News & Politics - International healthcare systems - Page 3

Motoko Ayoama · 07-23-2008, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aerisVII (View Post)

If you think health care is expensive now, wait until it's free.

Wait until you die you mean.

aerisVII · 07-23-2008, 09:22 AM

free health care is gonna cost us more in taxes than what we are paying right now. Canada is having trouble because doctors don't make that much. They are comming over to the US to make the big bucks and in the mean time lines are getting longer for fewer doctors.

Motoko Ayoama · 07-23-2008, 10:58 PM

Well in that way why dont you adopt the French system?

welshgirlyUK · 07-24-2008, 03:51 AM

We have a free healthcare system in Britain and yeah, every health care system has it's flaws, our main one being things like MRSA, but i'm proud of it. Ok, most countries with free healthcare boast that they have the best healthcare in the world, but I do think it's pretty fantastic. People also have the option of going private if thats what they want to do. Its great to have the option.

**sunnykerr** · 07-24-2008, 06:22 AM

Motoko Ayoama When I brought up the 5-week holiday thing, the last thing I was trying to imply was that the French are more lazy or any less productive than the rest of us. I just admire the way society seems to be built towards at least the attempt of enjoying life as a real human being rather than as a slave to a wage. That's all.

As for the pitfalls of universal healthcare, they certainly are real. We do have doctors in Canada who go to the States because they earn more in the private sector. But those who stay have no salary-related complaints. They're still at the top of the food chain in that regard. This side of corporate leaders, litigators and sports professionals, very few professions offer salaries on the same level as that of doctors.

In the end, though, it's all about the level of service the population receives, though? I can't deny that there are problems there as well, but I've never seen them to be anywhere near so big that the whole system ought to be scrapped.

Jen Jaree · 09-17-2008, 12:26 AM

In Canada prescription drugs are way less expensive than in the States. I just started Accutane (drug for severe acne) it costs me 66 dollars a month I thought it was going to cost me a couple hundred I don't get my benifits till November since I just started a new job. I researched the costs if I lived in the States it could of cost me a couple grand. I heard in the UK not just in the movie Sicko but in other sites as well that prescription drugs are about 7 GBP 14 CAD/13 or 14 US, at the most.

In BC we have an MSP (Medical Service Plan) it is real easy to get on you just have to be a BC resident and fill out the paperwork for a single person it's 54 dollars at the most depending on your income (low income people don't have to pay) and about 107 for a family of 4 or more. I think the Americans after hearing this probably crap themselves. We also pay more taxes. In Canada hardly anybody is uninsured and we still have a health plan if you become unemployed. Sunnykerr I would like to hear what Quebec's health plan is like.

On to the negatives of Canada's healthcare is of course the waiting times it took my one of my collegues about 13 months to get an MRI on her ankle. It took me 3 months just to get a refferal to a dermatoligist. Emergency surgerys are iimmedietly but not non-emergencys could have up to a 2 year waiting list. I think the reason for the high waiting times is lack of doctors like Sunny mentioned they go to the States since doctors earn more than here. The US health system beneifts the rich more and screws the poor and middle class. Debates against universal healthcare often use us as an example of the negative asspects of universal healthcare. We are not the only nation with universal healthcare or the first to have it (Germany since the 1800's) all of the developed nations except the US. Most of Western Europe, Japan, have better healthcare than both Canada and the US. Another arguement I hear is the socialist medicine will turn us into communists. Is Canada, Japan, France communists? We know the answer Despite all this I would prefer the Canadian system over the US least I won't go bankrupt .

**sunnykerr** · 09-18-2008, 06:36 PM

I was thinking about this yesterday when this new poll they've done about the health system in Canada came out. Apparently, Quebec placed last for the availability of GPs (which I can attest to, having only found one recently after looking, on and off, for the better part of ten years). And we need to work on our wait times for elective surgery, but we also have short wait times in the ER.

In Quebec, insurance-wise, the RAMQ is in "charge." I looked up what that means, since I wasn't clear on it myself. Basically, if you live in Quebec, you're eligible for RAMQ. It covers the usual (operations, hospital stays, procedures, etc.) and what apparently isn't necessarily everywhere, i.e. prescription medication. You still wind up paying a fraction of your medications, though. I'm not on the RAMQ (more on that in a sec), so my recall isn't great. But I do know that I never, ever, ever had to pay very much at all. A small percentage of the total price.

The only exceptions to RAMQ coverage are students from out-of-province, who are covered by their local insurance. And people employed by companies who offer their own insurance service. Which is where I am. My company has an arrangement with Desjardins Insurance (Desjardins being one of the major banks in Quebec, if not THE major one). My mum used to be with Desjardins, too. It works pretty much the same way. The only difference is that, for medication, you pay the full price upfront and keep the receipt. And you get reimbursed when you send in the receipt. So a little more paperwork-heavy.

Anything else, though, be it dentist, hospitals, whatever... you only pay a fraction of the full, uninsured, price.

*Ledi* · 09-19-2008, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aerisVII (View Post)

free health care is gonna cost us more in taxes than what we are paying right now. Canada is having trouble because doctors don't make that much. They are comming over to the US to make the big bucks and in the mean time lines are getting longer for fewer doctors.

Who told you that doctors don't make much? As far as I know, they are pretty well-paid. Sure, they could make more in the US, but that doesn't mean that they don't make enough in Canada.

It's good to know that you care more about how much doctors make than how many people are getting treated the way they should.

welshgirlyUK · 09-19-2008, 07:34 AM

I was watching Sicko the other day, and do the US not get paid maternity leave? I could have misheard him though because it was late and i was half asleep. If not, thats crazy! Especially considering most of Europe are now introducing leave for fathers too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jen Jaree (View Post)

. I heard in the UK not just in the movie Sicko but in other sites as well that prescription drugs are about 7 GBP 14 CAD/13 or 14 US, at the most.

Actually, in Wales prescription charges have been scrapped, in Scotland they've been reduced to £5 and are gonna be scrapped in 3 years time. I'm not sure about England though, i think there prescription charge is £6 something.

Jen Jaree · 09-19-2008, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by welshgirlyUK (View Post)

I was watching Sicko the other day, and do the US not get paid maternity leave? I could have misheard him though because it was late and i was half asleep. If not, thats crazy! Especially considering most of Europe are now introducing leave for fathers too.

Actually, in Wales prescription charges have been scrapped, in Scotland they've been reduced to £5 and are gonna be scrapped in 3 years time. I'm not sure about England though, i think there prescription charge is £6 something.

I don't know about the US but Canada gets paid maternity leave. I don't remember anything about US maternity leaves in the movie but it wouldn't suprise me if they didn't.

I heard about Wales being scrapped of charges. In England I think it's 7 pounds. I knew Scotland and North Ireland were less but that's cheap to Canadian standards since I pay 66 a month about 33 GBP. In US it would of cost me over 10times more. I heard that birth control is free there. Is it true cause if it is thats a great idea since the cheapest I found for birth control is 12 dollars about 6 GBP.

welshgirlyUK · 09-19-2008, 01:09 PM

Yeah, birth control pills are free. You go and see your GP, have a talk and then they'll sign a prescription for you, take it to the pharmacy and you get it for free. You just renew your prescription when they run out and you have to have blood pressure tests every six months with your GP or clinic nurse. There free wherever you are in this country, you dont have to pay in Scotland or England either. Is that 12 dollars everytime you renew your prescription in Canada?

You have to pay $66 every month? Is that for an ongoing prescription, or a regular charage? You only pay that £7/£5 here when you go and buy your prescription, whatever it may be.

*Ledi* · 09-19-2008, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jen Jaree (View Post)

I heard that birth control is free there. Is it true cause if it is thats a great idea since the cheapest I found for birth control is 12 dollars about 6 GBP.

Really? I buy my Birth Control pills at Women's Health Center for only $7. It doesn't matter what brand, they're all the same price. Before that, I used to pay $25 at Shoppers.

**sunnykerr** · 09-22-2008, 06:35 AM

I used to pay about four bucks for my Pill when I was on the RAMQ (provincial insurance). And I still pay about that amount on the company insurance.

This is regardless of where I buy it.

Jen Jaree · 09-22-2008, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by welshgirlyUK (View Post)

Is that 12 dollars everytime you renew your prescription in Canada?

You have to pay $66 every month? Is that for an ongoing prescription, or a regular charage? You only pay that £7/£5 here when you go and buy your prescription, whatever it may be.

No 12 bucks is just the least I have paid for birth control.

Yes I do. I'll be on it for at least 6 months. I am not on any health benefits at the moment. If I lived in the States

welshgirlyUK · 09-23-2008, 05:45 AM

Oh wow, thats... not a small sum of money. I'm feeling less and less negative about the current problems with the NHS here lol.