Canadian vs. American Health Insurance: Polar Opposites!
There is nothing like waking up in the morning knowing that you are a Canadian citizen, especially after hearing the story we heard the other day!
Close friends of ours from Vancouver relocated to Utah about three years ago now for work. His family business started to flourish in that state so it became evident that someone from the company should be there on a permanent basis and our friends jumped on the opportunity for a change of lifestyle and new surroundings. This couple had a little girl while still living in Vancouver, B.C. about 5 years ago, so the three of them packed up and went on to start their new life in Utah.
Yesterday my husband phoned this friend to share the news about our new addition with him and to catch up on their lives as they are expecting their second child in December. This time though they will be having their new baby boy in the state of Utah. His wife is already scheduled for a pre-determined date to have a c-section, so they are not only preparing for that but also the costs involved with the procedure.
The American health care debate is an issue every Canadian can barely understand. Although every nation has their “nay-sayers”, the fact that we can visit a Doctor as often as we want, have anything fixed as often as needed and have access to life saving surgeons 24 hours a day is a ridiculously good deal! It only costs $96.00 per month for the two of us, and let me tell you…we have used our share, plus some, of the Canadian health care system!
So my husband was very curious to find out how our Canadian friends feel about living in a country where health care is almost non-existent. Of course knowing that spraining your ankle in the U.S.A could set you back a fortune, they immediately applied for health insurance upon moving to Utah. However they were recently told the approximate cost of their birthing procedure, and the price tag…………between $6,000 to $9,000 dollars WITH health insurance!!!!
The worst part of this is that they have to pay $750.00 per month for health insurance for their current family of three! They are great sports about it though, they understand this is the cost of business in the states, but being from Canada they also know how unaffordable this is for the average citizen and how absurd the argument against nation wide health care is.
Our friend also went on to say that their 5 year old daughter had a fall and split her lip recently. They took her to the nearest emergency room and had assistance immediately. She was stitched up and sent home and after insurance the bill was…..$2,500 dollars! Holy Crap! I still can’t get over this story!
My problem with the American health care system is that how can anyone live their lives to the fullest in peace and happiness with a 1 million pound elephant hanging over their heads which could fall at any time! How does anyone get by in a day knowing that they could be bankrupt tomorrow!
For every Americans sake, I am hoping and praying that Obama can make a miracle happen once again and give his people the true gift of freedom which they DO NOT HAVE. You are not living in a free country if you do not have the security in knowing that you are being looked after and treated equally by professionals whose sole purpose is to protect you and keep you well.
I am forever thankful that when it comes time for my big day, I will be admitted to the best hospital in British Columbia, have various surgeons beside me in case of complications, have a private room and private bath (with a jacuzzi tub) with husband where we can stay together until it is time to go home. The best part is that we both go into the hospital to experience having our baby, with no fear of the expense, or how we can afford it, what we are going to have to do to pay this all off.
We go home without a bill, all expenses paid! We certainly won the lottery living here!
Categories: Medical Procedures | 
Tags: american health care, canadian health care, having a baby in Canada, having a baby in the USA, the cost of having a baby, the cost of having a baby in the USA | 
2 Comments »
Amen sister! I am the first to admit that our Canadian health care system is not perfect (most recent example – H1N1 flu shot clinics), but at least we all have access to health care. In my province we don’t even have to pay any fees!
The only time that I have been in the ER is when I had my miscarriage. Obviously I knew before I set foot in the door that I was not going to be a high priority for the doctors (unfortunately there wasn’t much they can do), so I came prepared. I brought a book and even an apple to munch on. I was in the ER for several hours, but I was treated with extreme care and dignity. It was by far one of the worst days of my life I can’t imagine what it would be like to have been sent home with a bill as well.
Best of luck to you and your friends.
Thanks for posting this article. I’m decidedly frustrated with struggling to search out germane and sound commentary on this matter. Everybody now goes to the very far extremes to either drive home their viewpoint that either: everyone else in the planet is wrong, or two that everyone but them does not really understand the situation. Many thanks for your concise, relevant insight.