Well..... Here's an honest story about health care.... in the US......
The President says 46 million without insurance..... The figures he quotes aren't proven. We had better (more accurate) counts back when Billary Care was bounced around.... and the figures were way off then also.... but easier to surmise the truth.... even though Gore's internet wasn't yet common place.
Obama says insurance can drop their coverage for new health conditions......
I don't know what country he's from or where he's going..... but if he keeps lying to the people about this...........hmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!
Unless this is an individual thing with the states..... and I don't think so ..... because I believe it is already a mandate of federal law and regulations in the US upon the insurance industry.....
If, while you're already covered by insurance, you develop an acute or chronic health condition.... as long as your insurance coverage continues with premium payments.... you cannot lose coverage for 'conditions'. If, after having insurance coverage, whether with or without medical conditions, one transfers coverage from one policy to another so that there is no lapse of coverage, particularly through the provisions of employment provided or offered health insurance... then pre-existing conditions are usually covered. If its a case of a voluntary transfer of coverage.... then different conditions may (emphasis on MAY) allow limits on preexisting conditions..... but the individual should have already considered this and examined his options before separating from one job voluntarily or shopping for new insurance under a known pre or potentially pre condition.
But if a questionaire is required for coverage.... people are expected to answer honestly and with holding information can subject them to loss coverage or exceptions due hiding or lying about conditions: This is proper as the person seeking coverage should be truthful, and the business of insurance needs the additional actuarial data input to adjust annual changes in premiums to reflect its ability to service the policies and remain solvent. Whatever may be the impression of working with insurance.... for those of you outside the US.... the policies offered through most employers are offered as a 'group' plan..... and those often subscribed to by individuals are also often grouped by some demographical data system...... so the premiums are standardized within that company for 'the group' to which you belong. Private insurance (it is considered 'private' whether your company 'self insures' its employees, or purchases a plan through an insurance company or one chosen by the individual in preference or absence of employer provided insurance.... have a cost protection provision: They may contract with some medical providers/ labs/ hospitals/ to provide participants with services.... with agreements to accept participants co-pays (usually a small amount..... $5-10) and discount the charges to the company. The plans may allow for 'out of plan' consults, second opinions, personal choice of doctor..... in which case, plan agrees to pay its usual fee within the guidelines already set.... and the participant has to pay the undiscounted balance....... unless he's successful in negotiating with his out of plan doctor to accept the insurance and pass a discounted balance on to him to pay.
Also, for non-emergency or elective conditions, health insurance companies have an advisory board which requires and passes on authorization for treatment. This authorization often takes place the same day as requested. If delayed by questions or turned down.... one still gets a timely notice regarding status. This is what some are complaining about with the Obama plan as to some it seems like a repeat of the same..... There is one BIG BIG BIG difference, however: Under private pay insurance, if your doctor recommends a treatment and your insurance refuses to authorize it.... the insurance companies have policies and time frames to give you a formal response..... and you have a formal option..... which may include court or arbitration if you and/or your doctor is unhappy with their decision. In the event that the insurance company refuses to pay.... and authorize a needed treatment, and after exhausting one's appeal.....before receiving the care... one still may have a position to sue the insurance company to make them pay for the medical expenses provided one carefully jumped through the proper hoops .....and it can be shown that the company acted unresponsibly and arbitrary in its decision or its processes of notification or reviewing supporting information. BUT, the government can and does excuse itself from obligations of arbitration (and from suit for any wrongful action or decision by its agents.....including medical personnel and equipment failure)..... if it should disagree with your doctor's recommendation. The fact that one may be willing and able to pay for the extra expense which the government refuses, may actually be held against the participant..... and his doctor fined for going out of the boundaries o f his employment.... as the government is now both the payer for services and the employer of the doctor who delivers the service.
(I've thought about Palin's pregnancy.... high risk, pre-diaganosed probable down's syndrome....... under Kevorkian/Obama care... she'd likely be counseled to abort.... and it might be 'forced' via..... all or none compliance to receive medical services.)
I've had COBRA on two occassions... and each time, received an affadavit from companies attesting to continued coverage without lapse which insured that my next insurance would not hold preconditions against me, provided I obtained coverage with in a given period of time after separating from one company to another.
Now I have no insurance. I could really be in a foul way should something really major hit. But I know and impliment health practices..... I know and understand my health conditions. When I have symptoms..... I decide whether or not its necessary to see a doctor or try to figure what's going on and use reasoning to determine how best to self treat. Retaining whatever 'problems' I may have uncertainties about.... I keep these filed in a list inside my head to disclose to the doctor when I feel the need to get a check up or seek treatment. Recently, I knew I needed a TSH blood draw since its been over a year since medication was adjusted upward... and conditions might have changed. So having had some shortness of breath.... for many months (I see an oncologist twice a year... but not all complaints or symptoms are checked by him), I requested an EKG at the pay-cash-per-visit clinic where uninsured are seen for $40/ a pop. It showed heart trouble.... but this particular clinic only refers to the ER. Instead, I checked around and found that there's a group of doctors in the area that offers those without insurance and low income, low cost but good medical care. The next week I saw that doctor who refered me for blood work and an chest film.... and wrote a referral to a cardiologist. The next week I was seeing the cardiologist..... and the next week I was having a heart stress test to check the rhythm of heart beat and the functioning of the heart valves. I don't know that this experience is possible elsewhere across the nation.... but, I do know, that several things work in my favor... even with limited income and no insurance.......
1) God provides... (this doesn't mean to test him..... BUT it is only just that I give him credit above all persons and things which might have also worked in my favor)
2) I took responsibility for my health care and decisions including the time to know something about my problem and asked for help.
3) Of necessity, available services, either free or at reduced rates, are quite expectedly, unpublished and unadvertised.... so one must seek them out through the usual channels where such information is likely shared.... health department, social services, church or charity, other people in a similar situation.
4) To help these services work for you.... its important to refer to the information given and follow it to the letter regarding keeping appointments and turning in referrals for approval and getting authorization before accepting an appointment.
5) One may expect to be inconvenienced.... having to run in one direction to pick up an authorization..... having to wait a long time after the appointed time to be seen..... but in my area.... this is largely a donated service by the medical personnel and specialists, with some kind of pharmaceutical or state funded assistance given for some (not all) medications.
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So.......
I don't know how good or how bad Canadians have it.
I do know my parents, in their eighties, don't have any problem getting new knees, skin tags or cancers removed..... some even with the surgery continuing as a slow process of removal and microscopic checks between until all is clean and cancer free.... to prevent or reduce scarring.... and eyelid lifts or tucks.. etc. No delays in referralls and plenty of specialist available for consult.... and the latest equipment, and a hospital with all private rooms. When mother fell and broke her foot... a pin and foot set was in less than 24 hours... and, as her recovery time was uncertain..... insurance paid for the walker and wheelchair as well as two months in a nursing home where she could get daily physical therapy on her foot and leg. Yes.... already into her 80's.
