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joanpeterson
Forums Member
Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Posts: 149
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#21 · Posted: 31 Jul 2009 18:17
It is hard to know how one can fund healthcare and provide every service.
Canada's system may be free but at what cost? All our hospitals are understaffed and overcrowded with patients. Saskatchewan recently came out with a document which did not say hallway health care was bad but rather how hallway health care was to work. ( Hallway health care is caring for patients in the hallways due to lack of space in patient rooms.)
Alberta now have a number of doctors who have removed themselves from the public health system and set up clinics where people must pay $ 3600 plus per year to see the doctor. These clinics will not see patients who do NOT pay such a fee.
Recently with cutbacks in Alberta health care, a number of colon cancer patients were told they would have to wait at least two weeks for surgery. Two weeks could literally mean the difference between living and dying.
In Alberta, cataract surgeries have been delayed. Basically, the government wants you blind before they will remove your cataracts. Obviously that means more people will pay out of pocket for cataract removal, rather than wait to go blind.
Can the US come up with a system that works long term? That remains to be seen but lessons can definitely be learned by looking at the system in Canada - definitely in crisis mode.
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coffee
Forums Member
Joined: 9 Feb 2009
Posts: 47
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#22 · Posted: 3 Aug 2009 12:16
I think like in most areas of life, you always hear about the worst scenario. For example in Michael Moore's Sicko. There was a guy who was married to a nurse, had insurance but the insurance company thought the treatment wasn't a sure thing. So, the insurance company wouldn't cover the bill for the surgery. And he died.
I live in Canada and never had a friend or friend of a friend who died because they were on a wait list.
Through my life I had a broken arm, broken ankle (required two surgeries), had my tonsils take out, appendix taken out, had radiation for a thyroid problem and had a baby. I didn't pay for any of it.
Canada's health care may not be perfect. But personally, I never has a problem with wait time and I really like I can go to the doctor or hospital and not have to worry about cost or wondering if my insurance company will cover it.
Following in the words of tmorrison "I just hope for better Health Care System for all"
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mountainmom5
Joined: 30 Aug 2007
Posts: 3093
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#23 · Posted: 3 Aug 2009 12:26
Thanks Coffee! I would love to have a health care system that worked like that....but I have to admit that I am very leery of Obama's plans... 
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westfam11
Forums Member
Joined: 8 Aug 2007
Posts: 562
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#24 · Posted: 3 Aug 2009 19:31 · Edited by: westfam11
I am very leery of Obama's health care plans also.
The government can't handle Medicare, Social Security,
cash for klunkers (this program ran out of money in one
week), so why does everyone think the government
can fix health care?
The current system is not perfect but the government
does not need to take it over, there are other ways.
It all boils down to losing more freedom. Going
down the road of socialism. I personally don't
want to lose any more of my freedoms.
I have been watching this thread, trying not to
say anything, but I just had to give my opinion.
Becky
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mountainmom5
Joined: 30 Aug 2007
Posts: 3093
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#25 · Posted: 3 Aug 2009 23:12
westfam11: I have been watching this thread, trying not to say anything,
You did better than I did to keep quiet as long as you have!
I plan to not say much from here on out...
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ZiggyZoo
Forums Member
Joined: 14 Jul 2009
Posts: 64
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#26 · Posted: 5 Aug 2009 16:58
Ok you guys ... let me put a spoke into the works 
Here is South Africa .... um i dont even think we have a national health care plan !!!
If you are not employed by a company it is extremely difficult to get medical insurance. Self employed people have to prove proof of income to their satisfaction before you can qualify.
If you have not had medical insurance for a period of 3 years when you do join one you have to wait 12 months before they will authorize any major expenditure for operations and the like (even dentistry - all you can get is a cleaning during that 12 month period)
The medical insurance companyies have various plans from basic hospital cover to comprehensive cover. Still, if you are having an operation or need to be admited to hospital they have to authorize it and if they feel its not necessary (never mind what your doctor says) then sorry for you but you have to pay for it yourself.
Then looking at those people who cant afford medical insurance, which is the majority of south africans unfortunately. They can go any hospital as long as they are prepared to pay the full costs up front. If you are brought in through emergency to a private hospital and you dont have medical aid cover you are immediately transfered to a state hospital.
State hospitals are run by the government and the staff are hugely under paid. Result .... none of them care about their work and certainly not about their patients. You would be horrified to hear what the mortality rate is in our state hospitals. I would rather die in the street than go to them!
But what can you expect from a country who thinks that AIDS can be cured by eating Rhubarb!!!!!!!
Sigh .... i am going to bed this is way to depressing
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mountainmom5
Joined: 30 Aug 2007
Posts: 3093
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#27 · Posted: 5 Aug 2009 17:08
ZiggyZoo: But what can you expect from a country who thinks that AIDS can be cured by eating Rhubarb!!!!!!!
You gotta be kidding me - but really, I guess it doesn't matter what country you are from, there are always those strange beliefs.... you know how the little kerosene lamps have the glass chimneys on them??
Well, my mom happened to believe that if you broke it and the hole was in the shape of a D, there would be a death in the family - believe me ALL the chimneys I broke growing up were shaped in a ghastly D, and I broke my share as that was all we had for lighting in our room at night....
I agree, national health care is a depressing subject - I think I have way too much more important stuff to do than spend a lot of time on this thread! although I have to admit, I do like a good hearty discussion at times.
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