Canda Has Universal Health Care? Yeah, sure.

The BBQ Pit
21

I have a solution for you. Move to a province which provides pharmaceuticals as part of its health care coverage. Saskatchewan, IIRC. Alberta has NEVER had that. Nor does the NWT, where the health insurance is completely free.

$80 a month is nothing. I am not paying $300 a month for medications, I’m paying for the medical insurance. Plus, each time I go to the doctor, there is a co-pay. On top of which, the hospital bills about 40% more than the insurance companies will pay.

Thank your lucky stars you still live in Canada. I do not. After 30 years of AHC and NWTHC and OHIP, I am finding it very difficult to get used to the idea that my health insurance is more than my car payment.

22

I can appreciate everyone’s input that $80/month seems minimal. However, as I said, it’s been a while since I checked the price, and I’m on 3x the start dose I took. My issue is this. to put it more clearly.

I pay $45 for basic medical a month

On top of that, blue cross is $62/month. This covers me for hospital stays, ambulance, dental, glasses to $150/year, etc. It is also supposed to give me prescription coverage. I have been with blue cross since I was a baby. I have had this medicine covered through blue cross, either on my mother’s plan, or my other jobs, or school, since I was 19. I switch job to a non -medical plan, and suddenly when I want to pay the premium to the individual plan it isn’t covered?

Also, add to that my endometriosis is pre-existing as well. I didn’t even add that in to the cost because I’m not treating it right now (in the midst of finding a doctor).

So here’s the breakdown. Where I would normally pay $107 a month for medical coverage, I know have to add any prescriptions I get for my preexisiting conditions on top of that. And, this is a government administered plan that I’ve always been on? It seems arbitrary to me.

Finally, I apreciate the sentiment that I should learn how to control my spending or count my blessings that my medication is so cheap. However, I reiterate. This medication has always been covered. I live in a country with universal health care, and I don’t understand why it is now not covered. This is my beef. While my medication burden is relatively light, and I will find a way to pay for it, I don’t think I should have to, and I am worried for when I actually go back to my previous level of care. When I was under the care of a doctor, my meds easily exceeded $300/month. Currently, I’m “maintaining”, taking the lowest dose possible of my meds, and definately feeling the effects, to make my supply last longer. Also, I don’t think people should have to “suffer” for the medical care. I believe full medical care is a basic right for EVERY member of society. I have no problem paying into the system monthly, and through taxes, but I expect to get my coverages. This “count your lucky stars” attitude is so strange to me.

I realize I must sounding like a whining child, but I’m just so confused, frustrated and annoyed.

23

I’ve been sitting here thinking about what everyone had to say about paying for my meds, and something has occured to me.

I’m young, and just recently hit the “real world”. The last few years have been tough for me. I made a stupid mistake after I graduated university and spent 14 months supporting a boyfriend while he “looked for work” only to find out he never bothered. This was my first introduction to the fact that people can and will take advantage of you. I moved to Calgary to make a change in my life, to “grow up”. I got a job, rented an apartment with a friend, and I had high hopes that things would continue to get better. I haven’t been able to use my degree, so I’m working a fairly low paying job, which is ok. But, my bills were breaking my back. So I saw a debt counsellor, consolidated my debts and set up payments that will get me debt free in 7 years. 70% of my pay now goes to paying rent and bills. I’ve been feeling lately like I’m living soley to pay bills. I guess I thought the real world would be a bit different than this. The shock of adding another bill to my life this weekend was too much for me. I’m having a hard time seeing the forest for the trees, and the reason I speculate I might need to increase my dose of my meds is that I’ve been having some scary thoughts lately, along the lines of “if this is all life is, what is the point?”. Last time I had these thoughts, I was 19 and wound up in emergency psych care after I found myself sitting in the bathroom, having taken apart my shaving razor and holding the blade to my wrist. Luckily, I found the strength to call my mom instead of cutting my wrists, and I got the help I needed. I can’t believe I’m sharing this on a forum, but I actually called a suicide hotline this weekend because I was scaring myself so badly.

In retrospect, I recognize that a hallmark of my condition is an inability to think clearly, and to be overwhelmed by the slightest thing. Depression is a very selfish illness, manifesting in self absorbtion at the best of times. Perhaps my frustration at having to pay for my meds is more of a symptom of me not thinking clearly. Maybe it’s my immaturity shining through - my sudden awakening to the reality of the world, shattering my sense of “entitlement” to medical care. Perhaps I need to grow up.

Anyway, the fact that most of the people who posted think that I’m whining needlessly has me reconsidering my viewpoint. Thank you everyone for listening. I must sound like such a self absorbed child.

24

Funny I can’t speak to Alberta’s health care , since its a canadian province in a discussion about universal health care , but for the record , I don’t believe that you are either a self absorbed child or whining needlessly.

Seems like depending on the illness or what not , all the provinces seem to have an all bun , no burger health issues. When a post like yours comes along ,and you have to wonder exactly where are those taxes going , that supposedly support some level of health care.

Declan

25

The books that I have that have really helped me are Self-Coaching: How to Heal Anxiety and Depression by Joseph J. Luciani, PhD, From Panic to Power by Lucinda Bassett, The Feeling Good Handbook by David D. Burns, M.D., and Power over Panic by Bronwyn Fox. I believe they are all available through Chapters, and a lot of them are available at the Grace Centre Library, too. The Grace offers a seminar on depression and anxiety that I took this summer. It was hugely informative, and I highly recommend it. If you get on their mailing list, they will send you the latest newsletter every couple of months. They also have Lucinda Bassett’s tape self-help programme that you can sign out from the librarian.

Most of these authors also have websites that you can visit:
Lucinda’s site
Dr. Luciani’s site
Bronwyn’s site

There are also natural supplements that you can take for anxiety, depression and insomnia such as tryptophan, GABA, valerian, and Neuro-5-HTP. A naturopathic doctor is a good resource if you want to go this route.

My focus has been on anxiety rather than depression, but all these resources address depression as well. A psychiatrist is a good resource for medicine info, but in the experience of a lot of people in my self-help group, they give you a presciption and kick you out the door with no thought to coping skills or anything like that. My best advice is to not limit yourself to only meds and a psychiatrist. There are a lot more resources than just that.

I wish you all the best in your struggles with this.

26

The Saskatchewan program wouldn’t kick in at the level of expenditures we’re talking about here:

Seniors and welfare recipients get a more generous deal.

Manitoba’s pharmacare program is a lot more extensive, or at least it was a while back when I was using it.

27

Please, treat this as a serious issue that needs addressed, and talk to your doctor about it.

Do you have any family that might be willing to help you pay for your meds? I know that if I could not afford mine, my parents would (grudgingly) pick up the cost.

28

I don’t think you’re whining needlessly. It’s an issue of grave concern to you, and you’re entitled to vent all you want. I was simply offering a little perspective. While nobody is saying that taking $80/month and tossing it in the Bow River wouldn’t be a big deal, paying that much for medicine which is absolutely vital to your health is not that big a deal in the large scheme of things. I second what I said earlier: Talk to your doc, see if you can get sample pills to take the pressure off in the short term while you figure out exactly what’s best for you long term. Maybe you’ll get enough pills to go back up to the recommended dose which could help you decide what to do with more clarity. Good luck.