Obamacare may cost you $$$. Understand what you are buying.

I'd like to know the answer to this question, too. I just hear that some other countries have it.

socialized medicine

noun any of various systems to provide the entire population with complete medical care through government subsidization and regularization of medical and health services.

Origin:
1935–40

wiki (gasp)

Actually we can't call the AHCA "socialized medicine" see if you can figure out why with this definition:

Medical Dictionary
socialized medicine so·cial·ized medicine (sō'shə-līzd')
n.
A system for providing medical and hospital care for all at a nominal cost by means of government regulation of health services and subsidies derived from taxation.

I just learned today that as a smoker I am going to have to pay 1.5 times extra for my healthcare once the affordable care act kicks in, what's so affordable about that. I have schizophrenia and we smoke at a rate of 70 to 90%, much higher than the general population. This is in my opinion discrimination. Why not charge those who eat high cholesterol diets pay more, or the obese, why not the alcohol abuser or known drug abuser, how about the sedentary. Fact is there are more than one unhealthy lifestyles yet only one is being made to pay more. In my opinion this is BS.

I am so glad to be a Canadian. Our system isn't perfect, but you aren't going to lose your house if you get sick. We pay more taxes on our income, and we pay high taxes on our purchases (especially in Ontario & Quebec), but not on medicine or healthy food. We can see a doctor at any time, at no cost, but you wait. And wait. Family doctors are hard to find, and of course you have to make an appointment to see them, but you'll never be turned away because you're broke. If you have a prescription, it's out of pocket, unless you have insurance through work to cover drugs, dental, glasses and extras (like semi private hospital rooms, chiropractic, massage therapy, etc). However, if you get cancer and you can't afford treatment, you still get the treatment. There are agencies in place in the health care field who find the coverage for you and get you something. My ex brother in law needed a kidney transplant, and had no healthcare coverage. The specialist he was seeing found him a representative who worked to find him a free health care plan, because he had pre-existing conditions, not trying to preclude him because of it. His mother donated a kidney, he didn't have to pay a dime, and his meds to prevent rejection are covered at 80% for the rest of his life. He also received medical leave pay, and his mother also paid nothing out of pocket. My sister was also offered the medical coverage since she had none. He would have died without the surgery, and had no collateral to pay for it if he had to. I don't know how you Americans do it - in Canada, an illness like cancer is a disease, but for millions of Americans, it's a death sentence.

Thanks, crazy. The way we've been doing things down here hasn't made sense. I think it's ridiculous for anyone to say America can't afford to provide good basic healthcare to all. Until we get that situation covered, we can't afford all this military spending that has gone on in the middle east.

America has resources that are sitting around unused. The main ingredient in getting anything done is labor. We have unused labor sitting idle in this country. People who have jobs and health insurance and are kind of happy with the way things have been fear that, if some poor person down the road is given some healthcare, that the cost of it is coming out of their pocket. This is a simplistic view of things and not how it really works. America has the resources. It's time to marshal them.

It's ridiculous to think that we can't do what Germany, and France, and Sweden can do. We can!

I'm blessed to live in a place where the local county provides a plan for all low income people. So I am covered to the hilt for just about everything, even though my income is extremely low. I get great healthcare through the local state university teaching hospital. A week ago, I was sent for a CT scan because of abdominal pain and diagnosed with something new and effectively treated for it. It would be false to think that, somehow, America would be richer, if that CT machine were not used on me. It is false to think that someone in my county is going without something they need because I got an expensive test performed on me. That's not how economies work.

As a nation, we do fritter away our wealth on all sorts of crap. If a little of that gets crowded out by Obamacare (which I doubt will happen) twill be no loss. Improved health care implies improved mental health care, which we here at PC should really value. A healthier nation is a more productive nation. Better mental health care could make life better on a number of fronts.

Socialized medicine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.........." Socialized medicine is a term used in theUnited States*to describe and discuss systems of*universal health care—that is, medical and hospital care for all at a nominal cost by means of government regulation of health care and subsidies derived from taxation."........"Because of historically negative associations with socialism in American culture, the term is usually used pejoratively in American political discourse." ~~ I noticed JD left that part out but I felt it was important to note. I am not sure that was left out intentionally, but it brings up important factors when talking about a universal heath system and cultural differences that cannot be side stepped easily. Seems misleading to ignore why it is called socilized medicine in America, and if that is really the best way to describe it. Beliefs we hold onto might also very well impact whether something will be a success or failure. ~~"by the 1930s, the term socialized medicine was routinely used negatively by conservative opponents of publicly funded health care who wished to imply it represented socialism, and by extension, communism." It is interesting to note that in the states you have things such as public libraries, not "socialized" libraries.

In Canada we don't call it "socialized" health care. We call it universal heath care or public health care. The word socialized does not seem to carry the same weight here with many people like it does in America. It's not a dirty word. Our health care is not free either. It is free only when you speak in terms of point of service. It's mostly publicly funded through taxes but not entirely. We have a mix of public and private sectors.

This explains Canada's system pretty well. It is not easy for me to explain, it can be complicated. Our system has problems as well, wait times has been a big issue, we have seen wait times dropping. We have shortage of dr's as well which leads to the wait times. Many dr's leave Canada to go to the States where they can make a huge profit not that they do not get paid very well here, but obviously they can make a lot more money in the states because of your system, this was a much bigger problem in the '90's, which we have been working to correct and have seen a big increase of dr's practicing in Canada. Health care in Canada - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I would rather wait a little than not be seen at all. USA does actually have wait times as well for somethings. I would think that knowing you have to wait sometimes (not all the time ) because almost everyone needing treatment is recieving it would be worth it. How comfortable is it knowing that there is often no wait because because so many people who need the same treatment are being denied?

Overall I am very thankful for our system, even with some of the problems. I would never want for-profit health care. We do need to work on our systems short comings, but I personally feel fixing our problems is better than scraping it and switching to a for-profit or private health system. I am pretty sure most Canadians would agree. When I looked at the AHCA plan here, I don't really think it looks like socialized heath care at all. Not to me anyways, or universal heath care. Most Canadians would absolutely freak out if our government completely overhauled our system to a private one (not unlike many Americans reactions), but unlike America I am pretty sure that is because we know what we have.

I have never seen a dr bill, psychiatrist bill, hospital bill. I have never had to check first when one of my children or I needed medical attention to see if I could afford it or if it was covered. I do really appreciate that fact.

Sorry for the wiki links, but I was having a hard time finding an article that explained it well. Hope that helps give you a better idea.

Article below explains some of the major differences. I don't agree with everything said in this article but the differences are there. I don't know if AHCA is going to turn out to be a plus or minus, but it is not a comparable system to Canada's really. I do think AHCA is a least a step in a better direction. I find health viewed as a comodity especially disturbing. Baby steps I guess is how I see the AHCA, which is odd since so many americans seem to view it as a massive overhaul to something completely different. Doesn't look that way to me, look similar to what you already have, with some changes trying to address major holes and pitfalls in the system. In my opinion, it's just not universal ("socialized" if you prefer) enough.

Obamacare vs. Canada: Five key differences - The Globe and Mail

On the prescription end in British Columbia we also have Fair Pharmacair. Other similar programs in other provinces as well...Provincial Pharmacare Programs in Canada

I have looked up before how much I would be paying in the states for certian things I have needed up here like my daughters surgery. If I ever recieved a bill like that there is no way I could have paid it. And the payments would cause futher decline in our health since that money would not be able to go towards preventitve meassures or other health related costs or just plane living necessatites. It would become an even bigger burden on the society at large in many areas then it needs to become. How does people not paying the bills add up? Either way looks like a problem that just spreads.

AND what we have not discussed is that many, many medical doctors are closing up shop (their offices). My own MD has added homeopathic and also skin care to her office in the last few years...and I am her only "disability" paid patient! She keeps just because she is a real doctor and claims continuity of care for me (or I'd be out on the street with the insurance ***** doctors.)

BUT our health care will be higher even if the insurance wasn't...because there will be fewer doctors who will charge more, or have longer lines etc. and we'll be waiting like the rest of the world on socialized medicine. We won't be able to even obtain healthcare...

and I think that really might be one of the goals of this administration? Mr O told us in speeches how the elderly and how the disabled don't contribute to society...how we may need to go home and die...go home, take the little blue pill instead of the one you need, and stop being a burden... that the nation's assets need to be held for those 18- 35 (I think that's the age range he gave, but nevertheless young adults) who may need health care and can contribute to society.

So...if there is no real benefits for elderly, for disabled, for the mentally unwell...what will happen to them (us)? They will die, or eliminate themselves...of in the case of the latter, confined into institutions that deliver no real care but only beds and drugs to keep them quiet and not too big a burden on society (or, gasp, like in the old days, euthanized--which with the younger generation learning to not care about others, may very well pass laws to get rid of us, this huge burden on them.)

It's a big domino effect...proven out by history. How do we stand up and stop this nonsense? I have yet to find someone who truly will benefit ongoing from this "AHCA" of tax by the government for health "insurance".

I heard Bill O'Reilly last night (didn't plan on that) and he was so far off the mark regarding mental health care and coverage for preexisting conditions it was laughable. I thought he did better research.

Anyone with a preexisting condition pays hugely inflated premiums (or is charged, I doubt any of us can pay them.) So? Yeah, those with a preexisting condition will not have health care and will ....die? Go home and be quiet and leave the rest of the socialized nation alone?



I generally have hope (God loves me!) but in this situation, I do not, I do not have any hope that our politicians are truly going to resolve this in a beneficial position for the American citizen.

I challenge you to prove that Obama said anything remotely resembling this. I think you do a disservice to anyone reading this thread who does not know the facts.

Take your own challenge and google it...all of it...in at least 2 speeches I heard for myself... he warned us... yeah he may have watered it down in speeches after...but he said these things.

I shouldn't have to do all your work for you....people who like to just listen to good stuff by the mainstream media. You wouldn't believe me if I did give you the links. I just did a quick search and found 2 links... without trying. Anyone can find them too...without even trying. (but yes, remember Obama had the internet cleansed of bad things said about him...)

Lots of stuff can be found on the Internet. For instance:

"The Obama White House continued with its policy of official coverup of the extraterrestrial presence on Mars, as well as coverup of U.S. President Barack H. Obama's personal visit to Mars..."

Obama Visited Mars, President Response To 'ET Disclosure Petition' Continues ET And Mars Coverup - UFO Blogger : Exclusive 2013 UFO News Stories, Flying Saucers and UFOs Sightings Videos

Well, I know it to be true.... I heard him in those speeches and I also heard him and the Mrs say lots of things others seemed to ignore (like how she promised we wouldn't recognize our country when they were done). I heard him and couldn't believe it... and discussed it with those around me at the time...

you know the days, when he told Joe Plumber what he did? That's when he was saying the things about not wasting resources on the elderly and the disabled...of which I am both.

So don't believe me, you have that right. I say we were warned and we deserve everything this guy is giving us because of our ignorances.

When so many Americans seem so disgruntled with their country and they way things are.....just maybe not recognizing it when they are done is a good thing.

JD, As a chistian I am sure you are familiar with concepts like rebirth and transformation, in a positive context. Why then does transformation or rebirth of a country have to be a bad thing? Did you and the people around discuss that as well?

LOL. I just almost fell off my chair. What a great example. Thanks for finding this.

Other people gave good answers, but one point, I think, was not covered. ANd of course each province is different, because healthcare is a provincial matter. So, in my province there is a cutoff point where you'll have to pay 100% of the premiums. Then there are tiers below that 80%, 60%, down to 0% that you would have to pay monthly if you make little money. So everyone can be covered if they register for it.

Looks like right now the rates are $64 a month for one person or 116 for a family of two. And then there's the premium assistance I described above. If you make less than $22K per year, you pay zero:

MSP - Premiums

Of course many jobs cover healthcare benefits, and then you don't have to pay this at all. Some things aren't covered, like physiotherapy. So while Walt would be okay, Hank might still be up the creek (Breaking Bad reference.)

Or Hank may be covevered through msp if he qualifies... for 10 or is it 12 visits per year to physio/ chiro/ massage/ or nautropath. I know with my coverage I have that. I am not sure how universal that is ? Sadly nothing will help Hank now anyways. :'(

H3rmit, wow, that sounds really good to me.

Seems like Hank wasn't covered by his work policy since it happened when he was not at work? That didn't make sense to me at the time. Or was he suspended? Shouldn't that have been with benefits. But then it would fit the story. I think they stretched the obscure facts there.

I got 10 per year partly covered with my school extended medical policy. Probably typical.

...don't know if this is right place to post this but,

I just spent 3.5 hrs trying to creat an acct for husband.

No go, says system is unavailable.

So not even close to the ins part yet...

When? Also, what will be left?

I am totally confused.

No need to reply, just a rant.

The computer system, at least in many places, from what I have heard, is not working well -- so it is not you, it is the computer system or software they are using. But you have a month or so to check it out, so maybe they will have it fixed before then.

Here is an unofficial site from the Kaiser Family Foundation, to calculate the subsidy that you may get with the new health care law:

Subsidy Calculator | The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

It may give you an idea of your situation, and may be faster for now than the government site.