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| Subject: Not always so rosy in Canada |
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Not always such a rosy picture for many of life in Canada. Although they like their health care system, they´re still worried nevertheless:
http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2009/08/17/cma-health017.html
Economy linked to Canadians´ health fears (CBC News)
In a national survey, 14 per cent of respondents said they had delayed or stopped buying prescription medications because money was tight.In a national survey, 14 per cent of respondents said they had delayed or stopped buying prescription medications because money was tight. (iStock)
The economic downturn has affected how Canadians care for their health, particularly those in the lowest income groups — with people eating and sleeping less, spending less on prescriptions and skipping medical and dental appointments, according to a study released Monday in Saskatchewan.
The 9th annual National Report Card on Health Care in Canada found 52 per cent of Canadians are worried about their health compared to 57 per cent who are worried about their financial security and 27 per cent who are worried about losing their jobs.
"This year, the [Canadian Medical Association´s] report card shows that these tough economic times could also be a serious health hazard for Canadians," said Dr. Robert Ouellet, president of the CMA, which commissioned the study.
"There is a mistaken impression that health care is somehow insulated from today´s harsh economic reality. Our polling results show that´s just not the case."
Among the study´s other findings:
* 40 per cent said they felt stressed and/or overwhelmed by financial concerns. Among those who earn less than $30,000, that number rises to 51 per cent.
* 25 per cent said they have delayed or cancelled a dentist appointment as a result of financial worries. The figure is 34 per cent among Canadians who earn less than $30,000.
* 16 per cent of those polled said they skip meals to save money, with the figure rising to 28 per cent in the lowest income bracket.
* 23 per cent said they are losing sleep over economic worries, with the figure rising to 33 per cent among those without a university degree.
* 14 per cent said they had delayed or stopped buying their prescription medications because money was tight.
Dental, pharmacare gaps
Maria Caravallo of Toronto said she´s stressed about the economy. Caravello has cut back on food, and is only going to the doctor once in a while because she sometimes can´t afford to fill prescriptions.
"If you´re sick, very sick, that´s the time that you go, ´cause medications are so expensive," Caravallo, a mother of two, said as she shopped for groceries.
The poll results reflect how access to dental care and pharmacare coverage is uneven across Canada, Ouellet said.
Patients started putting off treatments about six months ago, said Dr. Michael Perelgut, a dentist in Toronto.
"They are afraid of holding on to their jobs, they´re afraid of the future, they´re looking at the recession," Perelgut said.
The link between economic downturns and declining health is clear, said Dennis Raphael, a professor in the school of health policy and management at York University in Toronto, who studies the social determinants of health.
"The best health care in the world will not make up for the kinds of problems with living conditions that people experience, especially during recessions," Raphael said.
Two-thirds of those surveyed approved of Canada´s health care system, the CMA found. In 2009, 67 per cent gave the system an A or a B for overall quality, a number virtually unchanged from the previous year.
When asked to rate their own health, 41 per cent said their health was either excellent or very good. Another 38 per cent said their health is good, while 20 per cent rated their health as either fair or poor.
The research was conducted by telephone and online. Ipsos-Reid surveyed 1,002 Canadian adults between June 7 and 9, 2009, by phone; the results are considered accurate within 3.2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Between June 25 and July 11, 2009, Ipsos Reid surveyed 3,223 Canadian adults online; a sample of this size is considered to have a 1.73 percentage-point margin of error.
[19-08-2009,21:25]
[**.192.28.31]
Richard |
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(in reply to: Not always so rosy in Canada)
The US health care debate is really picking at the Canadian sense of security about the Canadian system and how sustainable it is.
I would be curious what the survey would show in a thriving econony. We are assuming that the findings would all be 0%. Not sure that is true.
[19-08-2009,22:55]
[***.20.116.15]
Sharon |
(in reply to: Not always so rosy in Canada)
It is interesting that even in a universal system which is supposed to be free also suffers from economic down turn. Though I was never too excited about the free health care, I wasn´t aware of this before.
In my knowledge, the medication cost is lower in Canada in general. Dental is also lower in Canada. However, more like US, here also generally your employer will give you private insurance that cover most of your medicine and dental costs that are not covered by the government. May be when more people are unemployed like the US can´t afford to buy medicine.
[20-08-2009,00:10]
[**.12.120.121]
DC_RC |
(in reply to: Not always so rosy in Canada)
survey´s can produce any kind of results you want- depending on how the question is asked.
I make considerably more than $30K and I can say yes to half those questions. I delayed a dentist appointment because I did not want to pay the bill right now. It is not urgent - I am due for a cleaning - whoopie do but I would have answered yes to the question.
I don´t want to belittle the stress people are feeling but compared to someone that has no health care coverage at all... our situation is a walk in the park.
[20-08-2009,00:45]
[***.20.116.15]
Sharon |
(in reply to: Not always so rosy in Canada)
SURVEYS YUCK
Maria Carvallo of Toronto said......... since I have several clients called Carvallo all of whom are Portuguese who put off education because education does not matter when your a bricklayer making $50.00 per hour. I take her comments with a grain of salt, especially the way the construction industry is today.
They ask Ms. Carvallo these questions when she is buying groceries for her husband and two kids. Ms Carvallo is already stressed out and is hearing her husbands voice saying.
Why did you buy that??? They are a waste of my hard earned dollars! We don´t need those, come on Maria! LOL
Folks come on, common sense here, please!!
I pay $45.00 for my medication in the GTA(Insulin) made by a Danish Company and the same price in Italy, Ukraine, Denmark and Spain. Then in the US my Insulin (the very same Insulin) made by the same company is $75 US so add in the exchange rate.
Is it too much? I think so, but I need it.
Should I eat less and exercise more SURE but that comes at a price too!
Take another survey and ask Canadian´s if they should get rid of Universal Health Care.
Roy
www.cvimmigration.com
[20-08-2009,08:01]
[**.15.50.222]
Roy |
(in reply to: Not always so rosy in Canada)
I think what hit me was that a quarter of the Canadian population can´t sleep well because of economic worries. I agree that compared to having no medical coverage (like 50 million in the states) or fear of losing coverage if you lose your job (also like in the States), the healthcare stress there is a piece of cake. Looks like the issue is the money supply...jobs and survivable income. People seem to live paycheck to paycheck.
Dentists apparently are also very expensive, but I would have thought drug prices would be much lower and affordbale there. Afterall, Amwericans are buyimg their meds from up there to save on cost.
[20-08-2009,10:22]
[***.131.11.77]
Richard |
(in reply to: Not always so rosy in Canada)
Richard tomorrow a survey will come out and say the exact opposite.
People up here watch CNN and all the doom and gloom then get asked when trying to comply with the budget while buying groceries.
How many would really care when answering a survey over the phone at supper time.
We were supposedly the last into recession and the first out of recession. True/False?
Does everyone agree NO but somebody is making money.
I get at least one e-mail a day asking about the Canadian economy and I like to view the situation with the glass half full.
Roy
www.cvimmigration.com
[20-08-2009,10:47]
[**.229.194.175]
Roy |
(in reply to: Not always so rosy in Canada)
Canada has all the appearances of being better than the US but it has its own VERY severe problems. Anybody who thinks that there is an Eldorado in Canada needs a headshake. The two clowns on here are always chiming in praise of this system but then again, I have seen many Canucks toasting for the Queen of Britain!! When I asked the scum-buckets if they are aware that when that Queen visits elsewhere, she is called British Monarch but not Canadian Monarch, they make uneasy faces! There is something lunatic about these losers who can´t "see" things more objectively nor would they admit if they see them! Go to the soup kitchen here and you will see a different face; go to the Salvation Army or those literally begging for monies and you wonder where was that Eldorado. Canada is on the lower rungs of the industrialized world, realize that! The lowlives in Ottawa seem to be concerned about raising their own salaries and securing their retirements and some monies for the Lords and the Queen of England. One of these days, the British may themselves dissolve the Monarchy and send the Canadians into a crisis. Healthcare here looks and feels fine until you need it! Then you will be scurrying into the US for a quick fix. LOL
[20-08-2009,11:33]
[***.202.38.241]
Candian-Republik |
(in reply to: Not always so rosy in Canada)
Republik does not know much about constitutional law and the Charter.
I don´t care what country you live it, there are people at the lower end of the economic scale that have more concerns than others about a variety of issues. It is logical.
I live a lifestyle that matches my paycheque and sometimes, I push it too far and end up worrying about the economy and my financial security. People that earn half what I do would say I am nuts. Same concerns... the numbers are just bigger.
What shocked me was to hear the figure of $16,000 as an employer sponsored healthcare premium. That does not include deductibles, etc.
That is $1,300 a month! I earn more than a family combined income. My total tax bill (including employment insurance, old age pension and federal tax is not much more than those premimums. My annual medical premium (for 1)would be $700 (nothing in Alberta). I have no company medical plan. My full year´s worth of medical bills - dentist, perscriptions, chiropractor and glasses came to $2,300 last year. I claimed those expenses against my income.
Had I been deemed low income, some of my perscrptions would have been discounted and my medical premium would have been half.
people do not file bankruptcy in Canada over health bills.
Do people worry about stuff - yes, it is a national sport.
[20-08-2009,12:20]
[***.20.116.15]
Sharon |
(in reply to: Not always so rosy in Canada)
"One of these days, the British may themselves dissolve the Monarchy and send the Canadians into a crisis. Healthcare here looks and feels fine until you need it! Then you will be scurrying into the US for a quick fix. LOL
[20-08-2009,11:33]
How would that send the Canadians into a crisis? And sure you can go down to the US for medical attention if you can affort it.
Sorry dude but get your facts right.
Canada has its own problems but I have never seen yet a country without problems. We have been hit by the global crisis and unfortunately the mid class and low class are the ones who suffers the most.
People are earning less money than before, some of the people whom are employed labour and technical area are not working as much over time as before. The companies are cautious with their spending as well as their employers and some of them have reduced their personnel for the lack of contracts.
The main reasons why some people fill bankruptcy in this neck of the wood are basically, failed business, mortgages, loans but NOT for medicines or medical bills it could have happened I guess but the numbers are nothing like our neightbours down south.
I can tell you that a dentist is cheaper in Alberta than in Florida, I am not sure about any other province or any other state.
Many people make sound the current economic problem in Canada as a "Canadian problem" without realizing that is a "World wide" issue.
It is possible to make a heck of a living in this country and enjoy retirement.
Every day is an opportunity to do what we didn´t do yesterday. Take it!
Cheers,
Bill
[20-08-2009,12:49]
[***.75.247.138]
Bill |
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