A question for those members on socialized healthcare

[paul.karen]

If your in a country where you get socialzed or Free medical services.
Will you be fined if you dont sign up for the services?

[The Wife]

No you don't get fined, well, not in this province at least.  I doubt in the others as well.  In BC, Canada, medical is mandatory.  People are billed monthly, so it's not free, but if your income is below a certain level, it is free.  Some jobs have medical benefits and the fee is taken off your paycheck.  Currently, there are only two provinces that send the monthly bill to your home.  BC and Alberta.   

[The Wife]

Here's a link to our medical coverage...

http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/

[paul.karen]

Thank you much..

[monrein]

In Ontario, health care is paid for through our taxes.  Very straightforward.  The more you make, the more you pay and the higher your tax bracket the higher the percentage on money earned over a certain amount. I have a health card with a number on it and now a photo is on also (although my card is the same I've had forever so no photo).  Every time I go to the doctor or hospital or blood work in an outside (private but paid by OHIP...Ontario Health Insurance Program)clinic, I present my card and they get paid.  I see no bills and my income is not questionned.  Some things aren't covered, like physiotherapy, eye exams, glasses, dental but if people are on social assistance they can get help there.
Drugs are subsidized for seniors and the disabled and in Ontario, people like me with a transplant so expensive meds apply for the Trillium Drug Program and depending on income will receive a letter and a certain deductible for each quarter of the year.  This is automatically reassessed every year according to income.  The more you make, the more you pay.   Once you reach your deductible you pay $2 per prescription. Insurance through work pays for drugs, glasses, dental, private room in hospital, those extras. 

[nursewratchet]

Sounds fabulous to me...

[monrein]

Feels wonderful to me also nursewratchet.  We have a not for profit system which is a huge advantage but hospitals seem to compete for patients since that attracts funding for research and helps to bring talented staff.  My own nephrologist trained here and also in the States but thankfully he chose to return here to a very decent salary but nothing on the scale of what he could have earned in the US.  Doctors or private companies have no ownership or stake in dialysis services. I am a US citizen but even at age 15 when my family moved to the States the quote for insurance to cover me (epileptic but controlled perfectly and of course kidney issues) was exorbitant.  My parents were told that it was because I was a bad risk. 

Here's some more info.
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/692614#survey

[paul.karen]

Our system would be much differnt.
Why dont the Dems want Tort reform. 
Why will we be Fined if we were to opt ouot?

[Rerun]

Why won't FOX News interview Monrein?

                                                 

Come on Paul, you have to admit Obama's health care speech was pretty convincing.  He even got boo'd when he said no Federal dollars will be spent on illegals!!! 

[Stoday]

You don't get fined in the UK. You do have to have a form (that costs nothing) to get free/subsidized medical treatment in the rest of the EU.

[Hanify]

In New Zealand there's nothing to sign up to either.  It's just there.  Our taxes go towards the cost of healthcare and we are only charged if it's not funded by the government (which happens) or if you want something sooner than you can get it - we have some longish waiting lists for non immediate things.  But renal stuff just happens, obviously, because it has to.  However, you also have no choice in anything this way.  There is only one place to get renal help.  If I had had personal health insurance it would have made no difference to where I went for my oncologist or renal specialists.  The joys of living in a small country I guess.

[Wallyz]

Our system would be much differnt.
Why dont the Dems want Tort reform. 
Why will we be Fined if we were to opt ouot?

Now, tell me what you think would happen if someone in Canada or New Zealand decided to "Opt out" of paying taxes.   THe proposed system in the US is softer and allows more latitude for people who want to opt out. I don't know for sure why, but its likely a compromise.

The Dems don't want tort reform because our laws are so weak of substandard doctors, even though medical mistakes are a leading cause of death in hospitals.  UNiversal coverage would help the situation, because there would be no financial incentive for the Doctor to fight the claim, and because people could get much iof their problems fixed, instead of depending on a large award to pay their medical bills.

[kimcanada]

Don't be confusing the topic with facts Wallyz

[Zach]

Don't be confusing the topic with facts Wallyz