Canadians starting to demand the privatized USA Health Care system.......

[riverbendviewgal]

39. waits are prioritized

My son had the first seizures he ever had, with no warnings of ill health. he was 2 weeks short of his 25th birthday. The same day he was given a CT scan and ambulanced to the University Hospital in Toronto, operated 3 days later by the head neurosurgeon.. Unfortunately he was diagnosed with GlioBlastma Multiforme (same brain tumour as Ted Kennedy), given a 5 percent chance to live past two years. He had 2 more surgeries, chemo, radiation, intensive care for almost 3 weeks after the 3rd surgery and palliative care for 5 days, in hospital. The cost....nothing...We did have to pay for parking. He lived for 18 months after the diagnosis.


Two months after my son was diagnosed, his Dad was diagnosed by our GP after my husband found a lump near his belly button, after an ultrasound he was scheduled for an operation 6 weeks after the lump was discovered. He had surgery, radiation, chemo, his stem cells harvested for the month long in hospital chemo and then his stem cells put back in. Unfortunately he died 18 months after our son died, after spending 3 months in hospital in the palliative care ward.

The whole family got psychotherapy sessions together as a family and separate, including my son's fiancee and his brother.
No costs, just parking fees for the hospital. Oh, and my son had blood transfusions as well as his dad. All lab tests were covered too. And the government gave us $2300 toward the funeral expenses for each of them.

As for me, beside my most recent ailment, detached retina, see above post, I have back problems that physiotherapy was required. I could get privately and jump the line with extra insurance or wait. I opted to wait. I ended up only waiting 2 months.

I do have private health insurance to cover glasses/contacs, hearing aid - my insurance pays 300 bucks, the government pays 500...dental, prescription, massage, semi private room.. etc. My annual fee is about $1650, which I deduct from my income tax. I have a limit of $1000 dental, $750 prescription, $200 glasses. I go over than I claim on my income tax. When I turn 65 my private insurance will be lowered about $200 annual due to the provincial health care will cover all my prescriptions. I just pay the first $100.. I pay 20 percent of my prescriptions and dental until I reach my limit.

We Canadians never have to worry about losing our basic health care if we lose jobs.