Here is my own personal Canadian healthcare horror story.

[Swede]

I have to get a cataract in my right eye removed on Monday. Today I had to see my family doctor for the pre-op physical. Monday I see the eye surgeon early in the morning. Then an hour later I go under the knife and have the cataract removed. Tuesday I do a follow up exam. The end.

All at no out of pocket cash.

[northoftheborder]

1. Medical care heaven

[BadtotheboneBob]

109. Part Two...

Thursday I had a tumor-like growth removed from my left inner ear at the Ann Arbor VA Medical Center by a University of Michigan team headed by a ENT U of M medical school professor. I return next week for my follow up. Didn't cost me a dime. As a matter of fact, they payed me 41.5 cents a mile travel pay. As it was about a 205 mile round trip, they gave me $85 cash... Oh, and the pain medication they gave me was free, too.

[PotatoChip]

125. Interesting.

Were you taking part in some sort of study?

[TexasProgresive]

126. I think you missed VA as in Veterans Administration. n/t

[PotatoChip]

135. Aha, yes indeed I did

This person appears to a member of the Coast Guard. He deserves the care he is getting.

But that begs the question; Is every civilian in this country undeserving?

[PotatoChip]

142. $#%#&

Just adding a 'fence' for the sake of making this discussion more clear for the skim readers among us ;-)

[BadtotheboneBob]

132. No...

Not at all. The Ann Arbor VAMC is affiliated with the U of M Medical Center (they are adjacent to each other) and all the doctors I've seen there in cardiology, neurosurgery and now ENT are U of M staff. Travel pay is routine for my service-connected disability status and I receive it for all visits. The care and facilities are both superb.

[PotatoChip]

137. Wow that is great!

Since this seems to be working so well, I hope someday healthcare for everyone will be modeled in the same manner.

*BTW, I only just now saw your reply to me though it appears to have come before mine.

[kristopher]

2. You poor devil...

It's bad enough to have the medical problems, but to have to go through that kind of financial horror is unimaginable.

I've been there, I know.

[Swede]

5. I see so many heartbreaking stories from my fellow American DUers.

It's just not right that people have to raise money for health reasons in this day and age. It's not fair.

[gejohnston]

130. Reading some of the horror stories of corporate health "care"

I feel guilty with my socialized VA and military health care for most of my adult life.

[NYC_SKP]

3. Oh, the Humanity!

You poor thing!

J/K

:P

K/R

[Doctor_J]

4. You forgot to mention the 9-year wait you had to endure.

That's what Rush told me, anyway

[Brigid]

6. You are actually getting medical care?

Without pre-approval, co-pays, and a mountain of other insurance company nonsense? :wow: The horror!

[The Midway Rebel]

7. Damn You Soshulist!11!!!11 nt

[shireen]

8. OMG! i'm shocked! Just shocked!

Hope you have a fast recovery. :hi:

[lunatica]

9. I had cataract surgery and you won't regret it in the least!

You'll be able to see right away. But when they dilate your eyes to examine them better be careful about driving in sunlight. Be sure to get the really dark eye shields before you go outdoors!

[Swede]

11. Thanks for the heads up.

Maybe I should get a ride or call a cab.

[lunatica]

15. Good idea. You'll really want to keep your eyes closed because the light hurts

It takes a couple of hours for the dilation to subside.

But for a while, a few weeks you'll love your new ability to see everything! You might also have your new lens or lenses flash reflected light from their edge into your eye, but that goes away in time.

I'm very happy I had the surgery, as it everyone I've talked to who's had it. Oh! You won't feel any pain. For a day or two you'll feel like you have an irritation, like a bit of dust in your eye, but nothing more. It's totally bearable.

[classof56]

60. Lunatica is right--you'll never regret having the cataract fixed.

I've had both mine done, and thanks to Medicare most of the cost was covered ($125 for the outpatient surgery co-pay). Medicare is a blessing beyond measure, IMO (I'm fortunate to have a good supplemental insurance), but even with that the premium costs keep going up and I now pay around $600/month for coverage. Despite what Rush and his ilk blab on about, the Canadian system is awesome. We should be so lucky!

Just a side note--I was required to have a driver to transport me following my surgery. It's not only the vision problem, but they gave me something that made me quite woozy post-operation. Worth every minute and every dollar, though. Just grateful I didn't have to pay for the whole thing.

Medicare E--Medicare for everyone. That's my mantra!

Peace.

[dflprincess]

133. You probably will want a cab or a driver

When my Mom had her cataracts done, they did use a little sedation to keep her relaxed during the procedure. Also, when she left the hospital she did have a plastic patch taped over the eye. They do that so you won't absent mindedly rub the eye if it itches (she also had to wear it a night for a little while, can't remember how long). Anyway, the patch could affect your depth perception.

BTW - she was just amazed after the surgery she hadn't realized how poorly she had been seeing (fortunately she had stopped driving years before this). She didn't even need reading glasses after this was done.

[Hugabear]

10. That's just awful. Clearly, Canada needs some good old fashioned American health insurance

What kind of system is this where you can just waltz in, get prompt treatment, and not have to pay for it? What are you, some kind of goddamned commie socialist?

Don't you know it's best to have some cubicle insurance bureaucrat deciding whether your procedure is medically necessary? And how are you going to learn any sort of financial discipline if everything is given to you for free? If you're forced to pay out of pocket, then you'll learn valuable life lessons, or some bullshit like that.

:sarcasm: not really needed

[lonestarnot]

12. Scarey.

:sarcasm:

[aquart]

13. You are so mean.

Rubbing it in like that.

[Nye Bevan]

14. Right. But you *have* been waiting 6 years for this surgery, no?

Or so the right here would have us believe.

On a more serious note, did you have to wait any significant time for the operation after your condition was diagnosed? Or are these "long waiting lists" that we hear about generally fictitious?

[Swede]

16. 8 month wait.

I can still see pretty well,kinda like really dirty glasses.

[Mimosa]

113. That's sort of a long wait

A few years ago when my mother had cataracts in N.C., she had a 6 week wait for surgery. She was on Medicare.

[fascisthunter]

63. wrong

haha

[struggle4progress]

17. Fox News: Socialist nanny state is confiscating Canadians' cataracts

[RagAss]

33. LOL !..... I wish I could rec a reply !

[Wind Dancer]

45. OMG!

Now that is priceless. Great response!

[JNelson6563]

88. lolz

[RaleighNCDUer]

97. +1

[StevesRedLens]

146. HaHa

Confiscation of cataracts are said to occur "only days" after notifying them it will be done. "Confiscation of body parts" smacks of the terrifying Communist state tactics of the Stalin regime, says Glen Beck on his radio show.

[Cleita]

18. I see you didn't have to cross the border for that

surgery, which probably would cost about $5,000 here.

"Canadians come here to the USA by the busload to get our health care!" or sez the RW media

[Warpy]

19. I had to pay for mine out of pocket, about $15,000 with a transplant

The surgery was delayed 24 hours because some fucking nitwit didn't think New Mexico is a state and sent the tissue package to San Fucking Diego.

But yeah, best damn health care in the world in the US of A.

[roamer65]

43. I am still fighting over payment on a MRI after a auto accident.

We don't have a health care system in the USA. It's an extortion scheme.

[juajen]

102. Hilarious. You are so funny!

[ejpoeta]

106. It's new MEXICO!! clearly it's mexico not america!

[jberryhill]

127. New Mexico? Well, I'll be danged....

[Zax2me]

20. You waited eight months? Good grief!

That seems a little long.
My aunt's adopted grown daughter had this surgery last fall.
She was scheduled and done within a month if I remember right, it all went quickly.
Her company has excellent health coverage though, it's a software design company in Oregon somewhere.
She's not an engineer or anything, think she has a management job.
Haven't spoken to her directly about it but through my aunt to my mother I heard she is doing great.

[laundry_queen]

22. My FIL didn't wait that long

it all depends on where you are (ie rural or city). First you see your GP, then you get a referral to a specialist (usually within a month or so) then you set a surgery date (again, how long depends on the area, number of surgical suites, etc FIL had to wait a couple of months) and go in on the date. As it should be - you shouldn't have a bird waiting a little while with a non-essential surgery. Some Americans have this entitlement view that if they have a minor issue they have to fix it right f'ing now! Those cataract things don't form overnight. And waiting a few months isn't going to hurt anyone. Would you rather wait a month longer or pay a $2000 deductible? If you need your sight for your job or your vision got bad fast, they will fit you in earlier. What if your aunt's adopted grown daughter was unemployed or in a McJob? Too bad so sad! she wouldn't have had the surgery at all.

[kestrel91316]

26. Must be nice to have insurance.

[onyourleft]

29. I waited six...

...months here in the U.S. just to see the eye surgeon and got a surgery date for six weeks later.

[Swede]

46. It was no big rush,my optometrist said do it when I felt it was time.

I never felt the wait time for this was any big deal.

[polly7]

70. That's how it was with my Dad, too.

He wanted to wait until late fall so he could get the yard, wood, etc all ready for winter, so instead of the approx. three month date they had given him, he opted for an additional two months.

[Lars39]

48. iirc, cataracts are easier to remove if they are a certain size or thickness.

Possibly less complications for the patient that way. Granted, it's been quite a few years since I was around someone that had that done.

[akbacchus_BC]

21. Which Province are you in? Here in BC to see an Ophthalmologist takes

two months and then you get an option for soft or hard lens. I opted for the soft lens (recommended). I have to pay $450.00 for the soft lens which I cannot claim for, BC does not cover eye exams anymore. Our system is not perfect but it is better than most countries except Finland!

[Cleita]

24. I'm in the country with the

"best health care in the world" and I regularly wait two or three months to see a specialist. I made an appointment two months ago to see a dermatologist and will get an appointment in July. I also get the privilege of paying for it if Medicare doesn't cover it. So even without the government between me and my doctor, I still have to wait and probably pay for it.

[roamer65]

44. A specialist usually takes me 3-4 months.

They are usualy so overbooked it takes that long. Usual garbage from living in the US of A.

[SnakeEyes]

99. Not sure how one relates to the other

Do you think going to single payer will reduce the demand for specialist services which causes overbooking?

[ejpoeta]

108. no the people against single payer try to claim that canada and other places

have these really long wait times for specialists and to get tests done that are so much longer than here in the good old usa which doesn't seem true. doesn't seem to be much more than the wait for anyone here now. i believe that is the point being made.

[krispos42]

23. Tragic.

Here in America we have drive-through cataract clinics. Works kinda like an EZ-Pass... just drive through at 5mph and *bam* cataracts are GONE. They're all over the NY Metro area.

Silly Canadians! 3 business days, plus a weekend? :rofl:

[kestrel91316]

25. I haven't seen a doctor for so much as a hangnail in 6 years. I have no

insurance, and no spare cash to pay any medical bills or even the deductible/co-pay if I did have insurance.

I am on the Republican healthcare plan. I pray a lot.

[chervilant]

71. Bwahahahaha!

(I have to laugh, or I'd be sobbing hysterically...)

I'm on the same Republican Health Care Plan, AND it seems to be taking FOREVER for me to just DIE!

I have chronic back pain from an old injury, carpal tunnel in my dominant wrist, bad eyesight, tinitus, and the beginnings of arthritis in my right hip. No insurance, no job, no hope of a job.

[Scuba]

27. You poor bastard. Thankfully American GI's gave their lives at Normanday to spare us the same fate.

[whathehell]

131. American GI's gave their lives, in good part, so that

democratic countries could make their own decisions.

Just because "we", if you consider the corporate interests

dominating this issue to be us, haven't made great ones in

this area, I don't think you need to WWII's American

dead to make a joke about so painful an event.

[gejohnston]

139. Not to mention British and Canadians that also

fought and died on that beach.

[whathehell]

143. Yes, I'm aware of that.

[FlyByNight]

28. Holy moly, how do you cope?

:sarcasm:

Per the theocratic fascists infecting the body politic and Congress: 'tis better to (probably) go without and remain a "good capitalist" than to go with and be a "socialist".

[WinkyDink]

30. How does it feel, living NEXT DOOR to the Greatest Country?

[dflprincess]

136. It make me really envious

especially as I live in Minnesota and the border is only a 6-7 hour drive away.

[tabasco]

31. OMG! You poor third world non-American!

Here in America, we have insurance companies to help us through tough times like you are going through!

And NO! You're not an "American."

[SmileyRose]

32. Took you 8 months and no cash - seems like 6 months and $2000 in the US

[cantbeserious]

34. The Horror, The Horror - You Were Ill, You Were Treated, You Are Better!

eom

[QuintanarooBoy]

35. Oh the Tyranny!

:rofl:

[Shagbark Hickory]

36. You're lucky the death panel decided to spare you...

this time.
(((evil laugh)))

[jerseyjack]

37. You're sucking off the public teat. Shame !!!

Just ask any Republican.

[Jakes Progress]

38. My God. The humanity.

Let's keep that kind of competence and compassion out of our country and medical community.

[mikeyDE]

39. that's nothing!

I've got 3.57 wars going on simultaneously, no time limit, no wait -- a new war just pops up instantly, don't even have to ask. And, since I'm unemployed, I don't have to pay a cent!

[KitSileya]

40. Good luck!

This sounds like my ankle surgery story - after a bit of miscommunication between my doctor and I, and between my doctor and the people who did my mri, I went to the doctor on Monday, got a specialist's appointment for the following Monday (as I was going out of country with return Sunday) and at that appointment, was scheduled for surgery on Wednesday. I paid my own pre-surgery medications as I didn't bother to get them reimbursed - I could afford them. Most importantly, I got the time to recuperate afterwards - 4 weeks paid sick leave, so I didn't have to hobble around on crutches at work, as well as 24 authorized visits to a physiotherapist. (I only needed about 12 of them.)

Oh, and I immediately switched doctors afterwards - a few clicks online, no problems.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

59. And you're in Norway, right?

My Norwegian relatives are very satisfied with their health care.

[KitSileya]

144. Yes. And I am very satisfied with my health care too.

In the last 4 years I've had diverse health problems (my ankle, as result of an accidental misstep off the bus, and my gallbladder.) In both cases there are things that could have been done better - but the fact that they weren't was because of me, not the doctors (I am of the reluctant to bother people with my problems kind of person, so I didn't go to the doctor quickly enough.) There are co-pays in the Norwegian health care system, but if you pay above a certain amount, you can get it refunded, and if you are poor, you get a card that waives all your co-pays. I chose deliberately not to get my co-pays refunded, as I could afford them - and I didn't mind paying them. Honestly, just because we have a great system doesn't mean that you should work the system to the outmost if you don't need it - at least that's how I think. The drug addict in the bed next to me in icu the first time I was hospitalized for my gallbladder wasn't able to pay anything - I could. And I want her to have access to medical care, because she is a human being.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

149. And many Americans would say that the drug addict deserves to suffer

We can be a very cruel nation. :-(

[bluethruandthru]

41. That wait time is just horrible!

That would never happen in America and I'm sure your doctor isn't even a "real" doctor because all "real" doctors won't practice in Canada where they don't get paid because healthcare is free in that awful, socialist country!! :sarcasm:

[Snoutport]

42. Here is my own personal English Healthcare horror story.

I was backpacking across Europe and got really, really sick. I crossed the channel back to England so I could understand what the Doctors were saying. I was scared and too sick to fly home and did not have much money left...

The Dr saw me right away, was extremely kind, wrote me several prescriptions, made sure I was no longer in pain.

There was no bill. Just a short lecture of how in England, everyone has the right to see a Dr and

[quakerboy]

52. Mine was similar

I flew over to Britain, and somewhere on that nice long flight I got a cough. I tried to tough it out for a week or so, but it hit the point I was just raw and regularly coughing till I lost my lunch. One night I had had the most excellent banana chicken curry, and then it came back, (an experience I will remember for many years, tasted just as good coming back) and I decided I couldn't take it anymore.

An hour later I was in a hospital w/ a DR who had the best bedside manner EVER. 10 minutes later I was in imaging. Then Antibiotics, asthma meds, throat meds, etc. I did have to pay a few pounds for the OTC throat lozenges I later got. But that was it.

[Snoutport]

64. Nice when the Dr's are doing their job instead of medicaid billing

:0)

[matt819]

47. OMG

The horror.

My out of pocket for two cataract surgeries was about $5,000. And when I was planning for the surgeries, I asked the doctor what it would cost. He didn't know.

It's been two years now. I'm still paying.

But that's not nearly as bad as your Canadian horror story. Thanks for sharing.

[Iggo]

49. The horror!

:scared:

[AngryOldDem]

50. How do you put up with that?

I'm mean, seriously. It's enough to make you want to move to Canada.

Just goes to show: Health care doesn't need to be a clusterfuck.

[GTurck]

51. You poor..

deluded soul. Don't you know that being scared out of your mind about paying will make you take better care of yourself and avoid those cataracts. Left to your own devices I bet you'll have another one removed soon. All because you lived too long!
How can a country as small as Canada presume to do better than the greatest country on earth. Must be a bunch of socialists. .:sarcasm:

[WinkyDink]

53. As a TOURIST, I had free HC in: Canada; England; A'dam; Portugal.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

61. Yes, traveling in Europe as a teenager with my family

I fell down the stairs in our Amsterdam hotel. (If you'd seen those stairs, you'd understand. They were more like ladders with treads.)

The hotel got us a cab to take me to the nearest ER, where the doctors and nurses ascertained that I had not suffered a concussion or any broken bones and that I might be sore and stiff for a couple of days but had incurred no serious injuries.

During that same stay in Amsterdam, my grandmother's ulcerative colitis began acting up, so the hotel called a doctor in who prescribed meds for her and advised liquids only for 24 hours and then gradual introduction of solid food.

We never saw a bill for either instance.

[OnlinePoker]

62. I don't get free health care in Canada, and I live here.

$720 a year in premiums.

[Overseas]

68. Yes please.

I wish I had moved to Canada. Or England. Or the many other countries that understand medical care is a basic human right.

[stockholmer]

107. The NHS in the UK is a broken model for so many people there, so not a good comparison

Do some basic research, and by basic research, I do not mean anecdotal feel good stories, and you will see what I mean.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/251988.stm

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/may/06/health.politics

http://news.scotsman.com/uk/NHS-rationing-is-necessary-evil.3298909.jp

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/libby_purves/article4498748.ece

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/5955840/Patients-forced-to-live-in-agony-after-NHS-refuses-to-pay-for-painkilling-injections.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/249938.stm


Here in Sweden we have a really good model overall, and the majority of horror stories stand out due to their rarity. It is utterly illogical to assume that all Western, industrialized state-run health care systems are the same or are wonderful. I have lived in the New York, London, Sweden (of course), Hong Kong, Barbados (horrid mixed-market system), etc, just to give you my background.

That all said, the USA has by far the worst model in the developed world, and I despise the for-profit medical infrastructure that Obama's health care so-called reform absolutely sold out to.

The other huge problem that you have (one that would destroy our Swedish model if we plugged in the average American) is the US's overall poor health. The eating habits there are atrocious, the populace is ghastly overweight on average, they eat so much GMO, drink fluoridated water, consume copious amounts of processed junk food, and the poorer you get, the worse you eat. What is known as a fitness 'freak' in the US would be a slightly lazy Swede.

By 2020, HALF of the US will either be full-blown diabetic, or end-stage soon-to-be. http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/11/23/us-unitedhealth-diabetes-idUSTRE6AM0NH20101123 In 1960, this number was under 5%. Bigger is not better, and the vast majority of these 160 or so million people will mostly die very early, through sufferingly bad, very expensive deaths. This is one of the ticking time bombs that most don't talk about.

[polly7]

73. It's different from province to province, I believe Ontario, B.C. and Alberta

collect premiums. I don't pay one here in Saskatchewan.

Of course it isn't free though .... we all pay for it with our taxes.

[laundry_queen]

122. No premiums in AB any more, they changed it. nt

[Go2Peace]

91. Of course health care is not technically "free"

It has to be paid for through a pool either in taxes, or a combination of taxes and other methods.

Ultimately what counts in healthcare is quality, covering all of society, and total cost.

Your "premium" sounds awfully good to Americans. I have to pay $1500 a *month*. Some people pay more, some less, but I don't know of any policy in the US that is not riddled with holes or exceptions that runs less than $7-800 a month for a family.

Canada pays 2/3 what America pays per capita and covers all of their citizens with that. So it is a much more economical system by most any measure.

[Enthusiast]

120. Gee, that's $60 a month!

Too high! Oh, no!

[TBF]

123. $720 a year? Try over $1000 per month. And that's for

mediocre Cigna coverage.

[xmas74]

134. I pay nearly $500 a month for two people in the U.S.

That's a group policy from my employer. I'd hate to see what it would cost if I didn't have the group rate.

I never use it on myself-I can't afford the copay.

[Divernan]

84. I had an emergency root canal in Belize City, Belize - $36dollars & 50cents.

This was my 4th root canal, so I had a basis for comparison. My young general dentist (not a specialist) had his degree from the University of Guatemala. He spoke perfect English. The procedure was painfree, and he gave me an xray & written description to bring back to my local dentist. My regular dentist said that the Belizean dentist did a perfect job.

I'd had a bizarre scuba diving accident which resulted in a capped front tooth being broken off, exposing the live nerve to ocean water. Since I would be there another week, pain plus danger of infection was too much to delay treatment. There was a doctor on my island, San Pedro, but a dentist only came there one day a week, and this wasn't the day. The accident happened in a night dive. My dive buddy, a pharmacist, got me tylenol with codeine that night (no prescription required for same in Belize. I Saw the local doc by 9 a.m. the next morning. The doc got me an appointment the same day with her personal dentist in Belize City (the capitol). The San Pedro doctor refused to accept any payment for me, so I gave money to a local charity. Cost me more to fly to the dentist in a little 4 seater plane, than for the root canal.

I had a great time the rest of my vacation. Do you get good health care in Belize? You better belieze it!

[Violet_Crumble]

112. Those countries have reciprocal healthcare agreements with the US?

I'm pretty sure they don't. I found a list of countries the UK has an agreement with and the US isn't on it:

http://www.studystay.com/htm/essentials/student_health5.htm

Are you sure it wasn't yr travel insurance that was covering you while in those countries? Our scheme is very similar to Canada's and a few others, but I still got travel insurance when I went to the UK and Europe just to make sure I was covered if I needed to see a doctor...

[jberryhill]

128. Dirty little secret....

In a lot of places, if you need medical care and are an American visitor, it's enough of a hassle for them to submit the insurance paperwork, or even issue you an invoice, that they just don't bother.

(and some of them get a chuckle out of the wonderment of Americans when they do that)

[Violet_Crumble]

138. That makes sense...

Just a heads-up to any tourists heading to Australia, though. GP's charge up front and we claim back from Medicare afterwards, so be prepared to fork out some money (about $66 for a short consultation) if you need to see a doctor...

[jberryhill]

140. That's okay...

Because it costs so danged much to get to Australia from any part of the civilized world, that medical expenses there would be nominal.

[nonperson]

54. Thanks for sharing the truth about health care in the civilized world

Where health care is a right not a commodity.

[SidDithers]

55. Good luck Monday!...

:hi:

Sid

[G_j]

56. I help a man with a TBI, who is going to get this surgery

Medicare will pay for it because he is very much disabled. But hey, lets privatize Medicare so he can shop around for insurance companies(something which he would be completely incapable of doing) that would most certainly turn him down because of his TBI.

[walerosco]

57. K&R

This is what socilaized medicine looks like.

[drm604]

58. I wish I hadn't read this post.

I'm going to have nightmares now! :scared::hide::yoiks:

[moondust]

65. How much will insurance company executives get paid for doing their part?

:sarcasm:

[SHRED]

66. HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TomClash]

67. The HORROR is

several insurance companies didn't get paid obscenely.

How could you let this tragedy happen?

[JohnnyRingo]

69. When idiots tell me Canadians hate their "socialized medicine"....

I ask them why they think paid health insurance is illegal in Canada. Before the stunned look leaves their face, I point out that if someone in The Great North wants "American Style" health coverage, all they'd have to do is call Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Canada and purchase a plan:
http://www.bluecross.ca/

I can't imagine anyone in Canada paying for what they already receive for free, but loudmouth Barstool Republicans seem to think it's the way to go. BTW, The company exists primarily for companies that want to offer executives something beyond Cadillac coverage as a retention perk. I guess it would be a Rolls Royce plan.

[lsewpershad]

72. Can't have

that here in the USA. Too socialistic and it would make the insurance industry poor.....booohoooo.

[Vinca]

74. There are surgeons in Canada??? OMG!!!

Someone tell the Republicans.

[BrklynLiberal]

75. Oh the horror!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You are very lucky to live in Canada....

[Auntie Bush]

76. I had the same thing done...t no personal expense to me. I love medicare.

[Mimosa]

77. Highly K&Red

Sochulism suckS! *LOL* :7

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

78. Health defense to me is as important as military defense

What sense does it make to spend hundreds of billions fighting wars overseas over the deaths of 3,000 in New York but not want to spend anything on government healthcare despite the thousands who die every day in this country for lack of medical care? Instead of entertaining the nonsense coming from the right about how we need to compromise on Medicare, I think we need to extend it to the entire population. I'd rather pay more in taxes, but lead a more comfortable and secure life.

[L0oniX]

86. +1

[Joey Liberal]

79. Sarah Palin wants your healthcare to go away

But then, she thinks Paul Revere was a traitor:)...................

[valerief]

83. And she can easily afford her own cataract surgery, so why should she care

about Americans who can't afford it. Free trade, I got mine, individual freedom, bootstraps, blah, blah, blah.

[Joey Liberal]

114. She wants Canada to drop their Healthcare Plan

She has said that Canada should drop their healthcare plan. I'm telling ya, Palin is a menace AND a moron.

[valerief]

80. Good lord, is there no mercy?

BTW, good luck with the surgery. It should be a snap. Be prepared to look at the world through black spots for a couple weeks after. May or may not happen, but it's pretty freaky if it does.

[Deep13]

81. How horrible. Why would anyone want that for the USA?

:sarcasm:

[louis-t]

82. I have cataracts in both eyes.

I need to come up with $1,500 that my Blue Cross will not cover. If I can't pass the eye test for my driver's license next month, I can't drive, can't work, will lose everything. The stress is making my vision worse.

[polly7]

89. I hope you can find it Louis. Friends, family .... leave a jar at a business if

you have to? Your eyes are too important not to fix, especially with your job ........ wish there were some way I could help.

[livingonearth]

90. In America, even if you have insurance it doesn't mean you can afford to use it.

Got to pay them premiums and co pays.

[Zambero]

85. A bureaucratic nightmare!

That is health care rationing at its worst, and exactly what happens when a "market solution" isn't part of the picture. Michelle Bachman should stop the silly worry about refusing to debate high school students and head up there immediately to help put an end to your abject misery and that of countless other fellow citizens.

;-)

[awoke_in_2003]

87. so the death panels...

decided that you shall live? :rofl:

[Inchworm]

92. I didn't see THAT coming

;)

Hope all goes without a hitch. Quick recovery to ya!

Hmm, if you are going to be on meds after you better drink up now :rofl:

:toast:

[jpak]

93. I had the same Health Canada horror show experience as well

Needed to see a cardiologist for a work-related physical

Saw my family doctor on Monday afternoon - without an appointment

Saw the cardiologist at the local hospital Wednesday morning.

The same phyical in the States cost 3 times a much and took a month to complete.

This is why we cannot and should not have Canada Style Socialism Medicinisms - or whatevah

yup

[GoCubsGo]

94. I am so sorry that you have to endure such a horror.

If you really want to pay some out-of-pocket cash to somebody, I'm a willing recipient. ;-)

[Jim Lane]

95. Do you need a butler?

Maybe if I had a job lined up it would help me emigrate.

[RaleighNCDUer]

96. That is NOT fair!

You need to stand up for your gawd-given right to mortgage your house and incur a ten year debt for your surgery!

You don't want people thinking you're a commie, or something, do you?

[SnakeEyes]

98. Having to wait 8 months for this surgery isnt bad

I think most of us are willing to have that trade-off in exchange for everyone getting health care, even if it means higher taxes.

[wundermaus]

100. Oh, The Horror...

For all the rest of US!

[Beavker]

101. But that is so un-American!

Oh wait, that is the point...

[Vincardog]

103. Yea but if you have a real problem you will rush over to our "Best int the world" health care

really I;m series

[JAnthony]

104. You had to wait a WHOLE HOUR??? For a

non emergency surgery?

That's unacceptable!

:sarcasm:

If I were you I'd ask for my money back!!!

[ejpoeta]

105. damn government getting in between you and your doctor!! death panels!!

oh wait. you mean no one had denied you coverage yet? but wait til you get the bill saying they are not going to pay it after it's already done!! then you're stuck either paying it yourself or trying to appeal it.

[bahrbearian]

110. Damn Socalist.

[flpab]

111. Love it!!! Canada sent a Lear jet for my friend's Mom in fl

My friends mom broke her hip here in the states when visiting from Canada, she always buys a policy for the states but the rehab was going to be so pricey Canada sent a lear jet with bed and nurse to take her back to do rehab in Canada!!!

[riverbendviewgal]

115. My son had first time seizures ever on a Friday

He was being operated for a brain tumor the following Monday.....In Toronto.

Americans are fed a lot of bull from the republicans about our Canadian health care.

My son had radiation , 3 brain operations, chemo, counseling (and the rest of the family as well) and 6 weeks in intensive care after his 3rd brain operation and 1 week of hospital palliative care. The cost was ZERO.

[Canuckistanian]

116. How horrifying

I've never heard of anything more than a half-hour wait. Unless it's near lunch time.

[Logical]

117. Damn, that makes me hate this country! n-t

[Fuddnik]

118. Serves you right for living in that wasteland!

[Enthusiast]

119. That's socialism!

We don't like socialism here in the U.S.

It's bad bad bad to the bone!

[avebury]

121. K&R

[Lenomsky]

124. That's ...

how it should be I'm really happy for you :)

Might take a little longer in the UK but it happens.

I've tried Private Health Care and NHS both on several occassions.

- Eye infection/boil inside the eyelid -

BUPA Solution:

1. Visit GP and comment I have Private Cover refers me immediately (next day) to BUPA
2. BUPA say Lance done same day
2. 6 months supply of X anti-biotics which I collected at BUPA Hospital and charged per pill 35p each!
3. Lance failed miserably infection still present several months later and several requests to resolve.

In the interim I moved out of London to another part of the UK.

NHS Solution:

1. Visit GP explain the problem. He asked why I was precribed X anti-biotics for 6 months (alarm bells for me $$). I say I am not a GP. He's furious at the other GP as prescribed the wrong anti biotic and for much much too long a period. Refers me to Eye Specialist.
2. After a month or so (yes we wait in line being Brits lol) I visit NHS and they say it may clear up but we can Lance if you wish.
3. HNS Lance 2 mins later
4. Problem solved :)

Maybe NHS cut corners I don't know but with BUPA the specialist time was ~50mins all inlcusive but NHS took literally 5mins all inlcusive this excludes any GP time for either. Con long term if you ask me but I know first hand Private Health has it's uses. To work I need hands so had a problem with a lump of sorts so thought Private = Fast. Cash transaction so requested a estimate like a car repair lol. I paid cash over the counter and told cost ~£400 and then been billed £1,000 took them to task and they gave me a break.

We really don't want or need the US health care system except as it stands and those that choose Private still pay some National Insurance contributions to fund the NHS.

Meh rambling ..

[whathehell]

129. Rubbing it in again, huh?

[ooglymoogly]

141. Here is my own personal Medicare horror story

About 8 months ago I was told the cataracts in both eyes were becoming serious and needed surgery. Appointments were set up a few months apart for both surgeries. In the first appointment I went to a private clinic and went through a careful screening procedure and the cataract was removed and the extreme long sightedness was corrected with lasik (ie a a corrective lens was inserted in the eye. After being provided with wrap around black out glasses they sent me home after making certain there was someone to drive me home and lookout for me for the evening. Otherwise they would have provided my transport. After several visits to make sure the surgery was viable, they did the other eye and again with lasik they corrected the vision in that eye.

This cost me nothing but my copay on my medicare insurance that covers all my medical problems.

It is things like this that allow the elderly to drive, to get food, to get to medical appointments and take care of themselves, which in the long run saves a lot of money for the state. And this is why we must never allow medicare to be stolen from us and we must work hard to make sure it becomes available to everyone who needs it. Health care is not for making a buck and the sooner we drive that home the better.

[StevesRedLens]

145. OH, THE HUMANITY of you Canadian's socialized medicine

You only think your satisfied with it. You're really not. There is NO WAY you could be satisfied with it. Is there? It's kind of like - free. Right? Well, the quality just must not be the same as good ole USA. That's it! You know, we couldn't trust the drugs you guys sell up there and allow our people to buy them here in America. Couldn't be sure of the "quality" of your drugs. So obviously your heathcare must be like third-world or something.

Hmm. Or maybe, universal healthcare is actually good. Don't spead your Canadian "propaganda" around too much. :) Kidding aside, good luck on the procedure.

I love Canadians! (well, ones I agree with anyway)

[jberryhill]

147. So what? The only thing you'll see more clearly is Canadian Socialist Hell

You'd think most right-thinking people would rather be blind than to clearly see the wasteland that is Canada.

[Rochester]

148. I want government health care here now!