Canadians living in Houston... heathcare? (Dallas, Austin: sales, credit card, hotel)

[desertsun41]

Originally Posted by Oildog

My Canadian colleagues prefer the US healthcare system. But then again they all make more than 80k/year, so they can 'afford' it with their corporate job benefits.

I have heard the same thing. I don't know why some Canadians say they prefer our broken system. I wonder if it's just the ol "I want what the other guy has" theory.

Back when I lived there I used to hear the term "brain drain". That meant the good Canadian doctors immigrated to the states because they made more money here. The truth was the money was about the same but then (not anymore), Canada had about 30 tax brackets. The highest being well over 50%. While the top American tax bracket was much lower so they would take home more of their salary here.

[DanielWayne]

If anyone prefers the US system then you must be wealthy or unrealistically healthy. I am fortunate enough to be insured through my company, but I also realize that financial ruin, and even death can come about if I lose my job. Not a pleasant thought to live with, but it is certainly better than no insurance at all. Still we are all just one sickness away from being uninsurable.

I can think of 2 quick examples off the top of my head of people close to me that show how easily our system can actually wreck the average person financially. I have one close relative who is $1,000,000+ in debt because she was in the hospital over a month while doctors tried to figure out what to do to save her. I'm guessing after week 1 she was supposed to tell them to discharge her because the bill was getting too high? Another very close friend had to declare bankruptcy after his wife died from a long and protracted cancer battle. They tried every possible treatment but still ended up losing the battle, and additionally he lost even more (in terms of finances) after her death. Imagine being hounded by bill collectors after losing your spouse to cancer. The system is broke plain and simple. We have great physicians and medical facilities, but only a few people truly have access to it.

[LostInHouston]

Difference is our current system is about keeping sick people alive... where as a government regulated system is about getting sick people healthy.

In a free market health-care system, the caregivers are ultimately responsible to the investors, and not the patients. And guess who doesn't generate revenue? Dead and healthy people. Thus we get a system full of unnecessary (and expensive) tests/prescriptions/referrals/etc.

Also, I love when people blame excessive health-care costs on tort litigation... the fact is, excessive tests/prescriptions/etc occur because people are getting rich off of them.

[tstone]

Originally Posted by LostInHouston

Difference is our current system is about keeping sick people alive...

Alive and sick, many times hooked on expensive and semi-experimental pills that cause other issues. Once they've sunk their teeth into you, you've essentially set up a revolving door and turned yourself into their cash cow. There is a whole generation of people, many of who are at the peaks of their careers and whine they will never be able to retire because they have bought into the scare tactics, which turned them into slaves of the medical system.

I suppose like all economic bubbles, this one is bound to burst and you guys caught up in the system, especially shooting down reform are in for it. I suppose if I were on a list of drugs a mile long, I sure as hell wouldn't want the government to know either.

[XodoX]

Originally Posted by tstone

Alive and sick, many times hooked on expensive and semi-experimental pills that cause other issues. Once they've sunk their teeth into you, you've essentially set up a revolving door and turned yourself into their cash cow. There is a whole generation of people, many of who are at the peaks of their careers and whine they will never be able to retire because they have bought into the scare tactics, which turned them into slaves of the medical system.

I suppose like all economic bubbles, this one is bound to burst and you guys caught up in the system, especially shooting down reform are in for it. I suppose if I were on a list of drugs a mile long, I sure as hell wouldn't want the government to know either.

Are the refineries this close to Clear Lake now??

[tstone]

Originally Posted by XodoX

Are the refineries this close to Clear Lake now??

Oh I'm sorry, are you offended on someone else's behalf again?

[rb4browns]

Originally Posted by XodoX

Don't make yourself look like a fool. Also, I never said anywhere that I was white

There are lots of white people who would pay good money for a minority friend. It makes them feel special and inclusive when they can say, "some of my best friends are black/latino/gay/etc./etc. You could be a rent-a-friend and make good money, thus eliminating the need for your countrymen to pay your bills for you. Think about it!

[XodoX]

Originally Posted by rb4browns

There are lots of white people who would pay good money for a minority friend. It makes them feel special and inclusive when they can say, "some of my best friends are black/latino/gay/etc./etc. You could be a rent-a-friend and make good money, thus eliminating the need for your countrymen to pay your bills for you. Think about it!

So, I am assuming that you only have white friends. After all, you can't say " I have black/hispanic/asian friends" , since that wouldn't sit well with you.

Who are my "countrymen" anyway? You might want to enlighten me. I won't call you a racist. I promise. You can speak your mind freely. I won't tell anybody. It's gonna be a secret.

[rb4browns]

Originally Posted by XodoX

So, I am assuming that you only have white friends. After all, you can't say " I have black/hispanic/asian friends" , since that wouldn't sit well with you.

Who are my "countrymen" anyway? You might want to enlighten me. I won't call you a racist. I promise. You can speak your mind freely. I won't tell anybody. It's gonna be a secret.

Why do you assume I'm white?

coun·try·man   [kuhn-tree-muhn]
–noun,plural-men.
1.
a native or inhabitant of one's own country.

[XodoX]

Originally Posted by rb4browns

Why do you assume I'm white?

coun·try·man   [kuhn-tree-muhn]
–noun,plural-men.
1.
a native or inhabitant of one's own country.

Let's break it down for the Republicans.

who 
–pronoun;possessivewhose; objectivewhom. 1.what person or persons?: Who did it?

2.(of a person) of what character, origin, position, importance, etc.:

Now you know. And no, that is not what the word countrymen means. You should not have posted this pic, anyway. But you know the word "low", right.

I say single-payer system for all. And it'll come.