Tue Aug 10, 2004 8:04 pm   Reply with quote      

Do you think that you should you have to pay for healthcare, or should it be a right to all taxpayers?

Aaron

Tue Aug 10, 2004 11:11 pm   Reply with quote      

Right to all taxpayers.

Wed Aug 11, 2004 7:25 am   Reply with quote      

But it's not a basic right where you come from, am I right? It's something you have to pay for?

Aaron

Wed Aug 11, 2004 11:09 am   Reply with quote      

You need to pay $300 - 400 to get descent healthcare in US; if you have a good job, then your employer pays it for you, but it's not like your employer is taking care of you, but they are just doing for tax break. Anyway, it's quite expensive to have descent healthcare in US, but I believe it's basic human right. Well, it shouldn't be so expensive in a developed country, IMO.

Mon Sep 06, 2004 1:36 am   Reply with quote      

You'll pay for it one way or another.. nothing is free.

Mon Sep 06, 2004 1:48 am   Reply with quote      

You are absolutely right, but there is one difference here. If you need to pay money from your pocket, then if and when you lose a job, you are in big trouble(if you don't have a lot of saving). If healthcare is ensured by the government or the state, you do not need to worry(so much). Personally, minimum healthcare should be ensured in some way(though I am not so sure if it will happen).

Mon Sep 06, 2004 11:21 am   Reply with quote      

I just look at the Canadian system... what a mess that's in. They are closing hospitals, doctors are leaving the country when they get out of med school, long waits for surgeries (unless it's life threatning) and huge shortage of family doctors.

Healthcare is a huge expense and the money has to come from somewhere.

Mon Sep 06, 2004 11:43 am   Reply with quote      

I was going to mention Canadian healthcare system, and yes, it has its own problem. However, it's not that you have no choice but to wait(for surgery and what not). If you want to spend money, you can also spend money and get treatment somewhere else, e.g. US.

So, you personally believe that each individual should pay for healthcare coverage rather than basic healthcare is provided for free(actually paid by tax)?

Mon Sep 06, 2004 11:53 am   Reply with quote      

In a perfect world taxes would be enough.. but even with the Canadian government putting limits on drugs and controlling cost they are still forced to charge 15%+ sales tax... AND they are in a situation that they still can't provide a service.

I think what needs to be done in Canada is something that most Canadians will freak out about... a 2-tier system. The current system is great, but not needed for everyone. I believe that if your income is above a certain amount you should be responsible to go to a private system like blue cross, etc. (I have no idea what that level would be, but in a perfect world it would be fair). Companies like Blue cross are in it to make money and I think with the current regulations and limits they shouldn't have much of a problem doing that. In the even that something should happen to the guy making the big bucks and paying his own way.... then he has a governement system to fall back on.

Most Canadians hate the idea of a a "2-tier" system, but they don't understand that there is already a 2 teir system in place. The rich don't get treated in Canada.. they go to the best hospitals in the US. A good example of this would be one of the McCain brothers who started McCain Foods (french fries, pizza pockets, etc etc etc) who recently passed away in a Boston hospital. He wasn't there because he was on vacation and ended up dying.. he was there because he was trying to save his life.

Tue Sep 07, 2004 1:00 pm   Reply with quote      

The problem with the Canadian health care system is that it's too easily abused.

All you have to do is walk in your doctors office and show your health card for your visit. This costs $20 per visit.

If you had to pay for a visit to the doctor, I can guarantee people would stop going in and wasting the doctors time just for an ear ache. This would also free up a lot of money that can be spent else where, like on getting wizdom teeth extracted or buying more hospital beds.

Tue Sep 07, 2004 9:57 pm   Reply with quote      

I'm a little confused here. The patient needs to pay $20 or $20 comes from tax, so he/she does not pay anything upon visiting a doctor?

Tue Sep 07, 2004 10:38 pm   Reply with quote      

Exactly... they used to have a system setup years ago that you had to pay a small fee of $5 or whatever it was. The problem is that there is a huge percentage of Canadians who don't feel they should pay for anything. Politicians just go with what the majority want.

A good example of this is the modern 4 lane highway they had put in New Brunswick a few years ago. This was done and tolls were built. A US company was the one collecting the tolls to pay for the road. The people in the East freaked at the idea and it was an election year. The guy in office now said if he was elected he would remove the tolls. He was elected and he removed them. Now you can drive up & down the highway without paying a cent during your drive, but the government pays a per vehicle fee to the US company. It seems that the people who use the highway thought it was unfair to have to pay anything to use it.. so now everyone pays for it if they use it or not.

Tue Sep 07, 2004 10:41 pm   Reply with quote      

You don't pay anything... as a Canadian you have a health card... you just make your appointment and go. You show the health card and you're in.

Another thing they could do to help give people a reality check is to provide a statement. Show them what it costs for these trips... even if you're not charging them a fee.

Tue Sep 07, 2004 11:58 pm   Reply with quote      

If, if tax is collected fairly, i.e., take a ton of money from rich people and take small percentage from poor people, wouldn't it make this a fair system?

Is there any suggestion(s) made in order to address various problems in the current healthcare system in Canada?

Wed Sep 08, 2004 7:31 pm   Reply with quote      

I can't help this... even if it's a little off topic...

Why should someone have the burden of paying just because they were successful (or lucky)? The idea of going after the rich is a populous method of gathering the most support for your side. What I found as I've moved along in my business is that the more money you make the more opportunity the government provides for you to hide it legally. I've been through more audits then I care to ever go through again, but each time I come out of them smilling. (This last time I came out with the government owing me).