Ontario Heath Coverage

[ketchenany]

WE Ontarians pay a Heath tax on our employment earnings. I just discovered that eye exams are NOT covered for people 20 - 64! So if you don't have private insurance coverage you are on your own! I have coverage but a lot of us don't.

So why are we paying for this Heath tax. The last time I had mine checked it was covered every TWO years, when did this change?

 

This just came up in a family conversation as I argued with my daughter that she was covered under OHIP?

 

As this government the system and never told us?

 

Why are we selling electricity to the US for 2.4 cents a KW and we have ro pay for basic Heath services?

[manitoubass2]

WE Ontarians pay a Heath tax on our employment earnings. I just discovered that eye exams are NOT covered for people 20 - 64! So if you don't have private insurance coverage you are on your own! I have coverage but a lot of us don't.

So why are we paying for this Heath tax. The last time I had mine checked it was covered every TWO years, when did this change?

 

This just came up in a family conversation as I argued with my daughter that she was covered under OHIP?

 

As this government the system and never told us?

 

Why are we selling electricity to the US for 2.4 cents a KW and we have ro pay for basic Heath services?

I just got dinged on this about a month ago. $90 I wasn't expecting to pay.

[OhioFisherman]

http://shrinkthatfootprint.com/average-electricity-prices-kwh

[ketchenany]

I forgot to mention to our "leaders" the 20 - 64 are the ones who pay the "TAXES".

And why people on WELFARE get the coverage? I guess they need to see their way to the welfare office!

 

I'm at a loss for words on this. can some one enlighten me?

[John Bacon]

So why are we paying for this Heath tax. The last time I had mine checked it was covered every TWO years, when did this change?

 

 

It has been quite a while now. That was one of the first this McGuinty did; almost as soon as he broke most of his promises.

[captpierre]

What about dentist and pharmacy

[Paudash]

sort of like paying $12.00 to park at the hospital for 30 minutes in order to pay $35.00 for a MRI that a specialist at another hospital ask to see.

 

great system as long as you don't need it

[Musky or Specks]

Well as a diabetic Im covered but ..you know I'd rather pay for it.

[irishfield]

Whine all you want guys.. I've paid over 10 grand in hospital parking the past 5 years. A piss in the jar compared to being state side. The father in law had a pineapple tree spine in his hand in Florida... they took his credit card before they would see him in emerg and it cost him $3785 to be seen and just tell him why he had the bump on his hand. If he wanted the surgery to remove the thing it was going to be another 4 or 5 grand, so he came home and had it done for free.

 

Vision Care was dropped from OHIP at least 8 years ago, probably more.

Edited March 12, 2015 by irishfield

[manitoubass2]

Your right irishfeild.

 

Different countries have drastic differences. We still have it relatively good.

 

Fact is we shouldnt pay to be healthy and happy.

 

If your sick/illness/disease, why should you pay anything?

 

The whole ideology of this is drastically flawed.

 

IMO

[irishfield]

Like everyone else, I'd rather pay nothing... but the 10 grand in parking + somewhere around 60 to 70K in other uncovered drugs is a far cry from a guesstimate of about the 1.7 million that Jen has cost the tax payers of Ontario so far for chemo, surgery and radiation. If we would have been in another country this would have been totally out of pocket. I think our system works pretty darn well for the pittance that we get dinged for in "Health Tax". Of course I had a much different view on life a short 5 years ago....

[crappieperchhunter]

Well as a diabetic Im covered but ..you know I'd rather pay for it.

X2.

[FLEX ROD]

As one who has gone through hell over the past 20 years due to my crushed and shattered heel due to a car accident ( not my fault ), 8 surgeries later and living with chronic pain as a result of all of this, now not even able to work over 10 years, the cost of paying for a eye exam as irishfield said is just a drop in the bucket.

 

Canada's health care may not be the best, and yes you will pay out of pocket but if you had to pay for everything I think that the number you would be looking at then would bankrupt most people.

 

I really would not like to know what my foot has cost to date, both to the health care system and what it has cost me out of pocket in trying alternate methods in trying to maintain some quality of life and end of the day is that not the real question " WHAT IS QUALITY OF LIFE WORTH TO YOU?"

 

FLEX - John

[lew]

I'm gonna side with Wayne & FLEX ROD on this and also say I think our system is pretty darned good.

 

As I've said several times over the past year my wife has gone through some pretty serious stuff...which is hopefully all behind her now...and so far I haven't taken out my wallet for anything other than lots of hospital coffee and parking.

 

I have no idea what the cost would be for the major surgery, intensive care, many many many tests between Sunnybrook, Oshawa and Peterboro hospitals, cat scans, 3 months of chemo and a multitude of blood tests and so many other things I can't even remember them all now, but I'll bet it's HUGE $$$$

 

As I mentioned in another post, my wife needed a medication that cost $2100 for only 10 days and because she's over 65 the only cost to us was a $2 dispensing fee.

 

Diane will continue with follow up tests for a few years to come but once again it's all covered by OHIP and won't cost me a cent.

 

As for eye exams, we both go every 2 years for a full complete exam of pretty well everything and the cost to me is a measly $58 and the parking is free LOL

 

I've paid close to $100 each for musky baits and my go to rod & reel combo is around $700, my boat was close to $40,000 and the truck to pull it was darned near $60,000 so $58 to ensure my eyesight is good is unbelievably cheap but I spose we all look at things differently.

 

I imagine there's a few billion people in this world who wish they had it as good as those of us who live in Ontario.

[doubleheader]

I'm gonna side with Wayne & FLEX ROD on this and also say I think our system is pretty darned good.

 

As I've said several times over the past year my wife has gone through some pretty serious stuff...which is hopefully all behind her now...and so far I haven't taken out my wallet for anything other than lots of hospital coffee and parking.

 

I have no idea what the cost would be for the major surgery, intensive care, many many many tests between Sunnybrook, Oshawa and Peterboro hospitals, cat scans, 3 months of chemo and a multitude of blood tests and so many other things I can't even remember them all now, but I'll bet it's HUGE $$$$

 

As I mentioned in another post, my wife needed a medication that cost $2100 for only 10 days and because she's over 65 the only cost to us was a $2 dispensing fee.

 

Diane will continue with follow up tests for a few years to come but once again it's all covered by OHIP and won't cost me a cent.

 

As for eye exams, we both go every 2 years for a full complete exam of pretty well everything and the cost to me is a measly $58 and the parking is free LOL

 

I've paid close to $100 each for musky baits and my go to rod & reel combo is around $700, my boat was close to $40,000 and the truck to pull it was darned near $60,000 so $58 to ensure my eyesight is good is unbelievably cheap but I spose we all look at things differently.

 

I imagine there's a few billion people in this world who wish they had it as good as those of us who live in Ontario.

Lew, if you could modify a pair of those $58.00 glasses into a musky bait you'd be way ahead of the game

[lew]

You might have a point there Fred LOL

[manitoubass2]

I think our system is good. But I also think it has alot of room for improvement.

[Mister G]

Like everyone else, I'd rather pay nothing... but the 10 grand in parking + somewhere around 60 to 70K in other uncovered drugs is a far cry from a guesstimate of about the 1.7 million that Jen has cost the tax payers of Ontario so far for chemo, surgery and radiation. If we would have been in another country this would have been totally out of pocket. I think our system works pretty darn well for the pittance that we get dinged for in "Health Tax". Of course I had a much different view on life a short 5 years ago....

YOU didn't pay nothing at the time..........YOU have paid into the system right along......your smart enough to know YOU don't get anything for free.

[irishfield]

Note the last thing I said Mister G... I've lived my life since the age of 24, to at least 44, in the 50% tax bracket so yes I certainly paid my dues to our great government and indeed when it comes right down to it paid for her health care out of my pocket and then some. All in all, I'd be living on the street if I again had to fork out the past 5 years expenses for her procedures. I guess you unfortunately have to live it, to understand it. I won't get too excited for your next response, while I sit here at Sunnybrook waiting for her delayed final day of full brain radiation.

Edited March 12, 2015 by irishfield

[misfish]

Eye emergency visits are covered by ohip.

 

I was surprised I have to put up cash for cataract removal and new eye lens for both eyes. One has glaucoma.

 

There is lazer available for accurate measuring of the pupil.$100 extra. I was told there was also an upgrade lens for night time driving . It eliminates halos. (which I do see when driving when dark) Paid an extra $100 to the hospital for that.

 

If there,s one thing I would gladly pay for, it is my eye sight. $550 total for both eyes to be done.

 

As for what Wayne (and his whole family has gone through and others here),I would not wish that on my worst enemy.

 

Yes we do have a great health care system here.

Edited March 12, 2015 by Brian B

[Blue Lk]

After a couple of years of retirement I decided to work p-time & got a casual position at the local LCBO,this area sees more than our share of American fishermen & they love our Canadian whiskey (who doesn't).Allmost everyday one or more would complain about the cost of alcohol & gas in Ontario & how come we put up with these prices.I would answer with a question of my own."How much do you spend a month in healthcare premiums?"

That would normally end the conversation.

While our system isn't perfect it is pretty darn good.

[Ralph Field]

Wish I had choices of lenses when my cataracts were done. After surgeries Brian you will never have to pay for eye exams.

[ch312]

sort of like paying $12.00 to park at the hospital for 30 minutes in order to pay $35.00 for a MRI that a specialist at another hospital ask to see.

 

great system as long as you don't need it

 

You'd rather have taxes increased for every working person in the province to cover the cost of building and maintaining parking lots instead of just paying $12 the odd time you go? It's far cheaper for all of us for everyone to pay for their own parking.

 

The first search result on Google for a private MRI in Canada shows prices start at $895 and go up to $2450. Is $35 really too much to ask when most hospitals are already strapped for cash?

 

http://www.canmagnetic.com/scans-rates/

[Paudash]

Sorry to say but I would much rather go with the system pay for what you use instead of the crazy tax rate we pay. As our system is you pay unreal tax rates and get horrible service, in the states if you need to see a doctor you call them and see them that day, you need to see a specialist you call them and see the next week, no referrals just pick up the phone and make an appointment. I speak from experience of having a very sick child and having her be lost in this system so I take her to the states for treatment. Our system is fine for a cut or broken bone but when you are really sick with something that is not on our medical menu then you will see how terrible it is.

 

Yes the MRI may cost between $1000-$2500 in Canada but you need to wait 2-3 months and in the States it cost $500.00 if you want to wait a week or $1000 next day.

 

sorry for the rant but I speak from the experience of a sick child that our system failed and continues to fail, so we are forced to seek a medical treatment in the States and have never been charged for parking at a doctors office or an hospital in the States. Also when the MRI is done in the States they ask which doctors you want it sent to in Canada or the States and then they give you the DVD that you can give to any future doctor that can be copied as well. The DVD you pick up here can only be used once and not copied.

[irishfield]

I'm not going to complicate or question Paudash... you have enough on our plate as a caring parent.

 

DVD /CD what ever you want to call it. We've never paid more than 10 bucks and there have been numerous.. some have been free... I have every one of Jen's MRI's on my computer and probably why I only have 58kb of memory left. We copy every one of them, they are not a single use product.

 

Americans pay income taxes as well.. they don't ride for free and then they also have to either pay for their procedures or carry medical insurance. It all probably rounds out in the end.

 

Sorry to hear your child has been lost in the system... Jen was for well over a year, probably why she's gone through what she has for 5+ years as things progressed too far before treatment.

 

One thing I tell every friend I have with small children.. DO NOT FORGET.... you DO NOT need a referral to take your child to Sick Kids in Toronto, or London.. or Ottawa. That is a total Myth. Just show up at Emerg when you've had enough of your family doctor!