BristolUK

How many posts have you seen from people with disabilities or parents of disabled children where BE members - dbd in particular - has enlightened them regarding difficulties in Canada compared to the UK.

Not many compared to "where are good schools?" but relevant to those who have been considering it.
Of course we rarely get to know if any followed through, but the lack of continuing discussion suggests they thought better of it or, at least, didn't rush into anything.

scrubbedexpat091

Compared what is covered by NHS and then compared what is covered by Alberta and choose which you think is best for you.

https://www.alberta.ca/ahcip-what-is-covered.aspx

Link covers what is covered, partially covered and not covered.

Piff Poff

I can tell you from personal experiences about the service and care we receive.
1. If I were in the UK I would receive free eye tests as my father has glaucoma, I don't here. Benefits cover $100 every 2 years.
2. Without any benefits dental would be pretty much unaffordable.
3. 2005, OH had emergency surgery, excellent care.
4. I had my tubes tied, within about 6 months of initial enquiry, 2 years later a hysterectomy again within about 6 months.
5. OH had eye surgery (strabismus) 4 years ago, quite the faff to begin with but also completed within about 6 months, is scheduled for another for the same issue end of July, eye went again in March, he avoided the faff by going straight to the surgeon.
6. I was rear ended April 2018, I had to pay for the ambulance and claim back. I wasn't x rayed in emergency and probably should have been. I have since been x rayed, same day as requested by the Dr. I have had to pay for all treatments for physio benefits cover up to $500 per annum, 12 sessions 1st time, 4 the second $89 per session. Massage therapy (cranio sacral) 3 sessions earlier this year 2 more with a possible 3rd this week $92 per session, but that actually makes the headaches go. Again $500 per annum covered under benefits.

We use a walk in Clinic, we had thought they were our family Dr from our 1st visit when i 'registered' but apparently they have no record of that. I don't get reminders for physicals, mammograms etc.

just a few incidents to give you an idea of what goes on in Central Alberta.

dbd33

Absolutely disabled people who have the option to live in Europe (currently including the UK) need to choose Europe over Canada. That's not quite the same though as comparing health systems as they apply to "normal" people. If your lifetime expectation is two broken bones, one heart attack, fussing over a cough every two years, then OHIP is as good as the NHS, though somewhat more expensive at the point of service. As regards emergencies, I asked a daughter (one with serious experience of trauma units in Toronto and London) where one should get hurt and she said "it depends who's on duty". That week one would be better kicked by a horse in Toronto but better burned in London; in either case the surgeon would not be from the UK or Canada.

scrubbedexpat091

Having a disability in Canada is tough, some provinces are better than others, better to be disabled in BC than say Nova Scotia.

Piff Poff

I think disability care and services is a whole different kettle of fish, I know my nephew would have a not a fulfilling life here compared to the UK, for example he has just been granted motorbility for ten years, which means my sister gets to drive a vehicle of her choice from a certain list, free of charge, including servicing, tires and insurance, replaced every three years for the next ten, as my nephew won't 'get better' the grant will likely be on going. It came at a great time for them as their dilapidated Clio was on it's last legs. She is now bazzing around in a nifty brand new BMW 218i and all she has to do is pop petrol in it. Here your lucky if you can get the Action Bus.

zdenka

I have lived in AB for 13 years and work in healthcare. I have never used the UK system as an adult so I cannot compare.
It can be difficult to find a family physician (but not impossible). And the wait times to see a specialist or get surgery can be brutal (depending on a specialist). I waited close to 3 years for a back operation (this is not uncommon). There is no private care so you need to be able to use what is available. However, you can get certain diagnostic tests if you pay ( MRI, either wait 9 months or pay $900 out of pocket to get it done today).
There is no cheap dental, vision, physio, mental health care unless you either have a private plan ($$$) or a plan provided through your employer (that will vary greatly). If you ever get sick and end up on long term disability you will get about 50 % of your salary if privately insured or again you will need a plan through work. I personally only need extra money for dental coverage but holy smokes the fees are steep ($600 for a routine cleaning and check up but I have a plan through work and my own so it's usually all covered). Any extensive dental work will cost you up to tens of thousands of out of pocket dollars.
I don't think the service is subpar but it has seen a lot of cuts over the last few years and more are to come (I feel like that is the case everywhere you go) which can complicate things. I know some people that travel abroad to get "things" done (from dental work to all sorts of operations) but that's mainly due to cost and wait time. I believe quality is never an issue. Overall, I feel it's a good system but definitely far from great.

scrubbedexpat091

In BC disabled have 2 choices (there might be other programs for certain disabilities so this is general of what disabled get.) if on PWD get $52 added per month to your cheque for transportation of your choosing, or not get $52 per month but get a transit pass instead.

BristolUK

It wasn't meant to be. It was just FL's observation of seeing nobody decide against coming to Canada for health service reasons.

Something like a fifth of the UK population have a disability and 7% of children. Most of those kids will have 2 parents, that's a significant number of adults with some form of disability affecting themselves, partner or child. The opportunities for moving to Canada may arise with them as with anyone else.

BristolUK

On the other hand, what's the point of some extra cash if it won't pay for the much higher housing costs?

scrubbedexpat091

Guess the question is can someone in Nova Scotia who is disabled find housing for $300 per month and can they live on the $275 per month they are given for basic needs.

BC allows disabled to work, so many on PWD work to top up their PWD income, a single person on PWD can earn $12,000 a year without their PWD being affected plus extended health benefits like vision, basic dental, prescriptions being covered.

BC like some other provinces recognizes that being disabled doesn't mean one cannot work, but one with a disability may not be able to work full-time and support themselves, so the system is designed to allow people to earn some income.

Even with higher costs in BC, I can't imagine a disabled person being better off in NS.

BC does have subsidized housing, not enough for demand, but many on PWD are in subsidized housing paying significantly less rent, single person in subsidized housing pays $375/month, which the ministry provides towards housing.

BristolUK

Not unless they get lucky. But I see BC's equivalent is $760. That extra $185 likely doesn't take care of the higher rent.
I know you've referred to BC paying a disability benefit while other provinces don't, but according to the Vancouver Sun, that $760 becomes $1183 with disability while NS would remain @ $575. Maybe that extra $608 helps. But from the rents you've mentioned, previously your lowest has been about $850 if I remember well. So that would leave $333, if you could get it. Not hugely different unless one gains from BC's more generous rules when it comes to earanings as well.
Probably true if that person is able to maximise income with that earnings advantage. If not, maybe not that different when all is taken into account.

scrubbedexpat091

Not everyone on PWD pays market rent, many are in subsidized housing which really makes the difference, of course not everyone on PWD is in subsidized housing and for those its difficult to find housing without sharing with others

For us we would end up homeless in Atlantic Canada which is why we stay in BC, probability of being homeless is lower since we have PWD safety net.

BristolUK

Yep, I remember from when we discussed it in detail before the disability related safety net in BC was the better one to have.

In some ways, though, it's kind of a negative. Putting aside other issues, purely in financial terms and nothing else, I do believe that with your record of employment, the wages you'd have been on over here would have left you quite a bit better off with the lower rent over here. And being that much better off and able to build savings may have helped with other issues.

But I understand that the moment something went wrong work-wise, then the financial position would be worse.

It's a shame you're not able to take it out of province even if just temporarily in the same way some provinces allow people to keep their prescription drug coverage temporarily when they start work.

scrubbedexpat091

If we could both work 40 hours each without any risk of relapsing mental health wise, we would be better off in a place like Moncton for sure.