Canadian Health Care

Good rant Layne!  I agree that when so many people believe so many repeated lies, there is a pretty big problem. For too many people critical thinking has given way to choosing to shout the lies louder. 

I  had to leave that topic too.  I wonder if America will ever be able to see how their behavior is seen around the world.  They are so quick to invade other countries to correct human right issues that they perceive (rightly so or not...a totally different discussion) to be unacceptable.  However, when it comes to home, ie: Katrina, education and health care, the hierarchy system is accepted, condoned, and supported by those same people.  And when they believe the obvious lies and distortions that are bandied around, it doesn't make them look too smart either.

Now don't get me wrong.  I love the States and have family and good friends there. There are obviously mostly wonderful, caring and intelligent Americans.  But it only takes a few with loud voices to send the international community a skewed vision of the American philosophy.

Editied to say:  I really think that even those that spout the obvious lies are basically good and caring people too.  They are simply victims of propaganda at its best.

What passes for TV news in the U.S. is laughable, catering to the lowest common denominator.  If news program hosts/anchors were truly interested in providing news, they would come to the table actually prepared with solid information -  from all sides. Instead, they invite talking heads (ann Coultergeist et al) and the political sensation of the moment to come on and spew their crap with nary a comment of refutation or a "can you prove that to me?".  PBS and some of the elder statemen of TV News such as Sam Donaldson seem to be the only ones who care about actual news and political discussion, rather than ratings.  And guests such as Cheney and his ignorant daughter are just lapping up all the attention and getting their points across for FREE.....

I don't get Faux News on my cable, but I see enough of its miserable CRAP from excerpts on The Daily Show and the Colbert Report.  Layne, if your wonderful country does go down the tubes, I'll blame it on the media, as it takes my beloved country along with it.......

For a refreshing change of pace -- and if you have access to satellite tv -- tune into the BBC, CBC or CTV.

p.s.  Layne, so good to hear from you again!!  Welcome back.

Well, I see your point about The Colbert Report -- we Canucks are so accustomed to irony, satire and tongue-in-cheek in comedy shows featuring news/politics that it would be difficult to think of Colbert and conservative seriousness together!!!

I read the other day someone's definition of Fox News -- Feed Our Xenophobia.  Ain't it the truth!!

Just found this thread.

After dealing with cancer for almost 6 years now, the "shine" of the OHIP system has worn off for me.

When i was first diagnosed in 2003, the red carpet rolled out and OHIP paid for just about everything.  The only thing it didn't cover was Neupogen and it was provided by the pharmaceutical company under compassionate grounds.  That was in 2003.

Fast forward to my metastatic cancer - a different story...

OHIP will no longer pay for Herceptin.  I've been off it for 4 months and, of course, progression ensued.  My onc is furious as I haven't been the only metastatic patient "targeted".  She fully believed that it was instrumental in keeping my cancer stable.

Also, I've been on a double-blind clinical trial for 2 years, a bone study.  At the end of the trial period, if the drug I received was not a "success", I would have to pay to receive it's subsitute "Zometa" as it wasn't covered by OHIP.  I'd be looking at about $400 a month.  Thankfully, the drug was a success and the pharmaceutical company will pay until the drug goes to market.  What happens then?

Finally, my doctor now has me on Xeloda/Tykerb.  It took 2 months to get funding for this drug for me as it's not covered by OHIP.  Thankfully, my insurance covers 80% and the pharmaceutical company covers the other 20%.  That would have cost me another $4000 for Tykerb and $400 for Xeloda a month.

The thread asked what we'd like to see changed about the Cdn. Healthcare system, I say that metastatic patients should have access to the drugs needed to survive - especially if the drugs are WORKING.  I know this sounds cynical but I think it's cheaper for the government if I'm dead rather than alive.

Funny thing is I'm a pretty laid-back fun-loving person but the healthcare system has me seeing "red" sometimes.  It's almost like it's a dirty little secret that not many people know about.  When I had everyday, run of the mill health issues, I thought that OHIP couldn't be beat.  Now I'm not so sure...

I'll get off my soapbox now...

OHIP is paying for my Herceptin. There was a murmer at one session about scheduling - if the timing was off it wouldn't be covered, so the clinic made the timing be right, but that suggests that there are some controls about if/when Herceptin is covered. Somebody somewhere must know how these things work. I don't know about the other drugs. When I start Femara shortly I assume that will be between me and my extended health care.

Cheryl, no one has ever said that OHIP pays for medication. I paid about $600 a month for my heart medication before I finally got a job that has benefits. I pay for those benefits and I top them up as well so that I only have to pay 80% of my prescriptions. OHIP doesn't pay for vision or dental either, which the US ladies think all healthcare should. (I mention this for those not living in Ontario who are reading this.)

A pill taken at home is never covered, but an infusion at a hospital should be. Go figure. But, as ymb above has said, Stage IV gets everything paid. There is another Stage IV on here from out west who gets everything covered. I think it's horrid that you would have to pay a penny! Shame on your doctors for not letting you know your options, especially after all these years!

YMB -- thanks for letting me know!  I want to work when I return to Canada so I can go back to living well and travelling (as opposed to the crap I've had in the US the past year), but it's nice to know that I can have a disability back-up plan.  I was a bit worried there -- I just want to be able to get treated and live!  Yes, Saskie gets everything paid -- I was thinking I was going to have to skip Ontario and move to Saskatchewan -- I hear it's beautiful lake country up north! 

It still pisses me off all the aggravation Mason had to go through -- like she doesn't have enough to aggravate her!  Grrrrr.

Hey Pip, it ain't over til it's over!  There will be vigorous polling over this weekend to determine what the public (not just the loud, irrational few) want regarding a public option and previous polls are all suggesting the majority are in favour. I suspect the President's speech to the nation will definitely reflect that.

Really interesting article in today's Toronto Star under Technology, titled "At last, a shovel for all that BS" about a guy who's touting a high-concept software project called Dispute Finder.  As a browser extension for Firefox, it "red flags" disputed claims on web pages that it recognizes from an ever-growing pool of arguments for and against a topic.  So if you read something by a rabid right-winger or left-winger, a "Fact-Check"-type notice will pop up advising you that perhaps, just perhaps, you should take this article with a grain of salt, and here's why....  Hmmmm, could it really work?

I think they are farkling themselves.

Lassie, "Farkle" is a game using dice.  I think maybe Blue is right.......!

See the new thread in Active Topics, "My employer is cancelling my health insurance!"

...and the sad irony is that many of those who are shouting the loudest (and rudest) at townhall meetings are probably going to have the same thing happen to them.  Then who will they blame????

Who will they blame?  Obama, of course.  

Shirley Hughes would tell her why she was lucky to be dropped. I'm sure that will make her feel better. Maybe Shirley will even take her to practice at a gun range in order to lift her spirits.