards research here just as in the US.

My father had 2 surgeries for cancer at MD Anderson in Houston. 1987, 1994.
Chemo, radiation...wicked hospital, awesome oncologists. The bills my parents paid with great health coverage (80%) tens of thousands of dollars.

After all that top notch care, his Cancer came back in a different place. Even with all that money and resources, it came back. And that's no one's fault. We now know that chemo isn't useful for his type of Cancer.

When he discovered a small lump a few years ago, he saw an oncologist right away, had surgery 1.5 weeks later. And having worked with his oncologist surgeon, I can tell you he got expert care with ZERO cost. He doesn't get charged for each blood draw, every supply used, or any pain medication he may have received (which was none b/c he's a tough ass).

When I had my little girl, I paid NADA. I shared a room with another girl after wards b/c there were no privates left. Did I care? No...I work in a hospital, I don't want to spend anytime "relaxing" in one if I don't have to. I left 24 hours later. Being a nurse, I know I got all the important things I needed as well as my child. I could care less about the bells and whistles.

Anyway, there's def. somethings about our system that needs some tweek'n. It is frustrating having to wait for somethings. There's never enough room. Things are never done fast enough. And the food always sucks. But I know we do a lot of good for a lot of people that would die otherwise.

I'd gladly pay higher taxes so that any of you could receive health care. But that's just the way we think in a social place

G-Rex · 12-06-2009, 08:44 AM

I'm lucky that I have excellent health care through my company that is paid for entirely and covers at 100%

I don't mind my taxes going towards healthcare for those who can't afford it or don't get it. The problem is efficiency. There's no such thing here I don't think.

For those who haven't read the fine print of the proposed health care program, it's ugly. It covers far more than health care. It's about making government bigger and more inclusive in our day to day lives. That is what I have a problem with.

And for anybody who things the government can do a good job running a universal health care system here, I have one thing to say about that. Medicare. Ask anybody on *that* system how well it works. That's small in comparison to what this universal system would be, and the government can't even run that efficiently.

12-05-2009, 11:23 PM	#1
sherri_chickie WERA Yellow Plate Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Calgary Moto: Gs500F Posts: 683	Health Care..what do you think? I would really love to hear the Canadian and American opinions on universal health care. Americans maybe you can enlighten me as to why the country seems so opposed and Canadians maybe you can shed some light on how it works here. I personally love our system, I've lived in both and a good portion of why I came back to Canada was because of our health care system. I had gall bladder surgery, and then went back in a few days later with a raging infection. How much did the operation cost me? $0. How much did a week in the hospital on morphine, percoset and antibiotics cost $0. I just got to focus on getting better and not " how the hell am I going to pay for this ( even just a co-pay can be insane) I do pay more in taxes up here, but seriously the additional taxes is less than what I paid monthly for shitty insurance in the states. Plus prescriptions here are MUCH cheaper than in the U. S. And in the states the people are already paying for the healthcare of people on welfare, gives no incentive to get off and get a job if you are going to lose your healthcare, dental and vision benefits. I saw it a million times where I worked.

12-06-2009, 01:01 AM	#5
101lifts2 WSB Champion Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Anaheim, CA Moto: 2009 Kawi ZX6R Posts: 5,570	If left up to the U.S. government, it will eventually go broke or certain groups will be very very rich. __________________ Train Hard Ron Paul - 2012 Mark of Excellence GM

12-06-2009, 08:44 AM	#10
G-Rex Where to next? Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: OK to the C Moto: TL1000R, Hayabusa, R1150RT Posts: 1,333	I'm lucky that I have excellent health care through my company that is paid for entirely and covers at 100% I don't mind my taxes going towards healthcare for those who can't afford it or don't get it. The problem is efficiency. There's no such thing here I don't think. For those who haven't read the fine print of the proposed health care program, it's ugly. It covers far more than health care. It's about making government bigger and more inclusive in our day to day lives. That is what I have a problem with. And for anybody who things the government can do a good job running a universal health care system here, I have one thing to say about that. Medicare. Ask anybody on that system how well it works. That's small in comparison to what this universal system would be, and the government can't even run that efficiently. __________________

12-05-2009, 11:36 PM	#2
marko138 DefenderOfTheBuelliverse Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Parts Unknown Moto: Buell XB12R Posts: 18,585	I think we need to do something but at the same time I don't want anything to change. I'm fortunate enough to work for the Gov't and I've got outstanding healthcare benefits and I don't pay a dime for them.

12-06-2009, 12:03 AM	#3
'73 H1 Triple restorer of the original Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Zionsville,PA Moto: '93 ZR1100 &'73 Kawasaki H1 500 Posts: 1,331	Although something needs to be done, I sure as hell don't want Obama creating another 112 gov't agencies ( last count in the 2037 pages of the proposed health care plan ) to run his marxist/socialist healthcare plan.

12-06-2009, 12:58 AM	#4
Tsunami Pug Queen Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Las Vegas, NV Moto: DR200, SV650 Posts: 2,486	I'm for universal healthcare, but if its gets passed here I think it will take a lot of time to work out the kinks. I rather move somewhere, where its already established! The arguments I have heard against it is that the quality of our care will go down because the doctors will be making less money. And the reason why our healthcare is great is because our doctors have to compete for their business. I haven't really heard many great arguments...our healthcare isn't that great, we rank behind a lot of European nations. I don't know enough about if it works or doesn't work to have a real objective opinion, but I am losing my health insurance this month and its scary. If I end up needing emergency care, I will not be able to afford it or will probably not get the best care because they know I don't have insurance. People get denied procedures here all the time because their insurance won't cover it or insurance won't cover people with preexisting conditions. Its pretty shitty if you ask me. I'm interested to hear the opinions of those in the medical field.