Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...

[724Skinsfan]

What are the statistics anyway regarding how much of a burden the poor are on our health care? It seems to me the people getting screwed are the ones that have family members who are suffering from terminal diseases or at least conditions that take a long time to treat. What's the % of people living in the ghetto that are suffering from various forms of cancer? Probably the same as middle class America. What's the cost of buying the drugs?

Forget the "Great American TV" debate. That's not the issue. If the cable company charges $65/month for it's services, what healthcare plan can a family buy that costs that little? I mean, you're probably looking at what $250-$400 a month for a family health care plan.

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by 724Skinsfan

What are the statistics anyway regarding how much of a burden the poor are on our health care? It seems to me the people getting screwed are the ones that have family members who are suffering from terminal diseases or at least conditions that take a long time to treat. What's the % of people living in the ghetto that are suffering from various forms of cancer? Probably the same as middle class America. What's the cost of buying the drugs?

Forget the "Great American TV" debate. That's not the issue. If the cable company charges $65/month for it's services, what healthcare plan can a family buy that costs that little? I mean, you're probably looking at what $250-$400 a month for a family health care plan.

My job has family healthcare at $139 per month for families. Sure it's not $65 for cable, but if you take $65 and subtract it from $139, that's $74. Now where else can a person cut costs? Stop drinking beer, stop smoking or doing dip, some that are into drugs should stop that etc. How about use less electricity? Shut off the TV and go to library and read some books?
How many people can you honestly think of do all those things and work hard for living???
There are always ways to cut costs.

[skinsguy]

Originally Posted by jsarno

My job has family healthcare at $139 per month for families. Sure it's not $65 for cable, but if you take $65 and subtract it from $139, that's $74. Now where else can a person cut costs? Stop drinking beer, stop smoking or doing dip, some that are into drugs should stop that etc. How about use less electricity? Shut off the TV and go to library and read some books?
How many people can you honestly think of do all those things and work hard for living???
There are always ways to cut costs.

The thing is, the issue of affordable health care isn't limited to those who put entertainment before health. Try being diabetic and trying to find affordable health care. Not every business provides a company health care plan, and those who do provide it charge double the amount that yours charges you for family coverage. For instance, family coverage for my place of business is over $300 a pay period.

While I disagree with a government based health care plan, I do believe families should be able to have their choice of affordable private insurance.

And to add, I also believe individuals who are born with diseases such as diabetes or other diseases shouldn't be penalized because of their reliance medication to stay alive.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by skinsguy

The thing is, the issue of affordable health care isn't limited to those who put entertainment before health. Try being diabetic and trying to find affordable health care. Not every business provides a company health care plan, and those who do provide it charge double the amount that yours charges you for family coverage. For instance, family coverage for my place of business is over $300 a pay period.

While I disagree with a government based health care plan, I do believe families should be able to have their choice of affordable private insurance.

And to add, I also believe individuals who are born with diseases such as diabetes or other diseases shouldn't be penalized because of their reliance medication to stay alive.

This I agree with to a point.

Because my employer is large, has a high number of employees, and is in the healthcare provider business, top-notch coverage is only $90 a paycheck. I'm in a very fortunate situation. I do agree that it's bullshit that somebody who works for a small company has to shell out $300, $500, or $700 a paycheck for the same coverage.

We're buying the same product, why should the price be so different.

So if there's one thing the government can do without harming the quality of care delivered, it's mandate that pricing be consistent for all walks of life. A PPO (great coverage) should cost X for everyone. A HMO (alright coverage) should cost Y for everyone. If you can't afford it, tough. But at least it's priced fairly that way.

[skinsguy]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

This I agree with to a point.

Because my employer is large, has a high number of employees, and is in the healthcare provider business, top-notch coverage is only $90 a paycheck. I'm in a very fortunate situation. I do agree that it's bullshit that somebody who works for a small company has to shell out $300, $500, or $700 a paycheck for the same coverage.

We're buying the same product, why should the price be so different.

So if there's one thing the government can do without harming the quality of care delivered, it's mandate that pricing be consistent for all walks of life. A PPO (great coverage) should cost X for everyone. A HMO (alright coverage) should cost Y for everyone. If you can't afford it, tough. But at least it's priced fairly that way.

I think you're seeing it basically the way I do. I realize it takes a lot of money for research in health care in order to find new treatments and cures for diseases that we face today. I realize that money has to come from somewhere. At the same time, all the research and discovers in modern medicine isn't going to do any good if nobody can afford to use it.

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by skinsguy

The thing is, the issue of affordable health care isn't limited to those who put entertainment before health. Try being diabetic and trying to find affordable health care. Not every business provides a company health care plan, and those who do provide it charge double the amount that yours charges you for family coverage. For instance, family coverage for my place of business is over $300 a pay period.

While I disagree with a government based health care plan, I do believe families should be able to have their choice of affordable private insurance.

And to add, I also believe individuals who are born with diseases such as diabetes or other diseases shouldn't be penalized because of their reliance medication to stay alive.

I am assuming a 2 pay period month, meaning you pay over $600 a month???? If that's the case, you need to seek private healthcare for a better quote. You might be able to get it cheaper than your company is providing.

I think the only way to actually fix these issues is to do away with insurances altogether. Have the gov. step in and drop the prices for surgeries etc. If there were companies fighting for our business the prices would be a lot less. There is no one out there to say "$300k for a 5 hour operation...are you kidding?" For some reason it's acceptable. Why should a routine doctor visit cost $150??? All for them to barely touch you, maybe give you a prescription (which costs even more money) and take your money.

Sorry to say, but the way the system is, it is fair for you to pay that much because you use it a whole lot more.
I NEVER go to the doctor, so why should I have to pay extra? I know it sucks for you, it REALLY sucks, but why should someone that is healthy pay the same amount than someone that is not?

I'd like to see a system kind of like property taxes. You have to pay once or twice a year, and you pay according to how much you use. So if you have a lot of prescriptions and you visit the doctor constantly, then you pay more. If not, then you pay nothing or very little.

[skinsguy]

Originally Posted by jsarno

I am assuming a 2 pay period month, meaning you pay over $600 a month???? If that's the case, you need to seek private healthcare for a better quote. You might be able to get it cheaper than your company is providing.

I'm not paying this seeing as how I'm not married. However, you're missing the point. If I had married my ex at that point, I would've had no choice but to pay $600 a month because she had diabetes and private health insurance will not touch her.