Aa
Universal Healtcare is a must.
I have always, even before discovering that I had MS, wondered why we in the US do not have universal health care. Why are some people excluded?
I am knowledgeable of how business and politics works in our country. But, it is time we rise above the corporate shackles and fear mongering associated with it.
I know there are many who frequent the forums with diverse political ideas. This aside I would ask others to send emails, write letters to congressmen, letters to the editor on the need for universal health care.
There are way too many stories on these boards of folks not receiving the proper healthcare. I know if I were to be without insurance for a couple of months I would be financially sunk. The likelihood of such a thing happening in this current economy is quite a good possibility.
Universal healthcare works in Canada, England, France, and other places. There are mountains to climb in the US in starting this endeavor for our country. But, it is wholly unforgivable to allow our current system to continue.
I am knowledgeable of how business and politics works in our country. But, it is time we rise above the corporate shackles and fear mongering associated with it.
I know there are many who frequent the forums with diverse political ideas. This aside I would ask others to send emails, write letters to congressmen, letters to the editor on the need for universal health care.
There are way too many stories on these boards of folks not receiving the proper healthcare. I know if I were to be without insurance for a couple of months I would be financially sunk. The likelihood of such a thing happening in this current economy is quite a good possibility.
Universal healthcare works in Canada, England, France, and other places. There are mountains to climb in the US in starting this endeavor for our country. But, it is wholly unforgivable to allow our current system to continue.
Amy's right. We have more seniors now than ever before. There have to be programs for them, but I think it makes more sense for the pharmaceuticals companies to give these deserving people a break, rather than get the government involved.
And I'm a Democrat, belive it or not!
Zilla*
And I'm a Democrat, belive it or not!
Zilla*
There is just no good answer to this. Of course we want health care for everyone, and to have it affordable. No one should suffer because of lack of ability to pay. I think it's a human right.
At the same time, the systems in place in many other countries have huge problems. We hear from members in Canada, Australia and the UK that they have long waits, few choices and many frustrations. These places have private providers too, who serve only those who can pay full freight and get more elite services. At this point I'm glad to be able to choose who gives me health care, and where. But we all wind up paying anyway, since those without resources go to ERs and other services which must provide care, regardless of means. That's why the amounts our insurance is charged are so huge. Somebody has to pay. I doubt if America will have an answer for this anytime soom, no matter who gets elected.
ess
At the same time, the systems in place in many other countries have huge problems. We hear from members in Canada, Australia and the UK that they have long waits, few choices and many frustrations. These places have private providers too, who serve only those who can pay full freight and get more elite services. At this point I'm glad to be able to choose who gives me health care, and where. But we all wind up paying anyway, since those without resources go to ERs and other services which must provide care, regardless of means. That's why the amounts our insurance is charged are so huge. Somebody has to pay. I doubt if America will have an answer for this anytime soom, no matter who gets elected.
ess
Don't forget about Medicare Part-D. It was passed a few years ago and covers prescriptions for seniors who sign up for it.
This is an extremely complicated problem. When all the baby-boomers retire and are on medicare, we will see how it is for a large segment of our population to be on "government healthcare". I expect for the tax rate to soar. Will people be willing to work for only 50% of what they actually earn??
I guess what bothers me the most is how the insurance companies can decide not to cover pre-existing conditions. They pretty much operate on a win-win situation. I had thought that it just happened with individual policies, but they are starting that with our insurance?? Since I have had all these tests run, they doubled our copays w/specialists and prescriptions in the middle of the sign up year. They also decided they didn't want to pay for my last MRI and that is going to cost over $2000.
I think that everyone should be able to get insurance that needs it. They really just want to insure healthy people. I also don't think someone should have to go bankrupt because they are really ill.
No Easy Answers!!
Stacey
This is an extremely complicated problem. When all the baby-boomers retire and are on medicare, we will see how it is for a large segment of our population to be on "government healthcare". I expect for the tax rate to soar. Will people be willing to work for only 50% of what they actually earn??
I guess what bothers me the most is how the insurance companies can decide not to cover pre-existing conditions. They pretty much operate on a win-win situation. I had thought that it just happened with individual policies, but they are starting that with our insurance?? Since I have had all these tests run, they doubled our copays w/specialists and prescriptions in the middle of the sign up year. They also decided they didn't want to pay for my last MRI and that is going to cost over $2000.
I think that everyone should be able to get insurance that needs it. They really just want to insure healthy people. I also don't think someone should have to go bankrupt because they are really ill.
No Easy Answers!!
Stacey
As a Canadian, I just wanted to pipe in here.
As much as I LOVE my Universal Healthcare, I would like to point out that indeed it has it's downfalls. There are incompetent doctors within our healthcare system too. 2.5 years I've been looking for an answer, and still don't have one. That's not soley because of incompetency, but that has played a factor. As a matter of fact, it took me 4 family doctors to actually be listened to.
We need referrals to specialists, which involves a wait time. I got lucky this time. I chose (not an option for every province to get to choose their specialist) a neurologist who is new to the province, but has done extensive work with the MS Clinics back in my home province. Her patient list here is small, so my wait to see her was only a month. If she determines that my MRI isn't sufficient due to lack of gad, or that it should have been booked on the 1.5Tesla, rather than the 1.0 Tesla, or that she wants spinal images as well, then I'll probably be looking at a relatively long wait. It could be as long as 5 months to get a full head, c-spine and t-spine MRI with and without contrast. I know that best case scenerio, and I mean BEST case, I'll likely be looking at at LEAST 6 months before I can even think about the reality of a diagnosis, likely much longer.
I'm NOT trying to downtalk the Universal Healthcare system at all. I love the security in knowing that I never have to worry about co-pays or if I qualify for insurance, but I wanted to put my 2 cents in. It needs work. If the US chooses to adopt a Universal Healthcare Policy, I hope they find a way to do it which will minimize wait times. I believe Universal Healthcare is the best way to go, I would just like to see my neighbours to the south do it in a way that works better than ours does.
Christine
(un-dx)
As much as I LOVE my Universal Healthcare, I would like to point out that indeed it has it's downfalls. There are incompetent doctors within our healthcare system too. 2.5 years I've been looking for an answer, and still don't have one. That's not soley because of incompetency, but that has played a factor. As a matter of fact, it took me 4 family doctors to actually be listened to.
We need referrals to specialists, which involves a wait time. I got lucky this time. I chose (not an option for every province to get to choose their specialist) a neurologist who is new to the province, but has done extensive work with the MS Clinics back in my home province. Her patient list here is small, so my wait to see her was only a month. If she determines that my MRI isn't sufficient due to lack of gad, or that it should have been booked on the 1.5Tesla, rather than the 1.0 Tesla, or that she wants spinal images as well, then I'll probably be looking at a relatively long wait. It could be as long as 5 months to get a full head, c-spine and t-spine MRI with and without contrast. I know that best case scenerio, and I mean BEST case, I'll likely be looking at at LEAST 6 months before I can even think about the reality of a diagnosis, likely much longer.
I'm NOT trying to downtalk the Universal Healthcare system at all. I love the security in knowing that I never have to worry about co-pays or if I qualify for insurance, but I wanted to put my 2 cents in. It needs work. If the US chooses to adopt a Universal Healthcare Policy, I hope they find a way to do it which will minimize wait times. I believe Universal Healthcare is the best way to go, I would just like to see my neighbours to the south do it in a way that works better than ours does.
Christine
(un-dx)
Like Christine, I value universal health care in Canada, and also agree there are flaws. No system is without flaws. My experience in terms of diagnosis, treatment, wait times, etc. in this country has been a positive one.
After a weekend of suspicious symptoms, I called my family doctor and got an appt. the SAME day. The NEXT DAY I had labs done. FOUR DAYS later they were back, normal. Back to my doctor, she referred me for a MRI. I had it done ONE WEEK later. Results back in FIVE DAYS. Abnormal. Went right back to my doctor, she referred me to an on-call neuro, out of town (none where I live). Had an appt in ONE WEEK. Immediately he could see something was wrong; he immediately ordered an lp; had it done the SAME DAY; was referred to another on-call neuro taking over from the first guy. Lp results back in less than 24 HOURS. Had ‘unofficial’ dx of MS (aka “demyelinating disease”), FIVE WEEKS after onset of symptoms. Immediately treated with 5 day infusion of steroids. ONE WEEK later, I was in with an ophthalmologist due to my double vision. I saw an MS specialist at a major MS clinic FIVE WEEKS after being referred (I was told this was considered a ‘longer’ wait because the guy was one of the best).
Keep in mind there is no money changing hands while all of this is going on. My Alberta Health Card is all they need (for which I pay nominal premiums. In most provinces, there are NO such premiums). Bear in mind, health care in Canada is not ‘free.’ I pay my taxes and don’t resent this at all based on what I get back. I also don't resent those who pay less taxes than me, or none at all, and have access to the same care.
I am certainly 'lucky' in regards to my clear cut case of MS. I did have minor symptoms over a year previously that were checked out promptly, and by the time I had my MRI’s (one normal, one mildly 'suspicious' but no lesions back then), my symptoms disappeared. For a while after my dx, I did second-guess why more wasn't done the year before, but the reality is that I had no lesions, I felt very healthy, my minor symptoms were transient, and it was apparently too early in the disease for it to be detected. I did not get sick until more than a year later; and the timeframe from the first appearance of my major symptoms to my appt with the MS specialist was TEN WEEKS, with all of the above diagnostics and treatment happening in between.
Upon diagnosis, I was given a CHOICE regarding which neuro I wanted; I had been seen by FOUR different ones in total throughout this experience; or, I could pick anyone else practicing in that area. I settled on the guy at the MS clinic for reasons obvious to anyone here.
The icing on the cake is that with a small monthly premium for supplemental drug coverage insurance (available to all Alberta citizens with no exclusions for ‘pre-existing conditions’), combined with my employer health plan, my MS meds are TOTALLY COVERED. Even without an employer health plan, the most one would have to pay in Alberta is $25 per month for MS meds (with the supplemental coverage in place).
I continue to see my GP on a regular basis and she is fantastic. She has personally called me at home on numerous occasions to talk about test results, next steps, etc. Between she and my MS doctor, I am getting excellent medical care at very little cost to me (nominal insurance premiums). Why are these doctors so good and yet don’t have to 'compete' nor get particular 'incentives'? I don’t know the answer to that, they just are.
Having read the stories of my US counterparts, I’m not sure even with insurance that I would have been treated as quickly or as well as I was here in Canada.
Obviously no system is perfect, but there must be a better way than the current American experience. I have no idea what the solution for the US may be. What works for Canada may not work for the US. I for one am very grateful for the system available to me, and appreciate the underlying values and principles on which it is based.
Please excuse the caps --- I just really wanted to emphasize those points around timeframes, as I thought this was important to convey.
db1
ps to Christine - regarding your expected wait for another MRI, my advice is to call, call, call, and make friends with the clinic receptionist. There are often cancellations and chances are you will get in sooner by being proactive. This works for me every time.
After a weekend of suspicious symptoms, I called my family doctor and got an appt. the SAME day. The NEXT DAY I had labs done. FOUR DAYS later they were back, normal. Back to my doctor, she referred me for a MRI. I had it done ONE WEEK later. Results back in FIVE DAYS. Abnormal. Went right back to my doctor, she referred me to an on-call neuro, out of town (none where I live). Had an appt in ONE WEEK. Immediately he could see something was wrong; he immediately ordered an lp; had it done the SAME DAY; was referred to another on-call neuro taking over from the first guy. Lp results back in less than 24 HOURS. Had ‘unofficial’ dx of MS (aka “demyelinating disease”), FIVE WEEKS after onset of symptoms. Immediately treated with 5 day infusion of steroids. ONE WEEK later, I was in with an ophthalmologist due to my double vision. I saw an MS specialist at a major MS clinic FIVE WEEKS after being referred (I was told this was considered a ‘longer’ wait because the guy was one of the best).
Keep in mind there is no money changing hands while all of this is going on. My Alberta Health Card is all they need (for which I pay nominal premiums. In most provinces, there are NO such premiums). Bear in mind, health care in Canada is not ‘free.’ I pay my taxes and don’t resent this at all based on what I get back. I also don't resent those who pay less taxes than me, or none at all, and have access to the same care.
I am certainly 'lucky' in regards to my clear cut case of MS. I did have minor symptoms over a year previously that were checked out promptly, and by the time I had my MRI’s (one normal, one mildly 'suspicious' but no lesions back then), my symptoms disappeared. For a while after my dx, I did second-guess why more wasn't done the year before, but the reality is that I had no lesions, I felt very healthy, my minor symptoms were transient, and it was apparently too early in the disease for it to be detected. I did not get sick until more than a year later; and the timeframe from the first appearance of my major symptoms to my appt with the MS specialist was TEN WEEKS, with all of the above diagnostics and treatment happening in between.
Upon diagnosis, I was given a CHOICE regarding which neuro I wanted; I had been seen by FOUR different ones in total throughout this experience; or, I could pick anyone else practicing in that area. I settled on the guy at the MS clinic for reasons obvious to anyone here.
The icing on the cake is that with a small monthly premium for supplemental drug coverage insurance (available to all Alberta citizens with no exclusions for ‘pre-existing conditions’), combined with my employer health plan, my MS meds are TOTALLY COVERED. Even without an employer health plan, the most one would have to pay in Alberta is $25 per month for MS meds (with the supplemental coverage in place).
I continue to see my GP on a regular basis and she is fantastic. She has personally called me at home on numerous occasions to talk about test results, next steps, etc. Between she and my MS doctor, I am getting excellent medical care at very little cost to me (nominal insurance premiums). Why are these doctors so good and yet don’t have to 'compete' nor get particular 'incentives'? I don’t know the answer to that, they just are.
Having read the stories of my US counterparts, I’m not sure even with insurance that I would have been treated as quickly or as well as I was here in Canada.
Obviously no system is perfect, but there must be a better way than the current American experience. I have no idea what the solution for the US may be. What works for Canada may not work for the US. I for one am very grateful for the system available to me, and appreciate the underlying values and principles on which it is based.
Please excuse the caps --- I just really wanted to emphasize those points around timeframes, as I thought this was important to convey.
db1
ps to Christine - regarding your expected wait for another MRI, my advice is to call, call, call, and make friends with the clinic receptionist. There are often cancellations and chances are you will get in sooner by being proactive. This works for me every time.
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