Sorry Ashful, I was referring to your post. I need to learn to quote more often. No we're still stuck with the FSA, it makes it hard because some years we have more expenses than others.
Healthcare
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Sorry Ashful, I was referring to your post. I need to learn to quote more often. No we're still stuck with the FSA, it makes it hard because some years we have more expenses than others.
I forgot about that one. I knew of a few folks who cleaned out the amount early in the year before they left the company or was laid off. They didnt have to pay it back.
That's true, our entire balance is available January 1, even when we've made one payment. We can make bank of .00000045% on the money left unspent.
Wow, is all I can say.
Seems like a very complicated/expensive system for the average Joe.
It's one thing to be faced with illnesses, but to then have the added burden to wonder if your plan/finances are up to par as well must be horrible.
I appreciate everyone explaining it, as it's not a conversation I've ever had with someone that's part of the system.
I must say that it appears the system here is much more simple with far less out of pocket expenses.
A good thing about a public system is that the citizens hold the govt responsible, no matter what political party is at the helm. Some parties cut and others spend, so in general it evens out to reasonable care for a reasonable cost to every citizen. I believe our average life expectancy is 4 or so more years than the USA, so something must be working out with our level care.
The biggest factor for me personally is that there is a level of comfort, knowing that everyone receives the same care no matter what. Rich or poor you are taken care of with no bill ever and always.
Seems like a very complicated/expensive system for the average Joe.
It's one thing to be faced with illnesses, but to then have the added burden to wonder if your plan/finances are up to par as well must be horrible.
I appreciate everyone explaining it, as it's not a conversation I've ever had with someone that's part of the system.
I must say that it appears the system here is much more simple with far less out of pocket expenses.
A good thing about a public system is that the citizens hold the govt responsible, no matter what political party is at the helm. Some parties cut and others spend, so in general it evens out to reasonable care for a reasonable cost to every citizen. I believe our average life expectancy is 4 or so more years than the USA, so something must be working out with our level care.
The biggest factor for me personally is that there is a level of comfort, knowing that everyone receives the same care no matter what. Rich or poor you are taken care of with no bill ever and always.
I would like that type of system very much. Everything in ours is so convoluted trying to figure out what's "best" is nearly impossible.
I know government run systems aren't perfect but if we're already paying a fortune I'd rather have everyone be able to walk into a doctors office for a problem rather than wait until it's life or death and end up in emergency.
Wow, is all I can say, is if you can't comprehend FSA vs HSA. One you have to use in a specific time period, the other you own for life, super difficult. If Canada's and Englands health care systems are so great, and cutting edge, why does my wife, an MD see children flown from around the world for specific specialties to operate on?
maple1
Minister of Fire
Beats me. But absolutely nobody I know has ever gone out of country for health care. There were a couple I don't know that I had heard of that went south pursuing cancer miracles but in the end they sadly didn't work out.
It isn't that he can't understand it. It is that it is absurdly complicated. Those people being flown here have the money to come here and pay for the procedure. Our care isn't the problem it is the cost and complication involved in the financial side of it.
Well probably for very specific and good reasons. I only know of one person who went for a cutting edge back surgery that he paid 14,000 dollars for at a specialized hospital, because the government here didn't find it yet. Unfortunately it didn't work for him.
The FSA and HSA parts are easily understandable, but with all the options, deductible options, Co pay, etc etc etc etc tricare ,Medicaid ,medicare, limits on what some policies cover and others don't...... it's a complicated system.
I just go the doctor and that's it.
@Sodbuster,
Like most people, know that I think your wife is a saint for what she does. If your wondering if I might be playing a patriotic card here, I am not. That's for the more political, in general Canadians don't get too wound up about politics. We worry more about hockey and curling.
Like most people, know that I think your wife is a saint for what she does. If your wondering if I might be playing a patriotic card here, I am not. That's for the more political, in general Canadians don't get too wound up about politics. We worry more about hockey and curling.
Wrong, many are flown here using missions, and private funding. Royal Oak Beaumont hospital that has an ENT surgeon that people come from around the world to see. He has pioneered some procedures. Do you want to take the lowest bid on cleaning your chimney?
All I can say about back surgery, and this is backed up by my wife, is DON"T. All I've ever heard of is people going in for their 3rd or 4th back surgery. My BIL almost died from it from going septic.
Ok but their procedures are paid for outright. Again it isn't the quality of care that is the issue. It is the financial side. And it is a complete mess.
Where did you get that idea from? The hospital bills at a lower rate, the professionals donate their time, including Dr's and Nurses. Every year my wife goes on a Dr's without borders trip, Guess what she gets paid? $0, In fact it costs money to send her over there.
Ok but what does that have to do with our incredibly complicated and expensive system of medical insurance?
Clearly our medical treatment is fantastic here. That isn't in question. But that doesn't mean that the system as a whole works well.
OK, you conveniently several points:
1.
It's not complicated, unless you've taken an egg beater to your brain. If my 24 year old can figure it out, I would assume you could too.
Excuse me???
I just don't get what the argument is you are trying to make here?
Do you actually think our system of health insurance coverage is working as well as it should be for all Americans?
When a person buys buses,airplanes, subways, bridges, lawn mowers,pipelines, buys bombs, ships, and tanks, give your money to the needy, pay for bailouts of bad businesses, helps line pockets of corrupt people, feed and house criminals, etc etc etc.....why in the world wouldn't they get a good form of protecting and maintaining their health included. The excuse of "govt can't run anything" is b.s., they run, dictate and manipulate every aspect of your life basically as it is, but tell you that healthcare is up to you is COMPLETE b.s.
Yes it is expensive to have a social healthcare system, but it has many great results as well. Maybe if a good chunk of money is going towards it, there will be less to waste on the some of the things your currently paying for? We all give(without option) our money away, it's nice when you get something in return for something that benefits all.
Yes it is expensive to have a social healthcare system, but it has many great results as well. Maybe if a good chunk of money is going towards it, there will be less to waste on the some of the things your currently paying for? We all give(without option) our money away, it's nice when you get something in return for something that benefits all.
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We just spent 2.2 Trillion on a bailout, and then another 486 Billion, I just believe for small businesses. It's so much money people are hard pressed to tell you where it went or what it did. Canada's yearly budget is roughly 30 Billion if the internet can be believed. Our system is just too big and clunky to have a government based model. There would be so much waste an fraud it would be unfathomable.
So our govt is to big to be able to do public healthcare??? Care to explain why that is?
I agree things need straightened out in our govt before we would be able to accomplish this. But that needs to be done regardless. The way our govt has been just is not sustainable with or without public healthcare.
The reason behind my thinking is that I've yet to see anything that the government has taken over, or administered that has gotten leaner or more efficient, even though candidates from both sides of the aisle, run on that platform, I've yet to see it happen. The military, while it does a great job, certainly would not be considered efficient. When you have a system that has so much room for abuse it's bound to happen.
And you don't see that abuse in our current system every step of the way?
I constantly hear excuses why our system couldn't work with govt run healthcare. But those people never offer any solutions to fix the major problems with our current system.
