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  • From: Gil White <gil.white AT xplornet.com>
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Homestead] The future of eldercare in the US
  • Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:34:29 +0000 (GMT)


I'm glad to see another Canuck on the list, though I suspect your gardening
conditions are more like Kentucky then Ontario.

Also thank you for explaining our provincial system better then I could. I'm
from Ontario and our system is very similar to British Columbia's, with one
exception. The basic insurance costs are covered by employers so the
individual doesn't see the premiums. And it's not a cost per employee type
payment. I'm self employed so the cost for my wife and I is paid for by some
other company.

There was an additional premium added on a few years ago along with a
corresponding cut in services in an attempt to rein in the escalating cost
and that is paid for my the tax payer. It's lumped in with their regular
provincial income tax. It's a sliding amount that amounts to about 1% of your
income.

There are some other costs that the patient pays for directly - over the
phone prescription renewals, general check ups for insurance or school forms,
etc.

As for the care of the elderly, the sad thing is that they get the health
care that they demand. By that I mean too many of our elderly are old school
don't complain until they can't function types who wait far too long before
being treated or else they accept a brush off where a younger person might
get an alternate opinion or go elsewhere.

Although alternate medical treatment ( live blood cell, hair analysis, even
chiropractic or physiotherapy ) are not covered there is a growing movement
to look for other treatment then doctor's offices and hospitals. A friend of
mine works in prenatal clinic that has a number of midwifes and that is
covered by the provincial health plans.

The view from the center.

Gil



On Aug 9, 2009, EarthNSky <erthnsky AT bellsouth.net> wrote:

Thanks Fred for taking the time to share your firsthand knowledge.
One question...do you feel that the elderly get as many diagnostic tests
or good a treatment AND service as someone who is say, 30 years old?




  • [Homestead] The future of eldercare in the US, Gil White, 08/10/2009

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