Homestead mailing list

[Gil White <gil.white AT xplornet.com>]

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?