Healthcare

[Wrider]

So let me ask you Canadians something. The nationalized healthcare bill just passed here in the states. What do you think will happen?
Do you think we'll get the waiting lists we hear about from a lot of Canadians? What do you guys think about your current healthcare system? Would you have advised the US to adopt it or to reject it?

[dean owens]

wow. i read it here first and then had to go and check. can't even begin to share how disappointed i am. i'll just leave it at that.

[storysunfolding]

Why look at Ca? We're going to have the same issues Mass has been having. More docs per person than any other state, longer waits.

[Triumphgirl]

In Canada we have, what I believe, to be a pretty decent healthcare system. No one, regardless of race, social standing or age is refused healthcare. And to me that should be the way it is in all countries. I think it shameful that unless you have the big dollars and can afford private insurance you will be turned away from medical facilities. I have limited knowledge as to exactly how this new legislation in the US is going to work. This following statement I took from an article

"Most Americans receive private health insurance through their jobs as part of their benefits, but employers are not required to offer coverage. The government covers the elderly and indigent.

The health reform measure extends coverage to 32 million of the nearly 50 people in the U.S. who lack it, and bans insurers from denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions. It would also usher in a significant expansion of Medicaid, the federal-state health care program for the poor."

So what happens to the other 18 million? Who are these people? And why have they been eliminated?

I think it is good that someone (Obama) is finally taking necessary steps in healthcare reform. It is a step in the right direction. And i think long overdue.

In Alberta a few years back, our Provincial leader...some of you may know of him...probably not. Ralph Klein passed a bill for privatizing some aspects of healthcare. If you care not to wait 6-12 months for an MRI or specialist, you can pay the extra cash yourself and get immediate attenton through private sources.
Also I believe, (someone can correct me if I am wrong) that Albertans are the only province in Canada that pays a base premium for healthcare. Why? Not sure. Because Alberta is one of the richer provinces due to our abundance in oil/gas.

Our healthcare system isnt by all means perfect. There are waiting lines, backlogs and expensive drugs. We have lost so many Doctors and Nurses to the U.S. because they can make better wages, and work in some of the best hospitals in the world. So we have shortages in all those fields. Not all my experiences have been positve and great with the healthcare system, but in the end, thank god, i am still among the living.

My opinion is that the US government should care more about its citizens than worrying about waisting billions of dollars year after year killing Iraqi insurgents. But that is a whole different kettle of fish.
Imagine what all those billions could do for the healthcare and infrastructure of your own country.

[dean owens]

disclaimer: none of this is meant in an attacking way. the discussion has been started so i'm joining in. remember that 80% of communication is verbal and will not come across the internet. so please don't read something that is not there. and don't read a tone that was not intended. thanks.


while we're at it... water is more important to survival than health care. could we get a government take over of all water and make so that no one ever has to pay for that ever again? how about food? it's pretty important. no one should ever be denied food. why do i still go to the grocery store and buy my food while others aren't able to? how about utilities? kids every year are taken from their homes because parents don't have the money to keep the utilities on in the house. can we get that taken over by the government too?

In Canada ... No one, regardless of race, social standing or age is refused healthcare. I think it shameful that unless you have the big dollars and can afford private insurance you will be turned away from medical facilities.

no one is denied care here either. i can't even begin to tell you how much of our tax dollars go to give medical care to illegal aliens who don't pay anything into the system. and we already have government health care programs that are going bankrupt for those that can't afford healthcare.

In Canada we have, what I believe, to be a pretty decent healthcare system. ... I think it shameful that unless you have the big dollars and can afford private insurance you will be turned away from medical facilities.

If you care not to wait 6-12 months for an MRI or specialist...

Our healthcare system isnt by all means perfect. There are waiting lines, backlogs and expensive drugs. We have lost so many Doctors and Nurses to the U.S. because they can make better wages, and work in some of the best hospitals in the world. So we have shortages in all those fields. Not all my experiences have been positve and great with the healthcare system...

really? you call a pretty good health care system one that has a shortage of nurses and doctors and has a waiting list of 6-12 months for an mri or a specialist?

I think it is good that someone (Obama) is finally taking necessary steps in healthcare reform. It is a step in the right direction.

i would very much have to disagree with that. but i'm sure that's not a surprise at this point

We have lost so many Doctors and Nurses to the U.S. because they can make better wages, and work in some of the best hospitals in the world.

wonder if it's possible that those two things are at all related?

My opinion is that the US government should care more about its citizens...

i agree. i wish our government would care more about our citizens and not seize money they've worked hard for. steeling is just as wrong when the government does it as when i do it. and it's not very considerate.

and just a note about preexisting conditions... could we get them removed from my home owners and auto insurance as well. that way i could cancel my insurance, burn down my house, get insurance and have them cover my preexisting condition and give me the money i need to rebuild my house the way i want it. that would be great!

[Triumphgirl]

disclaimer: none of this is meant in an attacking way.

[Wrider]

I'm with you Dean. My knee for example, they said had I waited another month to get surgery I would have had permanent irreparable damage to it. Like I recently posted I've already had my two surgeries and healed from them exactly 6 months after my accident. I can only imagine still walking around in a straight brace, unable to bend my knee past 84 degrees.

[Triumphgirl]

Our healthcare system isnt by all means perfect. There are waiting lines, backlogs and expensive drugs. We have lost so many Doctors and Nurses to the U.S. because they can make better wages, and work in some of the best hospitals in the world. So we have shortages in all those fields. Not all my experiences have been positve and great with the healthcare system, but in the end, thank god, i am still among the living.

Edmonton hospital closes mental health beds due to psychiatrist shortage


THE CANADIAN PRESS
EDMONTON - The Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton is closing eight mental health crisis treatment beds.


The executive director for Addiction and Mental Health in Edmonton says the beds are being closed due to a shortage of psychiatrists.

Mark Snaterse says two psychiatrists have retired and another is to leave at the end of the month.

He says three new psychiatrists have been hired but won't start work until later this year.

He says the hospital hopes to reopen the treatment beds by early fall.

In the meantime, Snaterse says remaining staff will try to treat the same number of patients.

Like I said, its not perfect here either.

[Wrider]

Man, see this is insane. It's even more all-encompassing than yours is. Our hospitals can't even expand unless "Growth in the county has been 150% of the state average for X number of years." WooHoo! Now we get to be denied coverage in overcrowded hospitals!

[Theweapon52]

I don't really understand a couple of things about the new health bill in the US of A..... from what ive heard the government is forcing you to buy healthcare? and if you don't by 2014 or something they fine you X amount of dollars per head in your house that isnt covered?

So is it kind of like the current system where you have annual premiums to pay, but now more people have to pay? is it more/less affordable for the average joe?


As far as how i like the healthcare system here in Canada, i've been happy with it. All of the surgeries i have had, a grand total of 2 have been done right away. However they were on emergency basis. None the less when i want to see a doctor i don't have to wait 5 hours to see him and if i need a prescription for antibiotics for example, i get them on the spot and they are covered so i don't have to pay a cent out of pocket. Yet that is just one individuals experience, i am sure you will have no trouble finding people to disagree with how our system is run.