5 medical costs you may have to pay for

Health | 206966 hits | Feb 05 7:35 am | Posted by: Regina

Get sick in Canada: You’re covered, right? Not for everything.

Comments

by wildrosegirl
Fri Feb 06, 2015 4:34 am
None of this is new. Not to Alberta, anyway. I have to say, I don't disagree with it for the most part. I can see the odd case where it might seem unfair to incur a charge, but for the most part it's damage control and it's necessary. Our health care system is already struggling. We really can't afford to tax it any further.
I'd like to see them implement some sort of per visit fee for "frequent flyers" if anything. Make some people think twice about dragging their kids to the emergency rooms because "Junior just doesn't seem quite right". They're a large portion of the taxing. Hypochondriacs and attention seekers should definitely be penalized. Charge them "Nuisance fees".
by andyt
Fri Feb 06, 2015 4:39 am
$500 for an ambulance seems way excessive. Especially for lower income. It will make people hesitate before calling one, which can add lots of medical costs down the line.

There are a lot of inefficiencies but there is actually little evidence that Canadians overuse the system. The long waits for care, both in emergency rooms and in booking physician visits, actually discourage abuse. And let’s not forget that problems like overuse of emergency rooms are a symptom of bad structure and management, not a proof that Canadians are health-care spendthrifts.

One of the defining characteristics of the U.S. system is, in fact, overtreatment. Paying directly for care actually fuels demand because a) people want to get their money’s worth for their insurance premiums and b) the private-driven system needs volume to be profitable.

Manitoba has begun to respond to overuse of its health care system by forcing people who visit too many doctors or pharmacies to limit their use to one doctor and one drugstore. The province reviewed the records of patients who made more than 67 office visits in a year and/or saw more than 12 physicians annually. The heaviest user made 247 office visits to 71 different physicians in 1 year. The new restriction applies to about 28 patients. The move is expected to save the province $116,000.
Hardly and epidemic.
by wildrosegirl
Fri Feb 06, 2015 5:04 am
"andyt" said
$500 for an ambulance seems way excessive. Especially for lower income. It will make people hesitate before calling one, which can add lots of medical costs down the line.

That one has always gotten me, yes. I can't say that I don't think it's a lot of money, but I also know that (years ago) it was a service that was abused terribly. Hence the price hike make them think twice about calling one. That being said, there are definitely cases where it is absolutely necessary, and if a family is low income, it would certainly cause hardships. It's six of one, half a dozen of the other.
by Public_Domain
Fri Feb 06, 2015 5:45 am
by Baddragon
Fri Feb 06, 2015 6:49 am
"Public_Domain" said
An ambulance in my family is whoever can drive.

Ditto
by Jabberwalker
Fri Feb 06, 2015 12:10 pm
Here in Ontario, Physiotherapy isn't covered, which is something that I've had a fair bit of over the last few years. It really adds up and I've spent in the low thousands on it.
by DrCaleb
Fri Feb 06, 2015 3:23 pm
"Public_Domain" said
An ambulance in my family is whoever can drive.

I've driven myself. (and I have good friends who are EMTs!)

Many who drive themselves to the ER with a heart attack die along the way.
by ShepherdsDog
Fri Feb 06, 2015 3:26 pm
....some when they get the bill for the ambulance.
by andyt
Fri Feb 06, 2015 3:36 pm
As do the people they crashed into.
by stratos
Fri Feb 06, 2015 3:53 pm
$500 for an ambulance is that for the ride only or also for general meds and IV they may give?
by stratos
Fri Feb 06, 2015 3:54 pm
Last time I went to the Hospital I took a taxi.
by Regina
Fri Feb 06, 2015 3:57 pm
"Jabberwalker" said
Here in Ontario, Physiotherapy isn't covered, which is something that I've had a fair bit of over the last few years. It really adds up and I've spent in the low thousands on it.

It is if you attend a physiotherapy department inside a hospital or what is known as a G-Code clinic. The province started to fazed them out 30 years ago but I believe there are still a handful of the grandfathered clinics left. Other than that it is the outside private clinics that provide the service.
by Regina
Fri Feb 06, 2015 3:58 pm
"stratos" said
$500 for an ambulance is that for the ride only or also for general meds and IV they may give?

As far as I know it is an all inclusive buffet.
by BeaverFever
Fri Feb 06, 2015 4:02 pm
"stratos" said
$500 for an ambulance is that for the ride only or also for general meds and IV they may give?

Just for the ride. Here in Ontario the Ambulance is a flat $45 so huge difference.

There's no charge to the patient for meds/IV in that case, since it would be covered under the public plan.

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DrCaleb Thu Feb 05, 2015 7:57 am

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