Yasmina2005

Dear Expats:

My level of anxiety keeps increasing every time I hear stories of people waiting months and months to see a specialist. Some people are really sick and yet they seem unable to set a doctor soooooooon. This is scaring me ALOT and I do not know what to do if I get sick and need to see a specialist soon...

Canadians keep bragging about their health care system when they compare themselves to the Americans. But, actually they are missing the point. They should stop comparing themselves to the Americans. Instead, they should compare their health care system to the ones in countries that have universal health care. This way, they can compare oranges to oranges and hopefully, they can better criticize their own system and make politicians more accountable..

1- Does buying a Canadian private medical insurance help in seeing doctors sooner? If so, can you please give examples of good medical insurances.

2- If not, can you suggest a good American medical insurance one can buy and use later if one gets sick. Of course, it would be nice if you can suggest something someone you know has indeed used in the States?

Thanks ALOT...I need something to lower down my level anxiety regarding this topic...

PS: Although I do not have a family doctor. I keep convincing myself I can always go to a walking clinic. BUT, convincing that family doctor to refer you to a specialist is one of the things that bothers me AND if he/she is convinced and gives you the referral, then you will have to waiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit months and months to see the specialist.............Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....It does surprise me that Canadians seem not to be bothered much about this critical issue of health care and the looooooooooooooooooooong waiting lists.

Big GG

Although I am no expert on Canadian health care system, ( I will be finding it out once I land soon) it seems to me that the system is designed primarily to make the best use of resources. There is also some sort of resource levelling process along the way. The problem is that the system has to deal with real people and people do not like to be "resource levelled".

Tangram

Point 1 - No.
Point 2 - No.

Atlantic Xpat

Purchasing Canadian Health insurance does not get you to see a Dr or Specialist faster. It covers costs of drugs and other expenses. There is no BUPA or PPP equivalent in Canada. The only way to jump the queue is to go South (or East) and pay for medical care privately. No idea whether an insurance product is available that would cover this but imagine it would be hugely expensive if it did.

Canada's healthcare system is OK but like so much in this vast country it varies in quality from region to region, if not town to town. We have no problem finding a GP or Dentist here. (Have an excellent GP & a so so dentist.). Healthcare provided when our daughter was born was exceptional. Relatives have battled cancer, obtained treatment and survived. YMMV of course.

Unless you have some particular condition (& if so, that might make immigrating a problem in the first place), then healthcare should not be a concern provided you are comfortable with a 'NHS only' model and don't feel the need for BUPA/PPP. Or that you have bags of cash and can head south for care as and when you need it.

Zoe Bell

just curious as to whether you've actually experienced health care in Canada or if your rant about " why do Canadians put up with it " based on anything other than what you think it is like.

As others have said its hugely dependent on area.

I live in Toronto , haven't even attempted to find a family doctor. I use an excellent walk in clinic , which only has two doctors , so chances of you seeing the same one are high.

I got referred quickly to a specialist when I needed it. There was a waiting list of a couple of months for the operation.

The same op I had in the UK , I waited 18 months.

I fail to see a problem personally

iaink

I'm not aware of this happening. If its something trivial you will have to wait longer, but if its life threatening they take care of you. Certainly no worse than the NHS anyway, and probably better.I think some orthpedic proceedures probably have a longer wait than is ideal, but thats about all that springs to mind. Its a question of spreading the resources fairly for all to benefit, and that appeals to the pinko liberal at my core. True, but there are probably not that many better examples. Germany perhaps?When you look at the balance between level of care and GDP spent its not a bad balance. Seemingly exponential medical inflation though (more often than not insurance driven) is a worry though looking to the future. No, it doesnt, it covers drug and dental, physio, private rooms etc, not access to physicians. My work benefits now include a "second opinion" kinds of thing called "Best Doctors" or some such. Thats as close as Ive seen. Not sure you can, wouldnt you need to have US resident status and a lot of money. US health insurance premiums are a nightmare, thousands a month for a family, and your provincial coverage in Canada will take care of you anyway, along with supplemental benefits to cover drugs and other expenses
There are some places with GP shortages, but in the cities its not an issue. Even in areas with shortages they are being addressed by recruiting programs. My area used to be dire 4 or 5 years ago, now its no problem. How hard it is to get a referral will depend on the doctor, its not been a problem for us.

Im not sure where your info on waiting lists is coming from? Scaremongering US republican propaganda perhaps?

dgagitw

My experience in Toronto is that it's not much different from the NHS in terms of access, treatment and wait times. I found a GP quite easily (called three, two had spaces) and I got to see a specialist with a couple of weeks wait when I needed to. One thing I would say is that the screening and follow-up is probably a bit more thorough here (at least for my problem at any rate).

dollys_girl

As a Canadian, I personally love our health care system. Even moving provinces in Canada, you have the same problem of finding a new doctor and learning the process. When I moved provinces I went to a walk-in clinic and at most you can ask if a doctor is taking new patients. Many will once you have been there once or twice. If you establish a relationship with one clinic or a regular GP, there should be no issues of referrals should you ever really get sick.

The biggest initial issue you need to be prepared for is that you usually need to be resident for 3 months before you become eligible for the provincial health care plan. Once you are eligible, some provinces (BC) you pay a monthly fee or some employers have the coverage set up as an employer paid benefit. In Ontario, the cost of provincial medical is a portion of payroll tax and the employee never pays anything. Many companies will also have medical supplements (chiropractors, prescription coverage, etc) and dental coverage in their benefit insurance plans.

In Canada, if your doctor says you need to see a specialist, your waiting time will vary with the popularity of the doctor or the specialty of the procedure. In the states, if your doctor says you need something and your insurance company does not feel you need it or don't want to pay for it, they'll just overrule your doctor and deny the treatment.

Yes, there are always exceptional cases you hear about in the media of people not getting treatment but if you have a critical illness or something serious, you seem to get seen much faster - there is prioritization. It's more common that you will get bumped for a routine procedure because a sicker or more critical patient needed the procedure or operating time. You don't hear about this side because most people are reasonable and don't mind being re-scheduled for a priority case. Long waiting lists are mostly related to transplants and it's hard to control how many people will be organ donors.

Don't worry so much or you really will make yourself sick! And register as an organ donor when you arrive. Everyone should.

Cookie

I haven't had a major medical procedure done here but I had a non-emergency gastroscope done in January this year. Went to my family doctor one day and asked for a referral. Got a phonecall from the hospital the very next day. They set up my consulation for 2 weeks later (Christmas and New Year in between). Booked me in for 2 weeks later.

A few months earlier, my mum (71) in the UK had to wait 14 weeks total for the same procedure. Although not an emergency, she was suffering from stomach ache, bloating and nausia throughout that time probably because they took her off her pills while she waited for her procedure - why I don't know because she was on the same meds as me (I was kept on mine). Would you believe it, we were diagnosed with similar problems, one of which is a hiatus hernia (aye the apple doesn't fall far from the tree lol).

I dread to think of the outcome if she had something sinister going on there. Waiting times can be crucial

My dental treatment here has been brilliant. I pay less here than back in the UK from a non-NHS dentist (due to most NHS dentists becoming private). In my opinion the quality of dental care here is far superior. Very much into preventative care instead of waiting for problems and patching them up. Check-up and 45-minute hygenist appt only costs me around $23 and I always come away with free toothbrush, toothpaste and floss. Fillings have cost me around the $20-$40 mark.

I also get $500 of massages a year included in my insurance. A 45-minute theraputic massage costs me $15, insurance picks up $50. A great de-stresser for me because my work can be stressful and I am a bit of a fidget too lol

mardyarse

Speaking from our experience of the health care in Canada I have to say its been absolutely faultless, efficient and the patient's needs come first before cost.

Immediately we were able to sign on with our local GP who is young and has a fantastic way with patients. My husband after 20 years of suffering with chronic back pain got to see a Toronto specialist within 3 months of initial appointment with GP. The only place with the expertise to do his operation was Sunnybrook in Toronto. So this meant numerous day trips and then within 5 months of specialist appointment he was called for his operation.

We of course had out of pocket expenses such as travel, hotels etc., for me and the 2 kids. But after 10 days I was able to drive him back to Ottawa (he got knocked out with drugs for the journey) in the back of the family van with the seats out! Not ideal but at this point in the game we were so grateful that somebody was willing to do the tricky operation.

My husbands life has completely changed and he is so much happier and able to move as normal.

He is a twin and he and his sister have the same inherited vertebrae abnormality. She is now still after 3 years waiting for an operation date. She is a mother of 5, works for the NHS, had to pay private for a specialist otherwise she wouldn't be this ahead of the game and has paid for a private MRI scan.

My son has had concussion and a suspected broken foot both times he accessed the emergency unit at the hospital and was fast tracked for x rays.

I too, have had women's problems and had a mammogram within days, bloods done numerous times and results within days. I've been diagnosed with a condition I've suffered with all my life but was left undetected in the UK. One condition that was detected in the UK turned out to be wrong when double checked by my doctor over here.

I can't praise the health care system enough in Canada. We live in Ottawa and I'm not sure if that has something to do with it. I'm sure its not the same for everyone and my heart goes out to anyone who hasn't been so lucky.

iaink

Wow, thats really cheap! I thought my dentist one of the better ones around here as he charges more or less the amounts agreed by the provincial association that the insurance company payouts are based on. My clean & checkups are ~$52 per unit for the clean (x 1.5 for my english teeth), $18 for a polish and $31 for the exam, about $130 all in. Xray are about $30 a pop. My oldest had her 1st filling done yesterday. It cost $130. The standard of care is, as you say, excellent.

NoreenC

I've been very happy with the medical care that I've received since arriving in Nova Scotia a year ago. I have a pacemaker and wanted to make sure that I was in the system for my annual check. I went to the walk-in clinic and got a referral. I've since had my check, and have also received other treatment when I needed it. I now have a GP and like, Cookie, have received excellent treatment from my dentist. I have a phobia about dentists but since being here have had a root canal and an extraction -( I finally decided that I should go to a dentist!) I had no problems at all. My husband has health insurance which covers drug costs. I landed as a PR and was immediately covered by the Provincial Health Care, as was my husband who was a returning Canadian citizen - not all Provinces do this.

mardyarse

Oh Dental I didn't mention. Very, very costly but it has to be said way ahead of the UK system. Lots of preventative care and not as cosmetically driven as the US. However, 1 child with braces right now thats cost $6000 and another one who needs them (will have to wait a bit as no insurance now!) will be another $6000 +. Regular check ups cost about $140 per person every six months.

I had a crown when we had insurance my contribution was $800 and the insurance paid the other $800. Hubby had his crown done and they charged him $800 with no insurance, not sure how that works out!

But it took my hygenist and dentist 1 year to put some health back into my gums after years of non preventative care by NHS dentist I visited every six months. Thank goodness we were covered by insurance then as that ran into $$$1000's.

Must admit I have no clue how people on low incomes/seniors or benefits can afford to go to the dentist in Canada. Not sure if they get any help or contributions from the government.

Cookie

Just checked out my yearly insurance paperwork (among my taxes paperwork). My current provider works on a 9 months basis (previous provider was 6 months). My bills are actually cheaper than I had quoted earlier:

16 NOV 2010 Dental X-Rays $54.00 @ 80% = $43.20 (Ins). I paid $10.80
This was for a 'fancy' whole head x-ray that rotated around my head and showed sinus cavities etc. Covered once every 5 years

16 NOV 2010 Perio Scaling & check-up $72.00 @ 80% = $57.60 (Ins). I paid $14.40

It's been a couple of years since I had a filling. I usually get Fluoride treatment which is $15 (I pay $3).

My lovely dentist puts freezing gel on his adult patients gums prior to injections. I never feel anything - every little helps

Just ready Mardyarse's reply and I too had poor treatment back in the UK for my gums. Took a couple of years of treatments here from my hygenist but they are now healthy. It never really cost me that much. I am soooo pissed at my UK private dentist because I went every 6 months but could still have lost teeth and bone plus there is a link to gum problems and heart problems!

Braces are expensive but the results are worthwhile. They are also into removing all wisdom teeth here in most teenagers. My son had his removed because his teeth were nice and straight and 2 wisdom teeth were coming in squint and would crowd his mouth causing his teeth to start moving out of alignment. Cost $1700, of which insurance picked up $1000. His care was excellent and you would never know he had them removed the day after surgery - only a tiny bit of swelling (they promote ice packs and chewing gum here to keep swelling down and stop the jaw seizing). My other son is due to get his wisdom teeth removed this summer (same problems). Previous surgeon retired so now there is a new dental surgeon in town every Friday from Halifax and he appears to be cheaper. I am waiting for my quote.

iaink

Oh, that was just what you werent covered for, not the actual cost. I misunderstood. My insurance covers a straight 80% of the guide cost for most standard maintenance.