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| Subject: Healthcare in Canada |
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I have heard, unlike US there is free public healthcare in Canada.. Is it really ?? How does it work what is covered & what is not
Is there a website where I can find the coverage information.
Do Citizens / PRs have to pay anything towards health care Plan.. Would you still need a secondary healthcare plan ??
I know too many question... If one doesn´t have arranged employment & is planning to move to Canada, these questions will come to mind.
I would appreciate your response & discussion.. If someone is aware of both US & Canadian healthcare system ? comparison would be great.
[16-08-2006,12:21]
[***.255.152.227]
Sam |
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(in reply to: Healthcare in Canada)
I can only tell you about healthcare in BC. Yes, there is public healthcare system in Canada nationwide but each province has different system and requirement.
It´s not free because you have to pay medical cost each month to cover basic medical (doctor visits, etc) no prescription coverage I think.
Here is the link for BC: http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/
Here is link for coverage: http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/infoben/benefits.html#supp
In BC you will need to stay for 90 days before you can use your healthcare card meanwhile you are waiting you still have to pay first for th emonthly coverage which will be billed to you every 3 months.
Compare with US I think Canada system for healthcare is better than US (my personal opinion - I used to Lived in Los Angeles for 6 years)
Sorry coul dnot help you more about other province because I only live in BC since 2004 :)
Eric
[16-08-2006,13:10]
[**.87.50.29]
Eric |
(in reply to: Healthcare in Canada)
What Eric is trying to say is that if you are in BC legally, i.e. you are a student, you have a work permit, or you are a permanent resident or a citizen, you are required to be signed up for universal healthcare, which is managed province by province.
In BC, you have to pay an annual premium. You can pay it all at once, or be billed regularly. This premium is cheap by U.S. standards...if you are older, but if you are healthy and in your 20s or 30s, you could probably get a similar private plan for a similar $$$ in the USA.
Healthcare is substandard in rural areas, and you may have to wait a long time to see a specialist.
Also, the premium varies depending on your income level in BC.
Neither system is great, although most people would probably feel most secure in the Canadian system, because you always have basic coverage, even if you can´t afford it.
However, now with the conservatives in power, this system may eventually be changed towards a free market system in which you or your employer has to buy coverage. We´ll see.
I suspect that European governments have more robust coverage than even Canada. But I´m not sure.
But certainly it would be foolish to try to immigrate to Canada just because they have universal healthcare.
I actually encountered several [stupid!] Canadians whom told me this -- i.e. they thought I was there because of the healthcare system, LOL. Dumb.
In the USA,if you have a decent position with a decent employer, your coverage will be much better....and it´s a lot easier to get the care you need in most cases in a timely fashion.
[16-08-2006,13:19]
[**.181.201.35]
dontbeafool |
(in reply to: Healthcare in Canada)
Others may have more info. But I do know that medical care is free in the sense that you´re not charged when you visit a doctor or hospital for any reason. But you do pay for it out of your taxes - Canada´s taxation levels are higher than the U.S. as a result.
Each province adminsters its own health care system. So for example, if moving to Ontario do a search on Ontario Ministry of Health. And you don´t need secondary health insurance, as everything is covered except dental and prescription drugs.
[16-08-2006,13:27]
[***.130.12.0]
Richard |
(in reply to: Healthcare in Canada)
Comments from dontbeafool are incorrect, false, and misleading.
First, many emigrate to Canada for universal healthcare coverage and are very happy they did, especially if they had none or it was too expensive from where they came from.
Secondly, Canadian healthcare is much superior to most European national health systems, case in point the UK. Waiting periods in Canada are minor compared to those of the UK, which has lower quality. Ask any UK ex-pat who´s moved to Canada.
Lastly, the U.S. private health care system is vastly inferior to Canada´s, a well-known fact. In the American system, if you lose your job and have a major medical issue, you could easily go bankrupt and owe medical providers for the rest of your life. This happens all the time south of the border.
In addition, American mass medical care delivery quality is lower by all measurable standards. HMOs and PPOs control if you can see a specialist and decide which (if any). American insurance companies require complex forms to be filled out for reimbursment, processed, and much of the time will then deny the claims. You then have to spend much time fighting these companies to receive your payment, and often you lose. This never happens under the Canadian system. And the American private insurance bureaucracy dwarfs the much more efficient Canadian system (no claim forms, deductables, co-payments, fee schedules, etc.).
Finally, look at all the Americans going to Canada for affordable prescription drugs. How can anyone say the American system is better? You may wait a bit longer for procedures that can wait, but everyone has coverage and no one has fear of personal financial catastrophe if you can´t pay your bills. And you´re not a slave of your employer to get medical coverage.
[16-08-2006,13:52]
[***.130.12.0]
Richard |
(in reply to: Healthcare in Canada)
Richard is absolutely correct. and I will add the following-
The notion that Canada is heading to a US style of healthcare because we have a conservative government is crap! What may change is how the private sector can assist in the cost effective delivery of universal healthcare.
Without any income subsidies, I pay $59 a month for my BC medical coverage. I do not have any work medical plan to augment this so I pay out of pocket for perscriptions, dentist, chiropractor, naturepath, eyeglasses etc.
that said - I went into my doctors office one day (on 15 minutes notice) with what turned out to be a blood clot. Within 30 minutes of the doctor seeing my situation I was in the local emergency, being sent for utlrasound, being put on a massive dose of blood thinners and generally in a high state of observation for 36 hours.
All I presented to the hospital was my BC Medical card when I arrived at the hospital so they could retrieve my medical records. I left the hospital 3 days later with the same amount of money in my wallet as when I arrived.
Is it perfect no... but when I see what other people must contend with - I am happy to pay my taxes. I rather pay for healthcare than a military.
[16-08-2006,17:48]
[***.181.198.246]
sharon |
(in reply to: Healthcare in Canada)
I am not in a position to compare healthcare in The Usa or in Canada, but immigrating to Canada for the health care as Richard has said above? I do not think so, ... I have never heard an immigrant saying that their main reason to immigrate to canada is the healthcare....I guess people come over to Canada for a better job, education for their children, or better life styles, (well that might include health care but still I do not think that is the main reason) ... for instance I am coming over to Canada and I have never thought of the healthcare there....
[16-08-2006,18:03]
[**.96.232.124]
Reality bites |
(in reply to: Healthcare in Canada)
Sharon is right on target. I have a friend near Sault Ste. Marie who had a brain aneurysm. She received immediate treatment using the latest technology, with no waiting, top notch care, and at no cost. She is now doing fine. She mentioned to me recently how impressed she was with the quality and efficient delivery of her care.
As an added note- she has no claims to file, no deductibles or co-paymnets to pay, and no fear of insurance denials appearing in the mail.
[16-08-2006,18:09]
[***.130.12.0]
Richard |
(in reply to: Healthcare in Canada)
Reality- If you live in the U.S. and have not noticed the health care crisis there, you may be watching too much Fox TV. Move to Canada for affordable healthcare? I think so. Not be beholden to your employer to graciously grant you healthcare? I think so. Had enough of skyrocketing out-of-pocket medical costs? I think so.
You may want to think about what happens to you if you get sick after being laid-off from your job. Part of the rationale in coming to Canada for a better lifestyle IS reasonable healthcare coverage. After all, if you can´t afford or don´t have decent healthcare , that IS a lifestyle issue.
[16-08-2006,18:22]
[***.130.12.0]
Richard |
(in reply to: Healthcare in Canada)
my guy lives in a country where they SUPPOSEDLY have ´universal´ healthcare. The truth is... if you are not employed - you are not covered. If you are a farmer - you are not covered. If you want to have your appendix out - you pay cash before they will even admit you to the hospital. if you need medicine while you are at the hospital- you need to go buy that too.
Nobody gets turned away from care in Canada. The big debate is whether those who do not wish to wait their turn for non-emergency surgeries such as hip and knee replacements can pay out of their own pockets to have it done privately and therefore avoid waiting their turn. There is political resistance to this idea because it is viewed as two tier, private delivery/US style health care where the rich can go to the front of the/a line.
There is also discussion that private industry run the hospitals - while the government pays for the proceedures conducted there. The suggestion is that it would save the goverment money to have hospitals run on a business model rather than a goverment model. Some say (mostly those who have nice government protected union jobs in those government run facilities) that this is moving to a US style of healthcare.
Time will tell. Right now, the system is strained under our aging population (hence some of the squeeze on parental sponsorships) and costs of delivery are rising faster than the government can throw money at it. Something has to change and heaven help whatever politician tries to mess with it.
It is as sacred as hockey.
[16-08-2006,19:22]
[***.181.198.246]
sharon |
(in reply to: Healthcare in Canada)
Richard- Lets take it this way, and make it short and brief- I do not live in the USA, I never watch Fox Tv, simply because I do not have it lol ... And I am not coming over Canada for its healthcare, if it is good I would for sure appreciate it... Everyone needs a good healthcare wherever they live...
I guess this is very much related with the economic power of the countries and the individuals,..For example, I was in Germany once and was really surprised when I saw a vet coming over to check a dog which had an accident. Such things never happen in this part of the world...
On another occassion, I saw a doctor and a nurse visiting an old- retired couple in Denmark, they were regularly checking that couple because the lady broke her arm..
In poor countries the governments tend to give health care free to everyone but in practice that doesnt work.. They have to pay some fees, or some part of their medicine or examination... Even they pay some amount of it the healthcare sucks and I guess that is very much related with the economy of the country... . In that respect if canada offers a good helathcare well then we are lucky...However, that is not my main issue, I am sure if I get a good job then I can pay for my own health care wherever I am ...
I find it a bit pointless to discuss canada´s health care is better then this country or that country...As I have said above it depends on the country´s economic power. For sure canada is one of the strongest countries in the world and I am sure it is giving a healthcare accordingly,
I live in a poor country and what about this, I got my implants done (free of charge) because my company paid for that..The cost of my implants would be at least 8000 CAD or more in Canada or USA.. How many people in Canada really have such an opportunity ? .. Still, I never say the healthcare in my country is the best, because I know it sucks, it is terrible, especially if you have a low paid job... In short, if you have a well paid job and if the country is economically strong I am sure you will get good health care.,..
[17-08-2006,02:48]
[**.96.232.124]
Reality bites |
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