General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: What if the Government told you that for safety's sake, you must purchase a gun? [View all]riverbendviewgal
(4,253 posts)BUT I have a firearms license....big deal....so I would get a gun..
but a gun would not help me get well from a serious illness like a detached retina which happens to thousands at any moment without warning.....
Being I am up here is a Socialistic Democracy I benefit from our socialist health care. I did have a detached retina last Fall. I noticed half my sight in my left eye was going black and went to my optomistrist...I called for an appointment and his receptionist said to come in immediately. I walked in the door while the waiting room was full of patients but he saw me immediately, within 5 minutes he sent me home to pack my overnight bag to go the eye surgeon, who is a two hour drive away. I saw the eye surgeon when I arrived and within 3 hours was getting laser surgery. I didn't have to stay overnight luckily.
I saw him 2 times after that to check on my eye.. My provincial health care paid for my gas for the 3 trips in a travel grant. I have full eyesight again, in fact he said my eyesight is even better in that eye than before. and the cost of my treatment...NOTHING. It all comes out of my provincial taxes which are combined with my federal taxes...I have been averaging 21 - 25 percent taxes the last few tax filing....my income is in the upper 40k. I get a lot of bang for my taxes I think and I help others less fortunate than me. Next year my prescription drugs will cost me just 100 bucks a year, no more than that. God Bless Canada. WE ARE FREE and enjoy our lives without worrying if we can afford to see a doctor.
There is still private health insurance here for dental and eye tests (if you have an illness you don't pay for the eye test), prescription drugs, physiotherapy, semi private rooms, and hearing aids and travel health insurance (which I make sure I have when I go to the USA as all medical care is so expensive down there. I can deduct the cost of that from my income tax return.
The American right wing nuts are so crazy to fight this. We Canadians will get out our guns and fight any government official who would take away our health care the way it is now. If you wikipedia Canadian health insurance, which started in the 60s, you would see many Canadians had great fears of it too. Now we are smiling because we have it. It is not perfect but we look across the border south of us and we smile and thank the Lord we have ours.
I think the gun example is a very poor example for presenting health insurance as being forced. I like my example as to why it is good. I have to take a trip.. The gas cost me $100...If I have a friend and we split it it costs me only half...and some more friends and it cost me less. I think getting $ from those who don't pay but can afford it is very wise thing for the government to do on the income tax file. The government makes people get car insurance. The banks make people get house insurance for their mortgages.