Re: Have pregnant fiance, no insurance :( ...advice?
WD, you should check out some state-sponsered health programs, too, not just national like medicaid. My mom lives is a state that has excellent programs/options for it's residents. I live in a state that has some of the most ridiculous, confusing, run-around paperwork programs. So check it out, you may find something better than medicaid.
Re: Have pregnant fiance, no insurance :( ...advice?
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she was allowed in the country with only her driver's lisence, birth certificate, and copy of marriage liscense (name change issue), and that was all she needed.
How did she cross over the border? And when she did cross, did she say how long she would be in the States for? If not, then LIE!! Don't tell them how long she's been there for, make up a date. Most of the time when crossing between Canada and the US they don't put it in any system. I did the immigration thing coming to Canada and stayed for longer than I was supposed while the process was going through. I lied of when I entered and they had no clue. As for the free health care in Canada, if this is your only option, you can come back and use it, as long as they don't know when you left Canada. Like I said, if they didn't scan your passport or stamp it, anything to that nature and you basically just entered at one of the borders and said "Just visiting for a few days".......whatever, you should be fine.
If you don't have any money for her healthcare, its best for her to come back to Canada. However, as someone stated earlier, healthcare is cheaper in Canada, but in my opinion it sucks! (At least it sucks in Ontario.) My friend is pregnant and does not have a family doctor (which nearly 45,000 in my city don't and can't get one because lack there of) she went to the free health clinic and the only thing she can get for care is a nurse practitioner. You are basically in the same boat in Canada as you are in the States for people who don't have insurance or a family doctor.
Re: Have pregnant fiance, no insurance :( ...advice?
LOL, I know I sound anti Canadian Healthcare, sorry canadians. I mean the American healthcare isn't perfect either. I think there needs to be a middle ground. Anyway, isn't Alberta really, really cold?? I can take cold, but not really really cold. lol
Re: Have pregnant fiance, no insurance :( ...advice?
There are problems with health care all over the globe. Personally, while I find the health care in Canada to work differently then in the US, I feel more confident that it's acutally about health, and not about the bottom line. And that is coming from an American doctors wife.
I had blood tests in the US that ran over 2000 dollars, and when I came back to Canada I was told that it doesn't cost much more 100 bucks to actually do the test. The rest is money that the lab pocketed, and of course the doctor gets a kick back for sending you to the lab of their choice. Someones hand is always in someone elses pocket. At least in Canada you can rest assured that you are not seen as a way to make money, like is often the case in the US.
HALF of what I've had SUGGESTED to me was not needed, but was obviously just another way to collect an insurance/payment fee. It's sad really. I hope Canada's health care is NEVER privatized. The US could really learn something from how we treat health care. It may not be perfect, but it's reliable, and as a whole, our country is healthier - mentally and physically. We have less scared teen agers giving birth in dumpsters, because not only is the health care and prental care free, but so is the counseling an support.
Re: Have pregnant fiance, no insurance :( ...advice?
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because not only is the health care and prental care free, but so is the counseling an support.
Prenatal care is free, but you have to have a family doctor to get it. In my city, Kitchener, you can no longer get a referral to see an obstetrician through a free health clinic. You must have a family doctor. You can go to midwives, the K/W Midwifery Association turned me down because I wasn't sure why I wanted to go to a midwife besides that I had no where else to go. They felt that wasn't a good enough reason. Now, I am 9mos and when I first found out I was pregnant I got the referral from a clinic, but they have since changed that. My friend is pregnant with no family doctor and cannot see a specialist. She must see a nurse practitioner.
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At least in Canada you can rest assured that you are not seen as a way to make money, like is often the case in the US.
No, but you are seen as a number. The doctors have a quota to meet in the number of patients they see, not the tests and procedures they do. I believe I said it earlier, that in free health clinics, there is a one illness per patient rule. You have to wait a few hours to get in as it is, why would you want to wait in line again?
If you do need a special test done, like MRI for instance, it takes nearly a year to get one. By then you have taken so many meds you're nearly addicted or walking in a fog.
There are problems everywhere with medical care, as you stated. I think there should be options for everyone. I don't think healthcare should be privatized here, but I think there should be some privatization for people willing to pay money to get in for necessary tests quicker.
Re: Have pregnant fiance, no insurance :( ...advice?
I don't know how it works in Ontario, but here you are more then welcome to pay for "extra curricular" procedures. That's not privitization, that's having a medical lisence and working indipendent from the government. It happens all the time. All that means is some things are not covered by the governemtn, so you have the option to either get put on a waiting list, or expidite the process and pay for it sooner. You can do that without privatizing.
Re: Have pregnant fiance, no insurance :( ...advice?
I've been to BC, its absolutely beautiful, maybe I should move. Everyone says the healthcare in Ontario used to be wonderful, it has since declined, drastically say the citizens. I've only been here for a few years, since I've been here it has need help.
Re: Have pregnant fiance, no insurance :( ...advice?
I'm sure you'll find problems here too. My mother is a nurse and the hospital she works at was drastically down sized. Two wards closed down, one of which housed the maternity clinic (which is now moved off the property to a cheaper building).
BUT, my original point was that health care in Canada is not a business, which I think helps with the quality of care you get. Not nearly as many law suits, and not nearly as many health problems brought on by a lack of care (as seen in the states in poorer communities). That's not to say though that we're not without our own issues, because we certainly do have them.
