Thread Drift

[shootingstar]

My gut feeling is that it is cheaper for me to just pay the penalty and forgo the health insurance. I'm in a position where I can absorb the cost of most major medical expense. I'm very fortunate in this way. Furthermore, my family medical history is such that, most likely, I will not need any medical care except for dental and my prescription glasses till near my end.

Gosh, my father didn't bother seeing a doctor until he became confused and forgetful, then he was "forcibly" taken to a geriatrics specialist by family where they determined he had dementia.

With that said, we really do need a national medical care where we expand medicare to all and cover all illnesses, healthcare, preventative and maintenance. Get rid of HMO and for profit health care. Idea of HMO was pushed onto Nixon by *****. His pitch to Nixon was that it was going to save lots of money... Till that time for profit hospital was not allowed if I remember correctly.

Getting really fed up with certain segment of our ill informed populace. Their core belief stems from self-reliance, independence and false belief in what it means to be macho. Little do they realize, they benefit from ACA but are vehemently against it saying such thing as "we don't need no government." (can't even speak correctly but I do get the gist of what they are trying to say).

Smilingcat, I prided myself, and still do, for being quite healthy at 58 (in 2 wks. will be this). But stuff happens --I had a bike collision and a resulting concussion. IF I hadn't had work benefit health insurance (in addition to CAnadain public health automatic coverage for all residents and citizens), I would have had to pay $500.00CAN for ambulance transport (since I was from another province, but was in Vancouver, place of accident), over $150.00 for sleeping pills, $600.00 for 6 [physiotherapy sessions.

But there were no charges for: overnight stay in hospital, examination by neurologist (twice), checks by nurses every 3 hrs., painkiller, x-ray, 2 visits to sleep doctor specialist and then 8 followup visits with family physician (to monitor my progress) over a 5 month period. I am convinced my good health prior to the accident, helped in my recovery. But what a way to learn about the benefits of preventive health care.

My father was like your father..except he was diagnosed with prostate cancer @78 yrs. but got treatment (very little cost) until he died @85 yrs. The best and largest Canadian research cancer hospital is in Toronto where he lived.

Sad that people can't know that ACA and its nickname Obamacare... are the same. Are the public that....clueless?