posted on June 7, 2004 10:37:52 PM new
why we will probably never have one.
from the August 28, 2002 edition - http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0828/p01s04-wogi.html
Canadian model of healthcare ails
Report ranks Canada's state-funded system near the bottom among industrial nations.
By Eric Beaudan | Special to The Christian Science Monitor
TORONTO - When Bill Clinton attempted to reform US healthcare in 1994, his administration often touted Canada's publicly funded, universal access system as a model to be emulated. As it turns out, the Canadian system may be crumbling under its own weight.
Despite spending nearly C$100 billion (US$64 billion) per year on healthcare the most per capita among countries that run a similar system a study released last week by the Fraser Institute, a public-policy think tank in Vancouver, shows that Canada ranks only slightly higher than Hungary, Poland, and Turkey in the quality of service its citizens receive.
Canada is the last industrialized nation to rely solely on government funds for its core healthcare system. There's an emerging view that it, too, may abandon a system that has long been a symbol of its national identity.
"We are no longer the model," says Michael Walker, executive director of the Fraser Institute. "When you consider that equal access in a country as spread out as Canada would require a greater number of physicians and diagnostic equipment, we're clearly headed in the wrong direction."
Two issues in particular plague the Canadian system, which forbids any form of user payment or private care for core services: the number of doctors and access to high technology.
Canada fields 1.8 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants, which places it 17th on a list of 20 countries with universal access (the list does not include the US). To leap into first place, Canada would need to add 48,000 doctors to its current roster of 57,000.
Canada lags even further behind in access to high-tech equipment, including machines used for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed axial tomography (CAT) scans. This shortage affects wait time for diagnostic assessments, which in provinces such as Saskatchewan can run well over three months.
According to Dr. Walker, hospitals absorb 55 percent of the total annual healthcare budget. The Fraser study found that nonmedical staff including painters, electricians, and cooks tend to be paid 50 percent higher than their counterparts in nonmedical industries. "We are not controlling our costs," he says.
Exacerbating Canada's poor performance among industrialized countries is its proximity to the US, notes Princeton University health economist Uwe Reinhardt. "Since Canada is part of the American job market, Canadian nurses and doctors must be compensated at levels that compete against US jobs," he says. "That means that even with the same level of care, Canadians will pay more than Europeans for core services."
Another survey, released last week by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), shows growing dissatisfaction with the current system. The findings reveal that six in 10 Canadians expect the quality of healthcare to worsen over the next five years. And with 58 percent of respondents acknowledging that their confidence in the system is falling, versus 51 percent in 2000, Canadians are seriously contemplating a user-pay system. While 56 percent of survey respondents say they would pay more in taxes to maintain current service levels, 49 percent say they would welcome an approach that blends public and private care.
Canada's provincial leaders pledged C$1 billion (US$640 million) to purchase high-tech equipment starting this year. But any shortening of the typical two-month wait for patients to receive MRI tests and CAT scans isn't likely soon.
"It will take a decade to get speed of access and modern healthcare back in Canada," says Michael Decter, chair of the national board of the Canadian Institute for Health Information, and former deputy minister of health in Ontario.
Although Mr. Decter agrees that the system is shaken, he still says that modernized public healthcare is the solution.
"We do well on life expectancy and immunization of children compared to the US," he says, noting that the US spends about 40 percent more on healthcare in total than Canada. "But we see the drug ads on US television and worry that we're not as shiny and new as the Americans."
Fixing the deficiencies of the healthcare system is now the mandate of a royal commission, headed by former Saskatchewan premier Roy Romanow. Over the next few months, Mr. Romanow will head to London, Paris, and Washington to gather insights that could help remedy Canada's ailing system.
Solutions would likely include greater home care, user fees for patients who can afford them, and private or semiprivate hospitals, all of which top-ranked countries such as France, Sweden, and Australia feature.
The strains on the system are already forcing local shifts to alternative models. Some communities are allowing nurses to treat minor cases without referring patients to a doctor. Seventy-seven percent of nurses and 60 percent of doctors support this approach.
One of the CMA's recommendations is setting national standards for wait times.
"Canadians are divided over the establishment of user fees," says CMA president Dana Hanson. Although Dr. Hanson believes in a publicly funded system, he doesn't discount private-public partnerships. Some provinces already hire private labs, he points out.
Should Romanow's commission fail to deliver a workable solution, Canada's 10 provinces might be forced to take matters into their own hands.
"Some provinces could independently impose user fees or copayments," suggests Walker. Ontario and Alberta are the two provinces who, he says, might be able to give up federal Medicare aid in favor of a provincially run system. Both provinces are wealthier and less dependent on federal outlays to balance their medical costs.
But Mr. Reinhardt says introducing some features of the US healthcare system might be fraught with difficulties. "[The US] system has left 40 million people uninsured," he says, "and medical bills have become the second leading cause of personal bankruptcy in the US."
******
My opinion is that 35% of americans are on the national health care system which provides them the the excellent care they receive. This probably can't happen with the other 65% because the US cannot afford to give them the same insurance. Of course someone can try and come up with something equilivant to NHC but what about the employees of the big corporations who have the cream of the crop of Health Care. Do they want to give that up?
Do Physicians want to work for a salary much lower than what they get now. I doubt it and we will see physicians leaving by the dozens. It takes a lot of money to go through medical school, residency etc and if the rewards don't equal or aren't above then I doubt if we will see many new physicians. Lawyers who sue physicians will not beable to do that under the NHC and soon there will be fewer lawyers. It is going to be a difficult task for someone to come up with NHC and it cannot be done overnight. We as americans are spoiled we want the best but NHC is not it>
posted on June 7, 2004 11:55:02 PM new
Yes, there are problems with the healthcare system in Canada but overall I think the citizens are quite well taken care of. The biggest problem is waiting time for surgeries. At the moment it is an issue at election time.
As far as getting immediate surgery it very much depends on the relationship that one has with their doctor and if it's a good one there don't seem to be as many problems. Most of my family and friends have been very fortunate though some that have moved from one Province to another several times have had a bit more difficulty mostly because they've had to find a new doctor.
This is a good study that was released just a few days ago. I won't post it all but if you want a clearer picture of citizen satisfaction in both countries it's worth the read.
Health agencies from the United States and Canada are jointly releasing the findings of a survey of citizens from the two countries that shows positive attitudes about health among the citizens of both countries.
A press release issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) June 2 reports that 85 percent of Americans and 88 percent of Canadians describe their health as good to excellent. Citizens of the two nations report similarly close levels of satisfaction with the health care they receive. Among Americans, 90 percent are very or somewhat satisfied; 87 percent of Canadians rank their own health system in the same fashion.
posted on June 8, 2004 04:01:55 AM new
Canadian health care is doing a very poor job of taking care of their citizens. And their people are paying through the nose for it. *Not* a shining example of what good health care is all about.
But what matters most to some, is that no matter how bad/lacking their health care is......everything is 'equal'....and as long as everyone *shares* the same poor health care all is well.
2004 Report
By Nadeem Esmail and Michael Walker with Sabrina Yeudall
Conclusion
This study has attempted to provide answers to a series of questions that are important to resolve if Canada is to make the correct choices as it amends its health care policies. The study is strictly comparative and examines a wide number of factors for the member countries of the OECD in arriving at the answers to the questions posed.
Taking this empirical approach to health care provides clear direction for health care reform in Canada.
Canada and Iceland have the most expensive health care systems amongst the
industrialized nations that have comprehensive, universal access to health care.
Canada ranks first in only one of seven health care outcome categories and does not rank first in any of access to care, supply of technologies, or supply of physicians.
No country in the industrialized world other than Canada outlaws a parallel private health care system for their citizens.
All four countries that out-perform Canada on the cumulative rank for mortality amenable to health care, potential years of life lost, mortality from breast cancer, and mortality from colorectal cancer have private health care alternatives to the public system and some form of user fees at the point of access; none spends more than Canada after age adjustment.
The comparative evidence is that the Canadian health care model is inferior to others in place in the OECD. It produces inferior access to physicians and technology, produces longer waiting times, is less successful in preventing death from preventable causes, and costs more than any of the other systems that have comparable objectives.
The models that produce superior results and cost less than Canada's monopolistic, single-insurer, single-provider system have user fees; alternative, comprehensive, private insurance; and private hospitals. Canada should follow the example of these superior health care models.
posted on June 8, 2004 04:47:17 AM newbut what about the employees of the big corporations who have the cream of the crop of Health Care.
Many of these big corps have approached the government about a national health care system. I beleive that 25% of the price of a care is now due to health care costs.
The reason Canadian health care seems to be "failing" is because everyone in Canada has health care. When everyone has access to health care it would tax any system.
The only reason the US health care system "looks" to be functioning well is because so many people have no health care.
You have to stand in line in Canada for health care because everyone is allowed in line. There is no line in America because the poor aren't allowed in the line.
I was aghast at the news of some "suffering" Iraqis being flown over here for free medical care, all the while we have millions of US citizens that could not access the care we are giving away for international public relations.
posted on June 8, 2004 05:17:14 AM new
reamond - I'll ask you....since no one else has ever been able to answer. WHO in America can't get the health care they need?
The only reason the US health care system "looks" to be functioning well is because so many people have no health care.
posted on June 8, 2004 07:34:17 AM new
Yup, the perfect opportunity for Linda to CraP on Canada like she knows anything about Canada or even gives a sh!t about what happens there.
In Canada, those aged 65 and over consumed 42.7% of total health care expenditures in 2000/2001 while making up only 12.5% of the population.
Canada is making amends to improve things.
Executive Summary: This second edition of How Good is Canadian Health Care? provides answers to a series of questions that are important to resolve if Canada is to make the correct choices as it amends its health care policies. The study is strictly comparative and examines a wide number of factors for the member countries of the OECD in arriving at the answers to the questions posed. In this study, we primarily compare Canada to other countries that also have universal access, publicly funded health care systems. Since the United States and Mexico do not, we often ignore these countries in the comparisons made. The study's focus, therefore, is not whether we should "abandon the key elements of Canada's compassionate approach to health care delivery," but how we organize to achieve it. To answer this crucial question, which is also the focus of the current debate about health care reform in Canada, we examine the policies followed in other industrialized, universal-access countries; policies that, at lower cost, produce superior access to, and outcomes from, health care than Canada's policies do.
Linda, with such a reaction out of you all the time you must view Canada as a huge threat to your well-being.
posted on June 8, 2004 07:50:26 AM new
I sure wish that both Canada and US could get a decent health care system. I for one am angry that the welfare system in the US gets better health care than I do. Now I am not begruging anyone health care but what they get for free I had to pay 400+ per month. I don't think that is fair. Someone has to come up with a health care system that will take care of everyone including the poor, middle class & rich the same way.
Of course you will always find clinics that will treat someone if they can pay for it as is the socialized medicine oversease. I had a coworker that lived in Europe that worked for the socialized health care system. But also in one of the upper floors was a Physician that treated the person who could afford to pay and they did get better treatment. But that's another story.
There will always be flaws and I am not condemining Canada for trying at least they are doing that. It was a mistake to let Hillary try and if the next President wants to try it I hope they can find a group that knows what to do.
posted on June 8, 2004 09:41:59 AM new
Libra, I have to agree with parts of your post. I firmly believe a user pay system is in order here. If people were charged, let's say $25.00 for each doctor's visit, it would curb most of the needless visits that seem rampant (here in Ontario) and put our system at risk.
Also Libra, Canada's medical system isn't free. That's a misnomer. Everyone that works pays medical insurance on every pay cheque. Only people that are on welfare or unemployed get free health care.
I also agree with you Kiara (naturally - ). People here are very well taken care of. There's a long wait for surgery but cases are taken on a triage bases.
Bottom line is that our system is 100 times better than what the U.S. can offer it's citizens. If you get cancer or are in a bad accident, I can't imagine how a person would be able to pay for that. Here, nobody needs to worry about that.
posted on June 8, 2004 10:01:23 AM new
KD we do have a disability system which comes out of Medicaid along with which some without insurance to qualify for if they have serious health care problems. Salary and benifits of spouse dictates this. Of course there is always some that slip through the cracks but help is for them if they search for it. People in America talk about the high cost of medication and if you do a free medication search you will find websites that will help those people. But of course you have to be in a low income bracket. People with money want everything, people with nothing only ask for what they need. We are a nation of people that think someone owes them a living. I get free medication because I searched for it. It would cost me $150.00 a month. The company sends it to me free. Of course I am on SS with no other job so I do qualify for it. I work with women at the voting booth where they complain the high cost of prescriptions but they don't qualify because they have health care from a previous employer where they pay co-pays of $7.00 for generic and $10.00 for the actual medicine. Health care is rising as machinery gets more expensive, salaries get higher and it will never stop.
posted on June 8, 2004 10:31:51 AM new
kraftdinner,
in the states,doctors always ask if the patient have insurance to gauge how many tests he should order.Some of these test benefit the doctor and the hospital more than the patient.
All that fancy atrium in the professional buidlings,the water fountains,the soothing music all have to be paid for.
Of course,those who are insured must pick up the tab for those who are not.
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
posted on June 8, 2004 11:09:30 AM new
You're a dear soul Libra. I'm glad to hear at least you've been able to get your prescriptions for no charge because I don't see how a person on SS could afford anything. That part is a disgrace. I feel senior citizens should get free meds but I won't go there right now. If things get any worse for you, you can come live with me.
Stopwhining, I totally agree. Greed overrides so much these days it's sick. Where are all the Marcus Welby types anymore??
posted on June 8, 2004 11:13:18 AM newreamond - I'll ask you....since no one else has ever been able to answer. WHO in America can't get the health care they need?
We can start with the 41 million uninsured working poor that can not afford to pay even for health maintenance such as dental work. These are the same ones that show up at the now closed emergency room with the cold or allergy that has turned into pneumonia.
Then look at all of people needing organ transplants that are not on any waiting lists because they don't have insurance or the money to pay. They try all types of events to raise money. These people die all the time, that's why you don't hear much about them.
In fact we had a thread on here perhaps a year or two ago about a man with a young family that needed a transplant but had no insurance or money and was off the list. He was complaining about a prisoner that got a transplant at state expense.
posted on June 8, 2004 12:24:21 PM new
KD-Thanks for the offer and I will never discuss politics with you. That is the truth.
I lived in Northern Minnesota 150 miles to the Canadian border. I have taken many trips and enjoyed visiting the cities as they are clean and beautiful. Canada does have many pluses.
posted on June 8, 2004 12:39:58 PM new
Reamond I have to disagree with you at least I will relate to where I live as I can't relate to any other state. When Tommy Thompson was Governor he came up with the W2 program instead of welfare. Before that we had many families move to Wisconsin because other states didn't pay enough welfare. Wisconsin paid quite a bit. With the W2 program mothers and fathers had the choice to go to school paid by the state so that they could get off of welfare. Many took advantage of it. After their schooling they went looking for work. During the time they were looking they were also paid until they got their job. When they were employed they still received day care for children and also medical insurance until the time their employer offered insurance to them then they were dropped. Child care lasted 2 years after completion of schooling. Well it was good for awhile until some of them decided it was to hard to go to work. They had to put in an honest day for their pay. So they quit. They received no welfare after that. In our City we also have a low to free dental-medical clinic run by the state with very good dentists along with a medical clinic. No one in our city can complain that they can't get medical help the only thing they can't get is going to the emergency room when it isn't an emergency.
About organ donors there isn't enough organs to go around and they are put on a list and they do get organs when their name is on the top. Kidney transplant patients go to a federally funded dialysis unit and they don't pay for their dialysis UNLESS they have insurance. It's known as Medicaid. Just because they have an organ transplant doesn't mean they can't work. Some patients think that when they get an organ transplant they can just sit home and not work but is that right? I don't think so, not if they are able.
posted on June 8, 2004 01:59:20 PM new
Even though there are faults in both systems the new survey does show that overall both countries have a quite high rate of satisfaction when it comes to personal health and care received and they are very close in their thinking.
I dont agree about all seniors getting free meds because many have nest eggs and pensions so they have more money than lots of the over-taxed working people. I know seniors with prescription drug abuse problems and that may only encourage them to get more, depending on the doctors they run to. As it is now, in Canada if they are below a certain income they do get deductions on their prescriptions.
Good point about the greed. I sometimes wonder how many doctors start out with patient care as their topmost priority and then finally get caught up in the system after awhile.
posted on June 8, 2004 03:00:21 PM new
In our state (California) there are many elderly that must choose between eating or the cost of their presciptions.
With regard to Kidney Transplant there is currently a six year wait for organs. The cost for dialysis is $375.- per session approximately and it is needed three times weekly. Not all dialysis patients are covered by insurance.
Post transplant costs for immuno-supression drugs can run up to $3000.- monthly.
Procit runs approx $2000.- monthly (4 injections) Needed to counter act the anemia caused by many other drugs.
And on and on.
Currently there are over 41 million American
41,000,000 that are not covered by any health insurance.
I am fortunate in that I have private coverage (I pay $702.- per month for 2 people).
Clinics are a start however all American need access to the leading edge technology which is now available in most large medical centers.
This country needs Universal One Payer Health Care and whether Canada's system is good or not is totally irrelevant with regard to this.
To penalize millions of American workers out of fear of someone getting a free ride is absurd.
And frankly I would rather my tax dollars be spent helping my country men and women rather than on the adventurism of some failed administration.
Friends don't let friends vote Republican!
[ edited by davebraun on Jun 8, 2004 03:15 PM ]
posted on June 8, 2004 03:58:07 PM new
i am not saying doctors and hospitals over prescribe tests and medication due to greed,the truth is they cant meet ends meet as their burden of taking care of underinsured and non insured persons is too much .
A recent study shows the collectibility of co -payment from insured patients is 43 cents on the dollar,for those uninsured,collectibilty of their hospital bills is 9 cents on the dollar.
So who is paying for these deadbeats??
yes,doctors do have compassion for those underprivilged ,but they have to make up the difference somewhere somehow as they have bills to pay too-for example,my family doctor is mexican,and he has many mexican patients who have no insurance and no money,and he is giving them free samples,he used to give me free samples,but no more.
He has stopped accepting personal checks and he has a list of ex-patients on the door who are not allowed to be within x feet of his premise.
But then i have a friend who works for a great corporation and told his doctor he has no insurance and received 3 months worth of lipitor,yes,3 months ,free.
But then i have a question-and this is often asked by foreigners who visit this country,why dont american have some cash to pay for medical care,something like an office visit??You see them drinking and eating and smoking,and yet they dont have 35-50 dollars to see a doctor??
We equate no insurance with no medical care,when in fact if we only sacrifice a few beer,starbuck coffee or a dinner out,we could afford a doctor's visit.
We could all help to reduce medical cost by paying cash instead of asking the doctor to make calls to insurance co to verify our insurance card,to process and mail insurance forms and wait to get paid,Or at least pay for the visit ourselves and then file the form as we go home.
Too many people say they have no insurance to treat this or that,and they turn around and can afford other things. Why??
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
posted on June 8, 2004 04:38:00 PM new
stopwhining, that's all fine for the flu, a cold, or a single medical event. What of the chronically ill patient who requires monitoring?What of those who are in need of a specialist, heart, liver, kidney whatever. Believe me it is not 30 to 50 dollars to see them and here in Northern California it is more like $100.- to see a family practitioner if you are uninsured.
I understand your frustration on seeing many who can ill afford it smoking and drinking and I make no excuse for their destructive behavior but unfortunately it is a reality.
Cash payment in lieu of using ones insurance is unrealistic and unaffordable. I assume the insurance companies would love it. There is much less paperwork in obtaining payment as the doctors billing to the insurance is computer generated based on procedure and diagnosis codes.
A common drug such as previcid for the uninsured is approx $400.- monthly.
posted on June 8, 2004 06:42:46 PM new
Libra63 - I am refering to the uninsured who are working. But your examples of the wrokfare program not working had nothing to do with people being lazy and everything to do with the jobs not paying a living wage.
You also can not get on a transplant waiting list unless you have proof of the funding necessary for the operation and after care.
How is it when the economy is good and there is competitive wages and plenty of good jobs there are no "lazy" people, but when jobs move to low wage countries and there is nothing available but low wage jobs everyone all of a sudden becomes lazy ?
posted on June 9, 2004 07:38:07 AM new
davebraun,
i buy my 30 mg prevacid from mexico and it is not 400 dollars per month,i just switched to stronger dosage of nexium ,it is like 280 dollars for multi months.Mexican generic drug is actually better than those in USA,as each is blister packed.
The mexican prevacid is not generic,it is just made in mexico and marketed outside us.
i have been ordering from this mexican site for over a year and so far so good.
depends on where you live,we have many doctors here and my doctor runs a family clinic with 4 doctors and he only charges 50 per visit,all the doctors are us trained and bi-lingual.
With a large mexican and asian population in california,i am sure there are doctors who charge resaonable fee for office visits.
when i said cash payment,i am talking about office visit say 50-100 dollars either personal check or cash or credit card,not hospital bills running into 5 figures.
I am not condenming people who smoke,drink or eat out often,i am sure everyone needs some relief in life,our lifestyle and espectations are different than those from other countries.just like reamond said,who would work for low wage??by the time you take out ss,tax,busfare,coffee and lunch,how much do you take home??it is not just low wage job pays low wage,it is also a dead end job with no hope of advancing to make more $$.
i always wonder about this kind of job when i walk into a supermarket or sallybeauty supply??
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
[ edited by stopwhining on Jun 9, 2004 07:44 AM ]
[ edited by stopwhining on Jun 9, 2004 07:46 AM ]
posted on June 9, 2004 09:33:10 AM new
davebraun-In our state (California) there are many elderly that must choose between eating or the cost of their presciptions.
If you have read my posts you will see that drug companies will give medicine for free. I receive mine as I am only on SS. I do a little eBay but it doesn't make any difference. The medicine I receive free is the same as previcid but under a different name with a different drug company. There are free medications for the elder with no money all you have to do is search free medicine and see what you find. Physicians also have free medication. While waiting for my prescription to be filled I received 4 months free. People just have to be assertive and go get it. Sitting at home complaining will not do it. As stopwinning said she gets hers from mexico and I think without a prescription, although I might be wrong, but what is stopping those California citizens from going there? Maybe you could help them someway so they can get free medicine instead of coming here complaining.
With regard to Kidney Transplant there is currently a six year wait for organs. The cost for dialysis is $375.- per session approximately and it is needed three times weekly. Not all dialysis patients are covered by insurance.
This is so true to an extent....People are not donating like they use to. Many specifics go into a kidney transplant and that also has to do with not receiving kidneys as with any organ transplant. You can't just take any kidney and give it to someone. Blood Type and not just the A, O, B, AB, positive or negative blood types it go deeper than that. It also has to do with tissue matchings. Heaven forbid if someone receives a kidney or other organs and it doesn't match. That is more a disaster than dialysis. If you search organ transplants you will be able to read everything that has to match donor to patient before anything can be done. It is true that recipients have to pay but from what I read the payment is for placing them on a donor list. Once they are on that States donor list they then go to the National list and it doesn't require a payment.
posted on June 9, 2004 09:40:14 AM new
stop, why don't you post a link to your Mexican farmacia?
___________________________________
When a dog howls at the moon, we call it religion. When he barks at strangers, we call it patriotism. - Edward Abbey
posted on June 9, 2004 10:21:52 AM new
Kidney transplant can be covered under medicare and they will waive the two year requirement after you are declared disabled.
Heart, Liver, Lung and Pancreas are not or at least they will not waive the two year wait no matter what you current medical condition.
In order to qualify for the free drug programs you have to earn so far below the official poverty line that in most cases it does not apply.
I know the system very well, I recieved a liver transplant in 2001.
posted on June 9, 2004 10:28:35 AM new
this is where i bot my generic Nexium-
http://www.sharpmeds.com/
-----------------------------------------
This is where i bot my prevacid,bumex etc
http://www.medsmex.com/index.htm
------------------------------------------
shipping by registered mail is 10 us dollars and it is shipped out of cancun,mexico,it usually takes 10 days to arrive.
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
posted on June 9, 2004 10:57:22 AM new
Kiara, I just meant people, like Libra, who have contributed all their life to paying taxes, but find themselves strapped after retirement. I'd even be willing to pay MORE taxes to provide meds for people over 60 if they were given to them no charge. If you can afford a vacation home or a Hummer, then you wouldn't qualify.
posted on June 9, 2004 11:18:47 AM new
many poor people are not that well educated to research online or offline to look for free medicine or buy offshore and many dont have credit cards or a pc with ISP.
They wont even know what to do with a PC.
Down here,there is also reverse discrimination.
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
posted on June 9, 2004 11:33:01 AM new
davebraun I think you are wrong about the free meds. First you have to find the companies that offer them, then apply and they will give you the critera to receive them All I needed to do was send my SS W2 form and have no other income with no assetts and I qualified. It is on my income alone that I qualify. I do have to go to my Physician once a year for a prescription but the price is minimal for that.
Just search Mexican Pharmacies and you should get a list. Check them all because they probably all have different prices for the same meds.
posted on June 9, 2004 11:41:30 AM new
I do have a great story about a local Physician.
I just had Cataracts removed in both eyes. I have medicare and a supplement. He is the best doctor around that does this kind of surgery and rather expensive. When I called his office about what he takes for insurance and what he will bill me after everything gets paid by my two insurances and they said nothing. I have received no bills and wow can I ever see. I never remembered the beautiful colors because I had them for about 5 years. It great to see the world again in perfect color. There are some great doctors in this world and this is one of them. I can't thank him enough.
posted on June 9, 2004 11:48:33 AM new
How long a wait is it to get a transplant; liver, kidney etc in Canada?
My sister works in a hospital here, in admin. there is a woman that comes down from BC every month for her son to get blood transfusions. She pays, she says that it would take too long in Canada, and her child would die without it there. So she comes down once a month, stays in a hotel for a couple days, while the son gets his transfusion.
