Canadian Health Care

I thought you would like to see the Mary Walsh  (of This Hour Has 22 Minutes) interview with Sarah Palin.  It is pretty funny!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC8w4DE2CwM&feature=player_embedded 

Mary 

Elizabeth, did you notice what Walsh called Palin:  the Alaskan Aphrodite!! Hilarious.

Very funny Mary!!

Awww, thanks for including me in the good news.  Gee, I didn't make it into the Mop & Pail?  It will be a very safe journey because I will have my cat Chloe with me -- no speeding with a fur-baby on board!  Normally I drive fast enough that no one passes me -- it's just so fun on the windy roads in NH and VT.  Vroom!

BTW -- I have to give back my cable router tomorrow at noon!  I'll be going cold turkey without the Internet until Tuesday evening!  Arrrrrgh!!  I wonder what excitement on the Boards I'll have to look forward to?!?

I'll have a fresh litter box available for her -- since I have to give her sub-cutaneous fluids for her kidney disease she does pee a lot!  As long as she can check out the scenery she's fine.  A bit yappy (meow-y?), but fine.

Actually Elizabeth, the people are concerned about the same thing in both instances.  They are concerned that the government is going to step in and tell them what they can and cannot have resulting in less benefit for them and their families. 

Every woman will be impacted by the new guidelines.  They will become the excuse the insurance companies and government run programs use to not pay for testing.  They may be just guidelines now, but if companies find out they can get away with saving money in the short term by instituting those guidelines as rules, they will.  If the insurance companies stop paying for the testing, then that will become the standard of care, and the government funded programs will do the same. 

If Congress passes a bill that looks anything like the mess that they passed in the House, or like what is coming up for debate in the Senate, men women and children who currently have insurance that they are comfortable with will be forced to change to a government approved plan.  They will also in addition to paying more for their plan, and paying additional taxes if someone in the government decides that they have too good an insurance plan, have to pay for coverage for those millions of Americans not currently covered.  If those who aren't covered could afford to pay for their own insurance, wouldn't they be doing that already?  That means taxpayers will be paying for them.

Paying more and getting less, and you wonder why people aren't thrilled about this?

PatMom wrote:  They will also in addition to paying more for their plan, and paying additional taxes if someone in the government decides that they have too good an insurance plan, have to pay for coverage for those millions of Americans not currently covered.  If those who aren't covered could afford to pay for their own insurance, wouldn't they be doing that already?  That means taxpayers will be paying for them.

I thought one of the big concerns was that there were several millions who didn't pay insurance because they didn't want to -- thinking they wouldn't ever need it, or that they'd rather spend their money elsewhere? -- along with the several millions who cannot afford it.  And that many more millions don't want to pay for someone else's healthcare.

But, when those who don't have insurance do get sick, who ends up paying for their healthcare?  In the long run, don't taxpayers, and those who pay their insurance premiums, end up paying anyway through ever-increasing premium costs?  We already know that close to one-third of healthcare costs do not cover actual healthcare.

I don't disagree that either House or Senate bills will improve the situation.  There are the optimists who believe a "step-by-step" process will eventually lead to actual healthcare reform to benefit everyone.  If I were an American, I'd have to say that I would be a pessimist, who sees that the answer does not lie in either the House or Senate bills (which will only be watered down even further to satisfy all the special and corporate interests to which Congress seems eternally beholden), but in a complete overhaul to single-payer, ensuring coverage for all. Of course, that's just MHO.

But I can't see that ever happening, and I am truly saddened by it.

And just a reminder to any Americans  who might take umbrage at this post:  This is the Canadian Healthcare thread and I feel we Canadians should be able to respond to you and to  express our opinions without any bashing. If you disagree, take it up with the Moderators. Thanks!

I have to say that among my family and friends, we are usually thankful that we have our system.  We often say that if we were in the States we would not be able to get such good care.  Not because it isn't available there, but because we don't know if we would be one of the lucky ones that have good coverage.

 I also wonder about the timing of bc cancer tx.  It often seems that women there are getting 4 or 5 tests before anything is actually done.  It might make one feel like they are getting the 'best' of care, but doesn't seem very practical to me.

I hear more complaints about our system from Americans.  In your news and from Americans who know someone who knew somebody....  Even those who have to wait for elective surgeries are usually okay with it.  I have NEVER heard anyone suggest we get a privatized system.  Just a few ideas about a two tier system every once in awhile.   

Hi Rico:  .

Without going into the reasons why, yes, there are some people who would like us to have both a public and private system.  By and large, they are people with vested interests, or those who want their appt., test or treatment yesterday.  There are obvious advantages, but also many potential disadvantages to a combination system.  Most proponents would ideally prefer both systems to be re-imbursed by the government.  Hmmmm...

But I think it's so engrained in our psyche that everyone, regardless of income or station in life, should have access to good healthcare. If a particular service isn't available for some reason in a Canadian hospital but is medically required, the patient will be sent to a U.S. (or other country) facility, and the government will pay the bill.

Any politician who would suggest instituting a system such as exists south of the border would soon be looking for another job.  Sarah really needs  to do her research before she opens her mouth!  (JMHO, of course)

Linda

Do you think Sarah Palin said that as a joke?  Surely, she couldn't be serious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy0Nar34VII

Here's a link to Sarah Palin's comment to Mary Walsh about Canada's health care system. Sounded to me like she meant what she said.

Rico, this is why it upsets us so much when these lies and myths about our medical care is bandied about on this site.  We really do not understand why it seems so impossible for the US to do something to make health care equally available to everyone.  It is such a shame that so many go without while others seem to be over treated.

mke -- neither do I <sigh>...

You know, sometimes I think we have to sit back, take a deep breath, and remember that everyone who posts on this site has an extremely emotional relationship with healthcare.  I have to remind myself, when reading some of the threads (esp. the most recent ones re the mammo guidelines) that these 30 and 40-year-olds who shouldn't be worrying about BC at their age, are being deeply affected by their dx, as are their families, their babies, their children....

We Canadians with BC are just as passionate, but perhaps in a different way.  We really want all our BC sisters, wherever they live, to have access to the best tx, regardless of whether they have insurance, or a job.  The very last thing they should have to worry about is how they're going to pay for their care, or if their tx will make them lose their house, or put them into bankruptcy.  That is just so inconceivable.  And so unfair......

Good night all,

Linda

• They actually have private clinics in Toronto. Mega bucks!!!

Thanks, ladies.

You have confrmed what I thought. I don't know of any British politicians/public figures calling for privatizing their health care either. Even arch conservative Margaret Thatcher didn't.

For that matter, baby Bush tried to privatize social security and that went nowhere. 

People (including Americans) aren't stupid. Once they see the value of safety net programs, they don't want to go without them. My hope is that we can at least pass a basic public option, then see where it goes. My suspicion is people will like it and it will be a first step towards getting cost-effective and moral health care in my country.