TLR01
105624
1935
65
Just want to hear from real people about this.
FP Update
Yeah these are the answers I expected thank you guys.
Dec 2, 2020 5:08 PM
TLR01
105624
1935
65
Just want to hear from real people about this.
FP Update
Yeah these are the answers I expected thank you guys.
SledgeAntilles
When my family doctor suspected I might have MS, I received two MRIs and met with a neurologist in under three weeks.
SledgeAntilles
The reason it took so long was because it was late March of this year and COVID threw a wrench in everything.
ParallelParkingInABurka
German here. AFAIK it's the same as in the US: no wait for GPs, but sometimes for specialists (not if you're severely & acutely ill, ofc).
LeftBauer20
Yeah, if you think US times are fast, you're wrong. Was a 6 week wait for non-life threatening cardiologist appointment.
ParallelParkingInABurka
Well, yeah, that's what I meant with longer waits for specialists. Would be the same here.
critternyc
It's not. My buddy is Canadian and here working at Google for a while. He's amazed at how bad our healthcare system is.
DrewBerg
If it's an elective procedure and no ones life is in danger, sometimes, but generally no. Source: my Canadian family members.
Gaeltach
99% of the time this is completely false. If I need healthcare it’s accessible with little to no wait time at all, and no debt.
TexMexHex
We, as Americans, are constantly lied to and told "we are the best, ask anyone, the best" sound familiar? But it isnt a new sentiment.
ezuroski
A lot of the stories here are Canadian: http://www.pluralofanecdote.com
rando84
US health care is basically an extortion racket disguised as a health care system and protected by bribery. All perfectly legal, which (1
rando84
only makes it dirtier somehow. At least the Mafia has the decency to be discrete with their extortion rackets. (2
ballinthegroin
When you take into account the time you have to wait for a successful GoFundMe campaign, it evens out.
clevername13notfound
I laughed then got sad.
ParallelParkingInABurka
*kristen bell laugh-crying gif*
tarataqa
ParallelParkingInABurka
Thank you! I must have accidentally un-favorited mine.
tarataqa
I got it from the Imgur GIF dropdown menu.
ParallelParkingInABurka
... I do keep forgetting that exists. It never loaded for me in the first months I was here so I became self-sufficient with my gif-supply.
luminousmidnight
technologicallybemused
bazinga
delpharseven
Went in with suspected kidney stone. IV and drugs for pain/dehydration right away, blood and urine tests to confirm, xray within a couple 1/
delpharseven
of hours to locate it, bed overnight, CT scan to get the size and shape of it (I think that is what it was for), drugs to deal with pain 2/
delpharseven
and make it easier to pass. All done in about 18 hours. At no point did I have to open my wallet. I'll gladly pay taxes for that. But 3/
delpharseven
keep in mind that we Canadians spend *less* in taxes per capita for health care than Americans do!
4/4
plonk422
does that take into consideration GST and PST? (been out of the country for 3/4 of my life)
delpharseven
I'm not sure I understand how GST/PST come into play here.
BlueberryQuickjet
Wait a little longer for a surgery vs life shattering debt and possibly losing your home. Which is worse?
LoTRFanatic42
For an elective surgery.* If it's serious they won't make you wait at all.
kozure99
"I sold Americans a lie about Canadian medicine." https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/08/06/health-insurance-canada-lie/?arc404=true
easyoneundone
prismalaa
Some provinces with horrible premiers *cough, Alberta* that are trying to privatize, 42% of the doctors are leaving, so yeah... wait times..
AngryGraphicDesigner
You’ll wait for similar in the US and go bankrupt
Ri1988
Source?
KiwiGameDev
GoFundMe
Manse84
My mom tried the wait time in the UK argument. I pointed out how many months she waited on Medicare for her new knee. Ended that argument
Kbantar
Americans with insurance have to wait months to years for necessary surgeries, so it's still a meaningless accusation.
DarthPlague
wife in pain. Go to hospital. In 4 hours blood work, 2specialist & MRI done. Parking biggest cost. Turns out she passed kidney stone. $0
MyTalkingDogLied2U
It would be great if we didn’t have to pay for parking but in the big scheme of things we’ve got it pretty damn good. Not perfect of course.
BilboBagginses
False. Mother is 85. Had sepsis. Almost died. Ambulance to hospital. Five weeks there + 5 weeks rehab then 5 weeks home care. Cost? $45
BilboBagginses
The $45 was her share of the ambulance cost. Oh, I think she had to pay $11 for her phone at the rehab hospital. Sorry. My parking? $500
DigYourselfBaby
Hospitals are usually well serviced by public transit. Hospitals also have better things to do with their property than build parking lots.
BeerAndChips
Parking, wifi, and TV are where they get you. You're going to pay dozens of dollars. Glad your mom's ok
BilboBagginses
Thanks! She was back in there 3 more times for the same thing. But has been stable for four years now.
ILoveMyWifesFeet
Surgeries like knee and hip replacement can take years. No exaggeration. It’s far from a perfect system. However, I’d take this any day...
ILoveMyWifesFeet
...over the fucked up American system.
FinishingCarpentry
As a Canadian, I have never had to wait nor pay for any health services. We pay taxes for healthcare because we care for each other.
cjbrz
Yes, while we care for the entire world ahead of ourselves.
IamDooters
I paid $18 to stay overnight at the hospital after having a massive cyst removed. Worth it!
FinishingCarpentry
That was for parking? Lol
DarkMagic1516
Here in america we have people coughing on eachother and licking doorknobs.
FinishingCarpentry
https://calgaryherald.com/news/braid-as-kenneys-popularity-sinks-he-gives-anti-maskers-green-light-to-protest
FinishingCarpentry
Oh we have our share of selfish, ignorant fucks here too. Even our Alberta Premiere is spineless when dealing with those people.
delpharseven
He knows if he pisses them off they might vote for the Wexit pary instead of him.
FinishingCarpentry
He is more interested in profits than health. He really is a spineless pos.
FinishingCarpentry
They are adding to the stresses on our healthcare system because of their stupidity.
Gibblestick
it varies in Canada/UK depending on location/issue but at least you know you can get it done without going bankrupt (or you can opt to pay)
relpmeraggy
Upvoting cause enquiring minds want to know...
SurfHill
https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/podcast/2018/oct/truth-about-waiting-see-doctor-canada
Ri1988
No data, no study performed.
SurfHill
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3633404/
Ri1988
“Academy of Medical Sciences of Bosnia and Herzegovina”
Narcian
This is really good, thanks for finding this.
Lovethesmelloftoastedsourdoughbread
I didn't see anything wrong in what was presented here. Good source to share with anyone interested in our beautiful system.
ZorkManZeroX
Dot for future reading. Thanks!
tinyfootprints
We get good healthcare for free in Saudi Arabia. The US is so far behind but America is so physically isolated that most folks don't see it.
RagnartheCat
I had cancer when I was 17, diagnosed 1 day after going to hospital, started treatment the day after that, 0 dollars.
nosoupforoldmen
People's treatment is prioritized by how serious and urgent the case is. Vasectomy? 3 month wait. Emergency heart surgery? Same day.
BilboBagginses
Correct
RunningInSpaces
Wtf? You can go within a week. Where do you live??
carlthecad
Yeah, I only had to wait a week.
CoolGifBro
I want my vasectomy now, damn it!
Caromia
Elective breast reduction is 1 year wait lol. But it's free if they remove more than 200g.
madmatt2024
Wasn't there that woman that got quoted a 3 year wait for a hysterectomy?
Caromia
I personally know of women with bad uterus issues get a hysterectomy pretty fast. It depends on the situation I guess.
madmatt2024
I remember the article said she was "tired of transfusions" so I assume she had a bleeding problem. She ended up going to the US and had 1/2
madmatt2024
the surgery within a week or two. She had it done at the place in Oklahoma that has all of their medical prices posted online. 2/2
DoseOfScience
In the US, the waiting time is disguised as 'we don't take that insurance'.
Schmaron
Or “we need a referral”
Smeenu
Its always funny to me when I hear "yOu HaVe tO wAiT" in other countries. Meanwhile, in the US we just don't get the surgery cuz its $$$$$$
asoftstrawberry
I was in a waiting room once for 10 hours because I couldn't afford healthcare.
asoftstrawberry
I got more proficient health care in the Philippines and paid only 1000 Pesos (about $20 US). I was in a few different times. -->
asoftstrawberry
The visits I had in their healthcare facility would have cost me thousands in the US.
storebrandproductmascot
Driving past a hospital and looking at the building for too long costs thousands in the U.S.
Lyths
I’m using that the next time an American says they have no wait time unlike countries with UHC ?
DoseOfScience
If you want serious arguments, I'd recommend Healthcare Triage on Youtube, by the people that do SciShow. Favorite summary of Canada was:
DoseOfScience
"Canada's wait times are due to being fiscally conservative, wait times are not a mysterious symptom of incompetence" or similar.
spypengen
when I got pancreatitis and went to the hospital they didn't even ask for insurance until they took my vitals and everything.
barbarian818
And that is disgusting, because you know the reason they don't take that ins. is usually because the ins. co. dicks around too much.
RogueMachinae
My coworker is having bad knee problems. He has an HMO. The waiting and game playing is ridiculous. And that was just for an MRI.
TheVaal
There can be wait times. They vary by province, region, and procedure. The life saving ones like cancer, heart, etc are very quick /1
4EverZw
Once diagnosed yes. We still need some catch-up in availability of things like MRI's and PET scanners. Shouldn't have to pay for private one
TheVaal
But I don't have to save up for years to get anything done or face bankruptcy because of an emergency or a life saving procedure. /2
TheVaal
Wait times are a distraction from the real question, Do you want free health care? Yes or No?
ahnteis
It's not free. We pay taxes, healthcare should be one of the benefits funded from those taxes.
DrFunkinstein
What everyone seems to not be mentioning is the things that aren’t life threatening can still be life ruining, and those can still have
DrFunkinstein
Crazy 1/2 year - year wait times. I had a hernia that was basically debilitating and they booked me 5 months in the future to fix it. That
IamTOOOLDforThisShite
Depends on the urgency, the provincial standards, the local availability of surgeons, and other factors. Hardly the fault of the system.
Gorapora
Mmm I had a 4 month wait for an in network provider then had to pay a 20% copay on top of my monthly premiums.
DrFunkinstein
Being said if I lived in the states I would have just had to live with it basically indefinitely.
BobSmiley
Yes exactly . Living in discomfort also sucks
GrandProtectorDark
Waiting months is still sooner than Infinity
DrFunkinstein
Ya it’s definitely better here it’s just some people in Canada try and act like our wait times aren’t a problem and from my experience and
Randomice
For 99.99% of treatments this is false. Only for specialized operations like organ transplants and such it may take longer than in the US.
[deleted]
[deleted]
ICheckUsernameAndSuch
Same. (Not me, but close family friend waited in misery for years for a kidney transplant)
SurfHill
Needed organ transplant can actually be quicker in Canada. But, non-life threatening slower degenerating things do get prioritized by...
SurfHill
...time put on the list and condition of patient. Sort of like here. You can't buy your way to the top of the list for surgery though.
galumphingalong
This relative lag for elective treatment of course only exists if you're insured, if you're not then US wait times are infinitely longer.
Rahava
As long as targeted donations exist you can buy your way to the top.
BluescriptII
Transplant researcher here. About 100 of these happen each year, a tiny sliver of all transplants. Nobody is "buying" organs.
GayCanadianJew
Not up here. The super rich up here will buy organs IN AMERICA, and get the surgery there. But not up here.
BTass
I think they mean if a person says they will donate a kidney to you, the hospital cant give it to someone else. Not sure though.
valen00
Don't forget wait times are shorter for some things in the USA because many of their population can't afford it so they don't go on the list
fessusIntellectiva
Take a little longer? Maybe. Bankrupt you? Nope.
ArtemisFolly
It's also for any sort of procedure deemed "elective", even if it's time-sensitive.
Ninjainslippers
My understanding is elective surgeries can take a while, because they prioritize care for more urgent procedures.
xSquireRamza9
I tried explaining this to my parents and grandparents once. They said that tiny sliver of an exception was worth our healthcare being broke
insomniac24x7
It’s bullshit, I have employer provided health plan, a very very high end plan. And I wait for a specialist for a while. This is a bs arg
Snooj
Is that because your healthcare is so good it takes longer for people to die and make organs available?
sydneygirl
there is an incentive to have healthier populations. Vaccinations are mostly free, public health programs etc
sambaah05
Sauce?
Recaffeinated
Yeah this is largely untrue at least in Eastern Health. I've waited and seen family wait months for testing let alone surgery.
SuperDuperMissile
It's false for psychiatry.
NoWonderImStillAwake
That's incorrect, the wait times for elective surgeries like joint replacements are significantly longer on average in Canada than the US.
vatnick
Old people have power, they want new joints, this is why they say the Canadian system is bad.
sydneygirl
smaller populations can also have delays with organ transplants simply because of smaller pools of suitable donors dying
mcfuckstick
luxury organs
komododave
Corinthian leather kidneys.
Ri1988
Citation needed
LeftRightThere
Need a dead person to get organs (in theory), if America had better care there would be fewer donors. Lawyered.
NoNameFred
Most organs, but not all
ambiencenever
Eh. Most organs from my hospital are from head gsws and no helmet motorcycle/atv, and unrestrained drivers. We offer high quality trauma 1/
ambiencenever
care, but if you braindead, you braindead. Could make argument that helmet and seatbelt laws are "healthcare." I just think it's nice that2/
ambiencenever
if someone doesn't use their brain, then they have the opportunity to proffer their other organs to someone who might.
FloodingWaters
my new response when some pad nanny asks why i'm not wearing a helmet is "i'm an organ donor, i'm saving lives out here, just not mine"
kirshi
Not necessarily. I've waited 3-6 months for MRI/CT. I also waited 3 1/2 years for one surgery, 8 mo for another. Urgency and wait lists.
kirshi
But I also love in Alberta and our government is destroying our healthcare so... YMMV
SeeEmilyPlay81
I needed MRI 3 months out & had to call and rebook when they booked it 1 month out. Also waited 2 months for elective surgery. Lucky I guess
kirshi
Lots of lgbt, BIPOC, and disabled people are treated very poorly in the system. Sadly I'm not the only person all my friends have had issues
Spacepizza125
Wooo! Yeah Alberta! Let's reduce Healthcare spending during a pandemic and push for a semi-private system that benefits no one!
kirshi
So much fun right? I've never seen such angry fiery eyes from my phsychologist and doctors when I've brought up the UCP.
channelranger
Yeah, if you need a specialist of any kind in the states you usually have to schedule way out *anyway*.
ArtemisFolly
Depends on where you live
RaeNashon
Yep, our derm schedules out 6 months right now and GI for colonoscopies is about 8 months except for emergent needs
ProducerTory
Not even a specialist; I needed a physical from my primary care doctor in June, and they weren't able to see me until November!
Cthulhuchooseyou
So, basically it's part for the course, and Repubs have been lying to fill their pockets, while Americans suffer and die.
surfer008
As a Canadian it seems the private sector doesn't want to give up its share of pie. But I guess it's all in the details of how the system is
surfer008
Put together and operated. We have private health services too, and cosmetic and elective stuff that we can pay for if we want
Cthulhuchooseyou
As an American, this system is ridiculous. Health for profit.
thisguy79
I think more accurately, pharmaceutical companies are lying their asses off and paying Republican leaders to repeat the lies. Too much of
thisguy79
the republican party hear the lies and believe them without ever investing their validity. It also helps that they use buzz words
thisguy79
from Cold War propaganda to convince boomers national Healthcare is evil.
mrromero
"Par" for the course. Like in golf.
DirtyChalupa6669
Always heard the term, understood it in context but never knew why.
Cthulhuchooseyou
Autocorrect. Didn't catch it.
TurangaLeelaIsMyMom
Cthulhu is allowed to write whatever he wants.
MagicalHamFlaps
from what i understand, elective procedures you have to wait. life saving and quality of life things are asap
Rkhbusa
You get shelved pretty hard for quality of life procedures, life saving is the only priority. A hip transplant could be 18 months.
Asciiman
Yeah. It's like that. I have had multiple procedures as had my wife. Nagging knee pain. You wait. If the leg doesn't work, then right away.
CheetoDustedMalcontent
This is true in the US as well hilariously. It will take several appointments and referrals if it isn't life threatening.
Richter12x2
Gotta milk that for all it's worth. They're only allowed to charge a certain amount per visit, so I'm afraid it'll take 5 visits to be sure
PackedCatMeowingPowerDensity
Correct. If you are not dying you might have to wait a few weeks. Which is preferrable to having to sell organs or your kids to pay.
Sacramant
3 month wait time for an MRI for my wrist for an old injury, however going private would only have been ~$500, tax deductible.
DigYourselfBaby
It's triaged based on urgency.
cephalopodrex
I got bumped five months elective surgery because the cancer patients needed to go first.
Velglarn
not entirely true. If they have the OR/surgeon available, you get it done immediately. But you can get bumped for life saving or emerg
mynameisntreallyhenry
That’s the same as the US. All have to wait
MagicalHamFlaps
unlike the US you do not go into debt from it
mynameisntreallyhenry
That’s true. Make no sense we have to wait and still pay for it. We need universal healthcare
MagicalHamFlaps
the average american pays enough in taxes that we could afford single payer and save money
SgtLemming
Yeah that was fricking amusing when the Koch's commissioned a study into it... and it found it would save $2 trillion over 10 years....
MasterGibly
I’ moving to Canada as soon as this pandemic bull is over with, provided they let folks through at that point.
wipethatfaceoffyourheadbitch
Ok but maybe let people get their old jobs back first before adding yourself to the job market.
MasterGibly
Wow, it’s like you guys didn’t read “after this pandemic bull” at all. It’s like you have to take every comment at face value or something-
MasterGibly
I get folks like you have to nitpick and prod every little comment you can bend into an non-existent conflict that you can to feel whatever-
MasterGibly
Emotion you simply can’t do without otherwise, just do it in a more entertaining way next time, no one likes a stinky wet blanket.
donthaveonebrojustlurk
You have to wait if you don't want to pay....it's not like we can't get anything done on demand for money, either here or abroad.
johnvictor
Same even in the US as well, it's no different in most parts of the world. The argument used to be even life saving ones had to wait.
Enginerrrrrrrrr
Which is exactly the same in the usa...shit you cant even go in for a check up same day and usually wait a week or two.
lolhwat
My dad had a blood disorder and a stroke at the same time. He was treated the second he was in the door.
HansVerhaegen
"wait" is a big word. You make an appointment and only then go get your cataract/vasectomy/wisdom teeth removal done.
IceBearisGood
Honestly it's the same in the US. I've had to wait weeks for an appointment with certain doctors. It sucks when we both work the same hours.
linweelle
Not really. I wanted something done, and I got it done pretty quickly. Two weeks.
zylla2
Wife's aunt had a heart attack, she was operated on the next day. (Canada)
SeanBeanDiesAlot
Depends on the elective and depends on the province though
TheFrenchGirl
In France we call it planned with the time needed to be prepared. By opposition to the emergency procedures, as surgery if you break a bone.
pkerteam13
Few questions, what do you mean about elective procedures? Life savings is like car accidents or cancer right? And Q.O.L. being flu shots?
commanderding
Almost every pharmacy offers free flu shots - walk in basis,vaccines go to a walk-in clinic or fam doc.accidents = any procedure right away
MagicalHamFlaps
some elective procedures have longer/shorter waits based on quality of life. getting a knee replacement that is not causing debilitating 2/3
pkerteam13
Thank you for clarifying
MagicalHamFlaps
pain has a wait that is longer than one that causes major pain and disruption to your life
MagicalHamFlaps
example of an elective procedure is a vasectomy or having a benign cyst removed. life saving is handled right away additionally 1/2
pkerteam13
Thank you for clarifying
MagicalHamFlaps
you are most welcome, the lies spread about single payer healthcare need to be dispelled so we in the states can join the 21st century
wipethatfaceoffyourheadbitch
You’re basically being triaged with life threatening issues taking priority. Even a flu shot is available at any walk-in or pharmacy for $0
Ri1988
Because they don’t have enough resources, because their budget is limited by govt.
wipethatfaceoffyourheadbitch
Sorry, whose side are you on? Wait times for non-life threatening things will always depend on the hospital capacity at the time. It’s not..
wipethatfaceoffyourheadbitch
perfect, but it’s better than going bankrupt over a gallbladder removal like my SIL. And they would only do it when it was about to burst.
skipweasel
Much the same in the UK - if it needs urgent attention (recently someone we know with a brain tumour) it's very fast - surgery in 3 days.
idontthinkheknowsaboutsecondbreakfast
Work in UK healthcare - can confirm. Urgent means urgent. Longer wait times for various surgery spending on need and where you live (1)
idontthinkheknowsaboutsecondbreakfast
In the country (we call it the postcode lottery). So roughly 1yr for knee replacement for example for non urgent however all completely free
thensaagent
America: So you'll have to wait 4 months because of paperwork. Everywhere else: If it's urgent, then it's bloody urgent!!
PJVeddersGirl
Exactly. My husband had a kidney transplant. His only hold up was getting the organ due to rare tissue type. 5 years dialysis, a >
PJVeddersGirl
Transplant and all related check ups. No waiting for anything and he only pays £10 per month for his meds -approx 13 pills a day.
ale624
In Uk. Fucked up my hand, didnt thinkmuch. had a dropin appointment and was booked into specialist care the next am, surgery that same day.
cheeseisatypeofmeat
It would have taken me a long time to get my gallbladder out probably, but it got infected so was taken out immediately and cost me nothing.
MagicalHamFlaps
the lies spread here in the states are mostly done by the insurance industry
skipweasel
And of course - you can always go private and have private insurance. It's not expensive - for our son in his 20s it's <£2/day.
MagicalHamFlaps
government isn't going to pay for your nose job
skipweasel
Can do - depends on whether it's sufficiently disfiguring to cause mental health problems. But generally no.
Fadetoblack021
I have "private insurance" and all it does in Canada is pay for a private room. Same doctor, care and treatment though.
MagicalHamFlaps
yup the main argument here in the US is that it would kill the insurance industry (personally an industry that needs to die) 1/2
Sapotaattori
But are they dead in other countries?
skipweasel
Let's hear it for the chimney sweeps (yes, I know there are still a few) and the knocker-uppers...
kirshi
Sadly a major QOL surgery for me took 3 1/2 years :/ I started having seizures I was so stressed. After surgery, they disappeared completely
kirshi
I'm UNBELIEVABLY happier now and I wish I could have gotten it sooner. Felt like I wasted 3 1/2 years... But I didn't pay a penny.
IamTOOOLDforThisShite
Sounds like there were other factors at play. I've never heard of anyone being scheduled more than a few months out.
kirshi
That's okay, sadly I'm not the only one. Trans and disabled people still aren't treated the best, even with our healthcare. No news cares.
IamTOOOLDforThisShite
Sorry for your experience. I don't disbelieve you. Still most Canadian health care is timely if not instantaneous
squatlow17
Some elective ones you wait like a month.
Me1iss0
Same as here in the USA in most cases.
MintMission
In the US electives also take several months
helterskeltr
Sometimes longer, depends on the city and how many doctors handle that operation. In Victoria, BC I was scheduled for a /1
helterskeltr
vasectomy and it was a 9 month wait, during that window I moved to the interior of BC, had to rescedule but it was done within a month
nyarlathotep777
Outside major centres, that can vary a bit. Especially if you have to go to a major centre, you may have to wait 3-4 months.
MagicalHamFlaps
so i have been told, the prevailing bullshit here in the states is that thew wait is years and people die waiting
tesselation9000
Not at all.
imgrBlowsSftDck69
People have died waiting in emergency rooms before, but those are often the homeless who cry wolf often and aren't treated seriously.
LaughingInTheFaceOfDanger
Nope.
Losts1gnal
I had cancer. It cost me zero dollars. Besides paying for parking. That's 2 surgeries, a radiation treatment and numerous overnight stays.
StooperDave
Zero dollars... but how many Canuck bucks?
DrewBerg
None. It cost two beavers, a moose and a case of timbits, Assorted.
xUnrealRealityx
Same here. At least a month of hospitals stays in a private room, two surgeries, 3 rounds of chemo, and at least 15 radiation sessions.
AHHHrealSKImonsters
This is true in LA county hospitals too. High quality of care for nothing. California is leading the country. I worked in county.
gis4gif
In the US parking alone can break the bank.
CosmicSurfingInstructor
I had everything for free in California. In Canada, I pay much more for far less. Parking at AHS lots are $$$$
gis4gif
Good, in Chicago patients have fund raisers to pay for hospital parking.
nothisisntme
Since we live close to the hospital, my mum doesn't even pay for parking. She's had 12 chemo trips and a prescription wig so far
sirbart
Huh, til prescription wig
Valkyyria
Is it so unnormal? In Germany you also get a prescription for a wig, if you loose your hair because of cancer.
sirbart
No not at all, it makes sense to me. I just never thought of it before
dwilson0725
They didn't cover parking?! What terrible healthcare. /s
coothlesscthulhuwastaken
Shit, I have "great" insurance in the US and my bout with cancer still cost me almost $15,000 so far.
christiangoth
Don't be selfish. That's very expensive in opportunity cost for the rich people who could have gotten richer off of denying you care.
tac879
Same! One surgery, nine weeks of chemo. Zero dollars.
rizion
It cost my mom and step dad a good amount but they had access to good work insurance. probably would be bankrupt if American though
GiantSchnitzel
Austrian: My dad right know has leukemia and gets very good treatment and my mom is in a mental hospital for ptsd. total cost: 0 Euro
Carnelianchick
I hope they both recover quickly x
GiantSchnitzel
thx
Spudnutted
Jesus. I had to stay overnight one night for a crohns disease complication and they sent me a bill for 12 thousand dollars.
sheebalasvegas
in the states??
Spudnutted
Yes. Montana. Granted there were a lot of tests but still.
sheebalasvegas
:( it would have been 0 up here in Canada
GTimgur
Well it did cost you tax but yeah, awesome!
AllisDashChalmersWasAnInsideJob
As a lower middle class American citizen, I pay a lot of taxes. Income tax, sales tax, fuel tax. Over 8k on the income tax alone. So yeah...
GTimgur
Yeah I getcha! I don't even mind an increase in tax, or better yet a reappropriation of current tax. But we shouldn't think of these >
GTimgur
services as "free" or "costing nothing", especially if we want them to be of competitive quality.
TheManWithTheVan
Congratulations on the “had”!
hwatL4bloopy
Yes but how long was the wait and how many appeals did you make to the death panel.
iamjackscompletelackofcompassion
YEAH WELL DID YOU SURVIVE IT THO
Losts1gnal
Um. Yes? I think?
andwings2go
Best friend fighting C in FL. She’s 15k out of pocket so far, but the parking is free.
retailmemedrone
Wtf do you get free parking??
andwings2go
Moffit Cancer Center, Tampa
Eaglemk4
Good ol freedom parking
Monsignore
Checkmate, socialists!
DigYourselfBaby
Same. NW ON. Diagnosis to surgery 1 week. Chemo. Home administered injections. Travel for radiation. No red-tape, no waiting for any of it.
DigYourselfBaby
MRI for my non-urgent knee injury 10 years ago took 6 weeks. Nothing to complain about.
NotAPervert
Imagine when the us finally gets universal healthcare politicians kicking and screaming the entire way. Hospitals will charge 100/hr to park
NotAPervert
Just out of spite
LordStatera
The realized something was messed up in my eyes Xrays, CT Scans day of. MRI within a week (waiting for me to get my braces off) /1
LordStatera
Got spinal taps, ultra sounds, and say a opthomolagist, neurologist, and neuro-opthalmogist with 24 -48 hrs of first discovery /2
LordStatera
It is slightly slower for non emergency things. But even then, not overly long, and the system works so that those who need more urgent /3
LordStatera
Care , get care faster. No system is perfect but I have never had a truly bad experience with the Canadian system./4
Spooner1
May I ask where? My sister and Bro-in-law have been devastated by cancer treatment cost...
huerrbuzz
Not in Canada?
ihavethisusernameinparticular
All of Canada
bastarddad
Same in Australia. 7 weeks of Chemo and rad therapy and it didn't cost me a cent.
Trelis
Most (all?) first world countries except US.
ZeroLogain
Quebec - wife has brain cancer with multiple surgeries and months in hospital. Was a couple of hundred total for all the meds and 0 for 1/
ZeroLogain
Anything in hospital.
MartinCrawfish
Good friend and co-worker spent the last year fighting cancer- same story...Vancouver, Canada
LSDontknowwhatsgoingon
Canada ON, my dad just kicked cancers ass. Only paid for parking. Max wait for a procedure was a week, and this was during Covid.
BeEvi1
You don’t even have to pay for parking. You can ask to get your parking validated if you are getting cancer treatments. My first wife, who
BeEvi1
lost her battle after almost 10 years never paid a thing, even for parking.
TangledHeartstrings
Your dad fucking rocks. I hope he feels stronger every day! ❤
Losts1gnal
Canada
DirtyChalupa6669
Lol
LtKifKroker
"OK google... how do I become a Canadian citizen?"
tesselation9000
Not impossible, but process can take years to become a resident. Helps an employer sponsors you.
MathiasTolerain
Unless you’re POC, young and rich, old and rich, or whore yourself out for marriage good luck. Immigrating to nations not the US is *HARD.*
MathiasTolerain
And if you are POC you need to be from the right shit hole nation. Sadly they do not consider the US a shit hole.
Ondipaoh
Wait... among the biggest countries ... with little population and you pay for parking !! You've been robbed man.
gmfunkd
I owe almost $3k for testing/3 hour ER stay after having a seizure. I almost wish my husband didn't call the ambulance.
f1223214
I'm flabbergasted when you think this logic isn't wrong enough to make you leave this shithole half-assed healthcare country.
gmfunkd
Don't agree with it but what else can I do. I certainly can't afford a move to another country. I vote for those who want reform at least.
f1223214
I really hope reforms will change it all. Because, IMO, it won't. Not until you do a operation coup-de-poing
commanderding
Ambulance ride = standard cost of $45 in Ontario.. that is if you can afford to pay.. if not, then it’s covered!
LSDontknowwhatsgoingon
Stories like this are mind blowing.
gmfunkd
I have decent insurance through my work as well but it only covers 80% of costs. My son's birth cost me over $5k after insurance.
Noahbalboa82
$6600 for mine, and the bill kept getting higher for months till it was all tabbed. Called billing, they had me apply for financial...
Noahbalboa82
... assistance, and they got the bill down to $1k. Otherwise, would have ruined my year.
iamleelou
My husband had a 30 minute ambulance ride to the hospital because he managed to get impaled on a boat cleat. The whole thing cost us $45.
Bigworm666999
Yea, you never want to use the ambulance. I cut most of my thumb off. Waited for my wife to get home from work to take me to the hospital.
jskskj8888
I once thought I had a stroke and got a Lyft to the ER
latinomartino
Dad did similar thing. Half his thumb, tips of the next two fingers. Drove himself while blood was squirting
SpaceSphere
Interesting fact. Gun and knife wound victims have a higher survival rate when driven to the ER vs waiting on an ambulance
SpaceSphere
https://www.baltimoresun.com/health/bs-hs-drive-to-the-hospital-20170920-story.html
MaladaptedMedic
As an EMT: huh, that’s actually pretty interesting. I presume it’s because with penetrating injuries, the best treatments are:
MaladaptedMedic
direct pressure to the wound and GET THE FUCK TO A TRAUMA CENTER NOW. Neither of those really *need* an ambulance unless you have
gmfunkd
What sucks the most is that I have good insurance through ork but they only cover so much...
Gsk0
I’m genuinely interested to know what makes it ‘good’ if it doesn’t cover stuff?
gmfunkd
It's good because if I wasn't covered, the cost would be much higher. I only have to pay $10 to see the Dr. And my pills are generally cheap
Bigworm666999
....hey, buddy? That's not "good" insurance.
gmfunkd
Unfortunately in the US, that is good insurance. Being a woman and having been pregnant, that already lessens what insurance covers.
JayEnfield
My dad had cancer, my grandfathers both have heart attacks. For all that we bitch about it, the system did fantastic for both of them.
PackardGoose
How long did you wait for treatment
Rijtjeshuis
... but those hospital parking fees are a real bitch, aren't they?
DigYourselfBaby
Lots of organizations in my town provide rides for medical appointments free. Chemo dept at hospital arranges for your taxi.
Rhannock
We complain about them!
ApparentlyNotEverybodyCanRelate
As we do about everything
nyarlathotep777
Politely?
dougswammie
Kidney stone just cost me $1,800. And I pay for insurance. WTF
ElPerroDeLosCinco
I could sell you my kidney stone for $1,000.
AngelButter
Just had my appendix out, I have health insurance and my hospital bill is $2524.36, I wasn’t even in the hospital for a full day!
Bigworm666999
My kid needed ear tubes. Deaf as a doornail. Cost me $2500 up front. I was paying $1300/month for insurance. That's the ACA at work.
Jadedlemming
I read this as sarcastic but then I figured it might be some faint praise for ACA. Which is about the praise it deserves.
Bigworm666999
I guess without the ACA, I wouldn't have had insurance and the procedure would have cost me $6500 instead of $2500 plus $15,600 in premiums.
Bigworm666999
So.....yea, Its great.
darthmom
Surgery to stabilize my broken leg was $35,000.
ShamrockerMechie
But how long did you have to wait for treatment to start? Or being diagnosed after you thought something was wrong? Was it delayed at all?
commanderding
Diagnosed at emergency Tuesday morning, rediagnosed at cancer centre Thursday, admitted for treatment following monday.
DigYourselfBaby
The less urgent, the longer the wait. Even in under-serviced areas like mine it's not unreasonable unless you're looking for allergist or
DigYourselfBaby
vascular surgeon. Diagnostics depend on where the nearest machine is - MRI is 200 miles away so wait is longer if non-urgent, CT next day,
DigYourselfBaby
ECG EKG same day, Stress test within a week. Colonoscopy 3-6 weeks.
ShamrockerMechie
Thank you!
HairyBrit
Presented to GP day 1. Blood tests done. Chest abdomen pelvis x-rays done that day. Day 2, phone call - "you are going to hospital today".1/
HairyBrit
In hospital for 1 week. CT scan. Lymph node & bone marrow biopsies done. Diagnosis day 10. Treatment started day 12. 2/
Losts1gnal
I got the results from a test on Friday. In surgery on Monday
Madcaplaughs84
It still bothers me that we charge parking at hospitals.
DigYourselfBaby
Hospitals have better things to do with their space than build parking lots.
ConfessionsOfASparkleJunkie
Same but hospitals have little recourse. They need to fund a portion of equipment costs when they want to add something like a new MRI.
aethryll
I am (no longer) against a social healthcare program. Study after study has shown the complete healthcare costs is considerably lower. But,
aethryll
you didn't answer the question asked. The question asked was about time not cost. I'm curious what that experience was like
dicknachos
It’s so hard to reply in so few characters so I apologize in advance.
Imhereforthelurking
As far as my research has taken me, electives and non-immediate care can have a wait period, but major surgeries and cancer treatments get-
Imhereforthelurking
Speedy treatment. All for effectively nothing besides vending machines and sandwich runs.
dicknachos
3 month wait for gallbladder removal. I had 2 attacks and no further symptoms so they scheduled a removal as a preventative thing.
dicknachos
Wife fell downstairs and sprained both ankles - 2 hour wait in emergency, X-rays and splints and meds, home about 6 hours later
dicknachos
5 month wait for hernia repair. Non strangulated, no regular pain so it wasn’t critical.
Caramster
X time for appointment is not tied to universal healthcare or not. It can be influenced by political means. In Sweden we have 0-3-90-90...
aethryll
I understand that for the most part (I didn't know about the 0-3-90-90 rule) but the counter argument against is that the lower cost of a
aethryll
single payer universal healthcare system invariably leads to a lower standard of care due to the lack of competition and bureaucracy. I'm
Caramster
...system where you are guaranteed initial contact the same day, maximum 3 days for medical evaluation, maximum 90 days for initial...
Caramster
...contact with specialist and 90 days maximum waiting for surgery or any other specialist action decided. If the caregiver can't fulfill...