Post
by SlowLane » Mon Jul 02, 2012 10:58 pm
My experience with Canadian health (BC medical, specifically):
1) One rainy day in the fall of 1985, I picked up a Corvair transaxle the wrong way (ie. the stupid way) and herniated the L5 disk in my back. I actually felt it go "spurt". Mild discomfort at first, but quickly grew to full-blown sciatica in the following weeks.
2) Eventually went to my family doctor (who would now be known as "primary health care provider"), who prescribed a) painkillers, b) physical therapy, c) "light work". Since I was a construction worker at the time, "light work" didn't really encompass desk-work. More like carry only one bundle of shingles to the roof at a time instead of two.
3) Neither a), b) nor c) helped in the least. Doctor unwilling to do much else. Went to chiropractor, got standard endorphin rush from back-cracking, but no lasting relief.
4) About four months later finally convinced family doctor that I wasn't trying to pull a fast one (I hadn't claimed Worker's Comp because I hadn't been injured at work), so he sent me to a neurosurgeon, who measured my calf muscles and determined that I had muscular atrophy in my left leg (the one that had the severe sciatica). He agreed to perform his custom laminectomy surgery on me and put me on the waiting list.
5) Waited.
6) Waited.
7) Waited. (Ever had sciatica? Like a toothache all the way to your toes that WON'T go away? I very nearly rediscovered religion that year.)
8 ) Waited.
9) Nearly a year to the day that I injured myself, a slot opens up for the necessary surgical resources and I get my ass over to Royal Columbian for the surgery. Deal with surly, disinterested hospital staff and smart-ass anesthetologist ("So you're here for a vasectomy, right?" as I'm dropping off. Hilarious, asshole.) Wake up from the surgery with the pain in my leg wonderfully GONE. But now all the connective tissue across my lower back had been severed, so it takes another year and a bit before I can work comfortably.
10) Cost to me: A year's wages. Insurance premiums were thankfully reduced during this time, but only after I had to demonstrate that I was unable to work. (Oh yes, we do pay health insurance premiums in Canada. It isn't free, folks, unless you happen to be in the lowest income bracket, and it isn't optional). No co-pay, though (never heard the term until I moved here).
Fast forward to two years ago:
1) My wife and I are now subject to the tender mercies of Kaiser Permanante. On one of her regular checkups, the doctor has her kidneys x-rayed. A spot shows up which could be a cyst or ???
2) Immediately the Kaiser machine swings into action. She is booked for a CT scan, then surgery. Within a couple of weeks she is being wheeled into the operating room for orthoscopic day surgery to suck out her essentially non-functioning kidney. The doctors and nurses are extremely attentive and take the greatest care to make sure she understands what the procedure will entail. Each time she changes hands, the person taking custody of her confirms the procedure and (importantly), which kidney is being operated on. The surgeon actually puts his signature over the site where he will be working.
3) She spends one night in the hospital (somewhat rare, apparently), then is discharged. One uncomfortable month sleeping in the LazyBoy and she was almost back to normal.
4) Cost to me: $20 co-pay.
Note to BC Medical: you people can learn a LOT from Kaiser Permanente.
Despite those two experiences, I'm still a firm believer in universal health care. I understand that I am extremely fortunate and blessed to be where I am now and able to afford the health care I have. Had I been living in the USA when I injured myself, there's no way I could have afforded the necessary insurance to pay for my surgery, given my income level then. The advantages to the entire country of having its average level of health raised seem self-evident.
Finally:
A co-worker of mine (UK citizen, but working in USA and paying for private health insurance) was vacationing in France with his wife and young daughter. Daughter fell ill, was taken to hospital. Batteries of tests were run, diagnosis was made and cure was produced. Parents greatly relieved at level of health care provided, but then dreading the inevitable bill. French doctors waved them off, saying "We don't charge for taking care of children."
Damn socialists, eh?
'81 Canadian Westfalia (2.0L, manual), now Californiated
"They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance."
- Terry Pratchett
