"Doris Night" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 10 Apr 2016 15:51:52 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> > wrote:
>
>>
>>"Dave Smith" > wrote in message
...
>>> On 2016-04-10 11:52 AM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> That was the idea, but it did not work out that way. A few people
>>>> benefited, many did not. Many low income people are forced to either
>>>> pay
>>>> a premium they cannot afford or pay a penalty for having no insurance.
>>>> Varies by state, but if you have no income you are usually covered by
>>>> Medicaid.
>>>>
>>>> The plan was based on incorrect suppositions. They assumed that the
>>>> healthy 20 and 30 year olds would sign up, pay premiums, subsidize
>>>> others. They found it was cheaper to pay a $400 penalty than to buy
>>>> $6000 insurance.
>>>>
>>>> In another thread I mentioned situations like my son. He needs a knee
>>>> operation that under the old plan would have been a $500 copay but is
>>>> now $6000. He is paying the same premium, less coverage. Many people
>>>> have run into that.
>>>
>>> That same operation here..... no copay.... no charge.
>>
>>If they decide to grant it to you. And if you can get to the assigned
>>hospital if they do.
>
> If your doctor decides you need a specific treatment, you get it. And
> there's no such thing as an "assigned hospital" in Canada.

There was when my friend in New Brunswick needed a sleep study. They sent
her far away.

So are you telling me that if you need an operation, then you get to pick
the hospital? That any Dr. can practise at any hospital?

When I had my last two operations, I had no choice because each Dr. had
priveledges at that hospital and that hospital only.

When I was taken from the ER to be admitted (ER does not have a hospital), I
could not go to the hospital of my choice as they were full up. I should
imagine that things would at least be similar there.
>
> While we're on the topic, Americans (including you, Julie) frequently
> go on about not having access to doctors outside of their insurance
> company's group. I forget exactly what you call that. In Canada, there
> are no restrictions like that.

It's not out of our insurance company's group. Unless you belong to an HMO
which I would never do unless I had no choice.

Some Drs. and pharmacies take my insurance. Some do not. I think all
hospitals do unless they are run by an HMO. I also have the ability in many
cases to go to a specialist if I choose too. I do not have to wait for my
GP to tell me that I need one.