I had no complaints about the food but it should probably taste better if it costs that much for a stay...
I had no complaints about the food but it should probably taste better if it costs that much for a stay...
lightning crashesleigh
We are pretty lucky in Canada when it comes to healthcare costs, hey Leigh? I'm certain I'd be broke if it weren't the case.
Al, you're my new superhero. We're lucky - neigh, very lucky - to have you on our elite little team.
The food may not have been all that bad; I didn't feel well, so didn't feel that much like eating it, or they brought it at the wrong times, or whatever. It definitely could have been better quality for what they charge. The inflated prices for OTC drugs, room amenities that you barely use, etc., bother me, too. Yes, you guys in Canada are lucky. Here, we have to listen to people saying how inefficient your system is, or that in England, with long lines and waiting periods and such, when they really don't know what they are talking about. Any system involving a lot of people is going to have some problems, but I'm sure that what you have is way better than our system where good health care is a luxury that many can't afford.
Anne
I have not yet experienced the inefficiency or long line ups or waiting periods. I am sure it happens but not nearly as much as people are led to believe. Yes we are lucky marta.
lightning crashesleigh
I suspected as much. Like there is no inefficiency in our system? The people who say these things I think are generally those who have good jobs and good insurance. And many are afraid of anything that could be called socialism. There really seems to be an irrational fear of that among certain segments of the population. But then, we don't want this to stray into a discussion of politics.
Anne
I tend to agree Anne, but Wegs and politics? Now there's a combo...can I give Wegs to my senators or congresspeople????? Sorry, that was ill timed, we have the congresswoman who was shot in the head here...sheesh, how impertinent of me. Oh, and I'm not afraid of socialism, it just doesn't work in large numbers...thus long lines...and, at times, inevitable inefficiency...the human being is not streamlined by any means to be overly efficient...discounting the bodily functions...LOL...of course, that puts Wegs in its place real quick...can't afford it? can't do it? can't survive it then...take your place in the apple barrel!!!
I don't know if the Canadians call their health care system socialism. And Leigh says she hasn't experienced long lines or inefficiency, though the population of Canada is considerable, if not as great as ours. I'm a believer in letting states take care of some of these things themselves, if they can get the tax dollars for it.... that way there aren't as many people involved and therefore less inefficiency. The state-sponsored plan that I'm on limits some of what is available to me, but I don't have any more problem than anyone else with getting timely appointments, etc. I pay a very small monthly premium and some copays for docs visits, and deductibles apply for other copays and coinsurance. My annual physical and mammogram are free. I think several states have these sorts of plans for low income people, but of course, most states are having financial problems now, including Washington. I agree that the more people involved in any endeavor, the more inefficiency there is likely to be, in general.
Anne
Well, folks, we don't have to descend into political trash talk to know what doesn't work and try to design something that does. True, the implementation of a better system will require going to bed with the politicians, but we are nowhere close to that sad day. The first thing is to point out, as many of us have been doing, the dangerous frustrations of what we have now. I'll chime in as well: My own hospital bill, even under the rates contracted by the insurance company, was well north of $150K, for 12 days. This included room and board (such as it was), all tests and scans (lab work, CT scans, biopsy with ultrasound, etc.), drugs and IVs, and the heavy treatment: Bonchoscopy, CTX, and plasma feresis. It did not include doctors' fees, which were all separate. Then there were the post-discharge CTX and plasma exchange days that I could do without an overnight stay. Needless to say, I quickly hit my out of pocket maximum, though this didn't cover co-pays, meds, travel, parking, etc. So, out of pocket expenses in 2010 pushed $5K, and that doesn't account for lost work. This was a hardship, to be sure. But without insurance, I would have been out of business entirely, and a drain on society. There are many on this forum whose insurance is worse than mine. In some cases, there is no insurance. Frankly, I do not see how they can make it.
As I say, the first part of our program is to talk about what doesn't work. More stories, anyone?
Al
I don't know how they make it either, Al, except by being a drain on society, as you say. I am very fortunate that my Wegs symptoms could be dealt with outside of a hospital and therefore within my reach financially. But that's only with some sort of insurance, albeit not good insurance, but what is available to me. Without it, I could not even afford the Cytoxan, let alone the doctors' visits and everything else.
Anne
I am so sorry everyone, I didn't mean to start a political war,or a he pays she pays debate. I just had visions of you getting amazing medical/specialist care at those big hospitals, like a Dr House thing and I wanted in.
If I ever win the big lotto, I will send some of it over to you all to make life a little bit easier.
In the meantime, I think you all should move to Australia. Even with the travel costs, it couldn't add up to what you would pay in trying to achieve maximum health.
We have long waiting lists for non insurance people and also long waits at our Accident & Emergency Clinics but as you said, so does every Country, it appears.
I think I will stay here ...... and the hospital food is actually quiet good
Keep Smiling
Michelle
Live your life in a way that you wouldn't be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip - WILL ROGERS
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