Health Plans

loriangel14, RN · Apr 6, 2009

Our health care system is not perfect but I am grateful for the care we get. I am secure knowing that as a parent I can rely on my kids getting the care they need, regardless of my financial position. As a recently diagnosed diabetic I receive all my follow up care, chiropody, and eye examinations without having to worry about cost. I never have to question whether my care is going to approved by someone in an office while my health hangs in the balance. I know there are horror stories about wait times but these are rare. A close friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer and was in surgery within 48 hours. She received the best of care and faced no bills.

Is there anything specific you wanted to know about?

allnurses Guide · Apr 7, 2009

Our health care system is not perfect but I am grateful for the care we get. I am secure knowing that as a parent I can rely on my kids getting the care they need, regardless of my financial position. As a recently diagnosed diabetic I receive all my follow up care, chiropody, and eye examinations without having to worry about cost. I never have to question whether my care is going to approved by someone in an office while my health hangs in the balance. I know there are horror stories about wait times but these are rare. A close friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer and was in surgery within 48 hours. She received the best of care and faced no bills.
Is there anything specific you wanted to know about?

I'm assuming you are in Ontario?

Thank you!

loriangel14, RN · Apr 7, 2009

Yes I am in Ontario.

allnurses Guide · Apr 7, 2009

Yes I am in Ontario.

I was so impressed with their web site.

My for profit site does not inform anyone of our benefits.

There are several plans depending on many variables so what care is available to me for a co-pay of $20.00 is not covered for someone else.

I wanted to know if the Ontario system was as good as it appears to be.

Your experience seems very good.

I've actually had no major problems (so far) with my Blue Cross.

When I had PacifiCare I suffered delays, red tape, pain, and longer disability. Taxpayers paid when I couldn't work so we ALL paid for their incompetence and greed.

I'm hoping everyone in Ontario has the finest possible healthcare.

loriangel14, RN · Apr 8, 2009

Well you have to realize that OHIP and Blue Cross are much different. OHIP is the coverage that Ontarians get and it is covered by our taxes. Blue Cross is separate insurance that you can buy coverage through. With OHIP all citizens get a card and all you have to do is hand over your card at the hospital or doctors office etc. There is no negotiating or different coverage, no different packages. Some people purchase Blue Cross to cover the extras that OHIP doesn't.Ohip is the government funded health care we all are eligible for, and Blue Cross is purchased privately.

loriangel14, RN · Apr 8, 2009

All the provinces have the same Health Insurance Plan (UHC) it is not just Ontario.

Thanks for listening.Many people criticize our health care system without understanding it. Some of the impressions they have of our system are completely off base and this is what they base their opinions on. Perhaps I have been guilty of the same thing. We need to listen to each other, not endless stats and propaganda in the media.Like I said, it is not perfect but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

What is you perspective of your system or the health care plan you are under?

allnurses Guide · Apr 8, 2009

I pay extra for what I think is a better plan than the one my employer would pay 100% for.

So far so good but I know a disabled nurse who had the same plan. She went through denials for an out of network specialist. Her medication was prohibitive.

She is now paying full price with COBRA.

COBRA is a guarantee that an employee who leaves a job can purchase the same insurance for a period of time.

She has been told that her premium will go up after the time runs out.

By then she hopes to have Medicare for disabled people.

I wish we all had Medicare. It is only disabled people and those over 65.

My nurse friend could give piano lessons but not work a shift as a nurse.

But then wouldn't qualify for Medicare.

Without healthcare she couldn't do much of anything.

So she gives free lessons to kids whose parents can't afford music lessons.

loriangel14, RN · Apr 8, 2009

So she has to ask before she can see certain doctors and they can say no? That is something we don't have to worry about. Are premiums really high for most basic insurance? I have heard people say they think we pay outrageous taxes to fund out healthcare system but I have heard stories of ordinary American families paying hundreds each month for insurance that gives poor covereage. How much of that is just hype do you think? I am sure there are exaggerated stories about your system, same as ours.

Ginger's Person · Apr 8, 2009

I live in the US and have Anthem BCBS. I pay $100 a month for a minimal amount of coverage as a 'just in case I get cancer or in a car accident' policy. I have a $5000 deductible, so in theory, they'd cover the really bad bills up to 2 million dollars after I pay the deductible. There was a pretty scary clause in tiny print on the application... if they discover that I received any health care that I didn't report, they can cancel at any time. I tried to remember ever single UTI etc, but who knows? Maybe I forgot something that would allow them to weasel out if I ever make a big claim.

I haven't been able to see the women's health NP I used to see because they won't cover 'mid-level providers' who bill directly for their services, so that was sad. When I sent them an email asking about this policy I got no response. My boyfriend goes to a university that offers pretty comprehensive primary health care to domestic partners for a small fee, so I go there for all my health care instead of using the BCBS network, and I save a ton of money by doing that.

The (very eager) salesperson for this policy wasn't very knowledgeable about what the plan actually covered, although that wasn't so different than other plans that I shopped for. I chose a BCBS plan because it covered international care, including Medi-vac rescue, and I traveled to some rural areas last year so I thought that it was a necessity.

I'm a young, healthy, non-smoker with no preexisting conditions and no previous major medical expenses, so I imagine many people pay much more than I do for this amount of coverage.