"Free" health care!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2003
"Free" health care!
250
Thu, 07-22-2004 - 7:15pm
I wonder how many of you have had to live without health insurance? You say that health care is not a right? NO WONDER! You have always had a place for the bills to go other then your mailbox! How many of you have ever asked what the actual cost of your prescriptions are? Do the math! Do you have any idea what it is like to call around from doctor to doctor trying to find one who would see you WITHOUT insurance? Have you ever stood at your doctor office and humbly asked for samples instead of a prescription because u know that your $360 check wont stretch enough to cover your $280 med bill AND the doctor appt. Don't even mention medicaid! If you make enough money to buy food and scrape by...you do not qualify.

Go ahead and be technical but if you ever run into some bad luck you will see things in an entirely different light!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-16-2004
Mon, 07-26-2004 - 2:32pm
Actually, the cold is not really that bad. In Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa, the weather is similar to that in Chicago. In Vancouver and Victoria however, it's rather warm all year round. I personally like the season changes. We have four distinct seasons, each with its special events, and activities. Only March reallly gets me wishing for different weather..

Another interesting article:

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Health/O_Canada_KP.html

Avatar for independentgrrrl
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 07-26-2004 - 3:00pm
At the moment, I'm loving the Canadian cool front that moved into the Ohio Valley giving us daytime highs in the high-70's and low-80's range. The evenings are just gorgeous, anywhere from mid-50's to low-60's. Thank you, Canada! :D
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-04-2003
Mon, 07-26-2004 - 3:25pm
I didn't mean to imply that she wouldn't have been getting good care in the US. She would have undoubtedly been getting the very best in care.

My implication was that she might not have had as many financial worries.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-04-2003
Mon, 07-26-2004 - 3:26pm
I was only kidding.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2004
Mon, 07-26-2004 - 3:30pm
Odd that so many Canadians living on a fixed income would move here where there is a

Renee ~~~

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-04-2003
Mon, 07-26-2004 - 3:30pm
Thanks. They did find something a little suspicious and I'm having a mammogram and an ultrasound next week. I'm not too worried (or trying not to be). The doctor said that while it felt a little abnormal, she said that it didn't quite feel like the "big C" either.

If you want, you can direct those positive thoughts onto the left side. LOL.....just like me to lean to the left huh?

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-04-2003
Mon, 07-26-2004 - 3:31pm
I was just about to edit my response post to mention the cold but you beat me to it! LOL

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-04-2003
Mon, 07-26-2004 - 3:46pm
Interesting article. Hey! Maybe it's the cold that is helping to keep us healthier? The germs just freeze and die. Briskly walking in snowdrifts is good exercise. I know for me and for many a holiday isn't a holdiay if it doesn't include some hiking, canoing and swimming in the great outdoors.

Maybe there is a slightly different attitude here than there is in the US towards health I don't know. Perhaps that is the driving force behind our support of the healthcare system in Canada....but that might just be a symptom of our general attitude overall and a lifestyle thay MAY contribute to overall better health. though, as the article suggests, Candians seem to smoke and drink with "gusto" (speak for yourself article LOL!).

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-04-2003
Mon, 07-26-2004 - 4:23pm
GREAT article. it was very informative and had information that I didn't know, so thanks for posting it.

One thing that I noted in it was this:

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This probably refers to another article that was posted in this thread earlier.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-16-2004
Mon, 07-26-2004 - 4:26pm
I know some of these 'snow birds'. They go there because of the weather. The Canadian healthcare refunds at the canadian rate those services they get in the US, and for what is above that, many buy supplemental insurance, just as I do when I travel to the US. Most come back to Canada during the summer months.

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