Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
However, oddly a great many of my fellow retirees [who are under the same former-employer coverage that I am under] seem to insist that option #1 is 'best'.
I see it debated even on this forum from time to time.
I have used both options and I chose the 2nd option.
Oh, I think they are making a big mistake re: option 1
Speaking from a no headache, no stress, no worry perspective !
Medicare is in general the insurance plan for seniors - over 65. But it is also available to some people under 65 who are disabled. Part A Medicare (hospitals) is "free" for those who qualify (you/your spouse need to have worked a minimum period of time). Part B (doctors) has a base cost of $99 and change/month (paid to the government) this year. The amount you pay can be higher if you're higher income. There are deductibles and co-pays. Which one can avoid in whole or in part by buying a supplemental (Medigap) policy from a private insurance company. One can also elect to join a Medicare Advantage plan from a private insurance company - which - in general - operates like an HMO (insurance company takes your Medicare money - and then provides all of your healthcare through a network). Then there is Medicare Part D (prescription drugs). It is optional - and purchased through private insurance companies (it is also sometimes part of a Medicare Advantage plan).
Medicaid is open to low income people other than seniors. But seniors can qualify as well (they are known as "dual eligible" for Medicare/Medicaid). Medicaid is run on the state level - so there are different eligibility criteria in different states.
This is a gross simplification of the 2 programs. But I hope it gives you a basic outline. Robyn
Hi Robyn,
Thanks for the brief but clear list of various insurance programmes in the US.
Now when I read other people's comment, I know what they are talking about
I was so confused when people talked about Medicare, Medicaid, Advantage, Medigap ... in the past right up to today !
There's a bit more to it than it. If you plan to keep your Canadian citizenship and a place in Canada - I doubt you would qualify for either exemption. Robyn
Yes, I know that.
I will never qualify for homestead as I will never give up my Canadian citizenship
It's the universal health care that Canadians refuse to give up.
Th law requiring an ER to admit all patients who need an ER - and to stabilize them - is a federal law (applies in all 50 states):
In 1986 Congress passed the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA)...Under EMTALA, no patient who arrives in a hospital with an emergency condition will be turned away or transferred unnecessarily. Anyone who shows up in a hospital emergency room will be screened to determine the severity of his or her condition. If the condition is deemed an emergency, the hospital is obligated to stabilize the patient...
Dialysis is a funny animal - and is treated differently than most other medical conditions:
Medicare is not just for people who are 65 or older. In 1972, the Social Security Act extended all Medicare benefits to people of any age with end stage renal disease (ESRD) who need dialysis if they meet the following requirements:
You have paid the required amount in Social Security taxes through your job (check with your Social Worker or your local Social Security office for the exact amount to become eligible).
or
You are the spouse or a dependent of someone who qualifies for Medicare because they have paid the required amount into Social Security.
Bypass surgery would be treated like most medical conditions. You will not get it unless you have some form of coverage - or money - or live in an area with a hospital that treats indigents with no expectation of repayment. Robyn
What treatments are available in the US that aren't available in Canada? I run into Canadian citizens at the Mayo Clinic here in JAX from time to time - but don't know what kind of care they're getting at Mayo.
There are a lot of articles about the wait times in Canada. E.g.:
Do you have any idea which provinces have shorter wait times - and which have longer ones?
FWIW - Canada apparently doesn't treat illegal immigrants any better than the United States does when it comes to health care (seems like they are actually treated worse):
I came across news about Canadians seeking treatments in the US but I rarely paid attention what conditions they are having ...
Basically when the conditions are not available in Canada either they are not approved (yet) by Health Canada or sometimes it's a new drugs that have been approved by FDA but not Health Canada, mind you that Health Canada might have approved other drugs but the patients think it is not that effective (and they have $$$) so they went to the States for treatments.
Canadians even went to the States for hip surgery because they didn't want to wait ... So it's a matter of choice rather than necessity I think.
Regarding wait time: Please forgive me again as it's sometimes on the news (especially election time) but then I didn't pay much attention.
Here's my recollection re: wait time
- See specialist: From 2 weeks to 6 weeks unless there's some cancellation (meaning you won't be able to see the specialists the next day)
- I don't think hip surgery will need to wait a zillion year, probably a few months (it's considered inconvenient but not an emergency), probably 9 months (don't quote me). So some seniors who have $$$ & top up insurance (I don't know the details) and they just went to the States and have it done.
Which provinces have longer or shorter wait time: Can't remember but it seems to me Ontario is not the worst (I could be wrong), some provinces in the prairies have shorter wait time I think (less population: Manitoba about 1 million people, Sask about 1 million people, Alberta about 2.5 million people).
Illegal immigrants: I think they are treated (emergency), I haven't read the artical in your link yet but will read it later.
So where does the money come from to pay for health care (don't think it just falls out of the sky )? Robyn
Money comes from the federal government that transfers the funds to each province every year, and each province and territories will HAVE TO follow the Canada Health Act (no preferences given to the rich, everybody is treated the same, no queue jumping ... I like it).
Of course the federal government collects our taxes, and transfer part of it to each province, and Ontario has some kind of health care tax each year.
So tax payers paid for it but because of how our health care system is structured, it costs less based on the following reasons (not limited to):
- Non profit hospitals: Saves lots of $ compared to private hospital in the US.
- Doctors get paid 50% less than American doctors: Say the province pays the doctor for each patient visit, then cap the doctor's income to $400,000 (along that line) and will pay the doctors 1/3 (cap) on income over $400,000 (American doctor gets paid $1,000,000 ... That's why it's so expensive in the US).
- Less red tape: Less private insurance companies as in the US.
- Hospitals follow guidelines from the authorities: No unnecessary procedures to be performed. Well doctors in the US perform way too many procedures as soon as they realize we are Canadians who have top up insurance (milk the cow procedures, the way I see it).
- Other reasons ...
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
)? Robyn
