This is Great Healthcare???

[progpen]

Originally Posted by JohnSoCal

I also had my own business as a Software consultant. I incorporated and got group medical insurance through my own business. There are no medical questions nor requirements to get the group insurance. The only requirement is that you have at least 2 people in your business. I just made my wife a VP in the business.

We have also looked at that, and may still have to do so, but are finding it difficult to accept having to have 2 separate health insurance accounts (2 premiums) for one family. The monthly premiums for 2 are quite a bit more than what we "should" have to pay for an individual account.

Any way you slice it, we get the shaft.

[JohnSoCal]

Originally Posted by progpen

We have also looked at that, and may still have to do so, but are finding it difficult to accept having to have 2 separate health insurance accounts (2 premiums) for one family. The monthly premiums for 2 are quite a bit more than what we "should" have to pay for an individual account.

Any way you slice it, we get the shaft.

Your premiums are 100% deductible for taxes which should save you a pretty good portion of the premium cost.

[progpen]

Originally Posted by JohnSoCal

Your premiums are 100% deductible for taxes which should save you a pretty good portion of the premium cost.

You are correct, but in our case those are up front costs that are simply out of our range. Once the business has gotten off the ground and we are bringing in enough cash to do that we will.

[progpen]

If you are reporting a loss from your self-employed activity, then you are not eligible to deduct your health insurance costs since this particular deduction is limited by your self-employment income. You can however still claim the health insurance expenses as an itemized medical deduction on your Schedule A.

[progpen]

So most small mom and pops (like mine) that will not show a profit for a few years are not able to take advantage of this. The businesses that need this help the most are getting the least.

[dcraig]

Originally Posted by dcraig

Another interesting fact, this morning I was talking to an elderly man from down the street, he is retired and 79 years old. We got talking about healthcare costs, and he told me that if even though he has BC medical insurance, which he doesn't pay for because he is considered low income , he still has to pay a portion of his prescription costs. Last year that was almost $900. His monthly pension is $1015. Is this what we have to look forward to when we get older?

Its been along time since i posted on here, got tired of all the missleading information being given out by certain people, and all the dumb questions being posted by others, but decide to return to update this post I made last year. I hadn't seen the old guy out in his yard this year, but yet the lawn was always cut, gardens weeded etc, so just figured I was just going past when he was inside, but last evening I was out for a walk and noticed a lady in her 40's weeding the garden, so I stopped to ask about the old guy, she was his daughter, and said he has pretty much been house bound since last November, as he can barely walk do to hip problems. He has been on a waiting list for a hip replacement since getting the test results last December,, and they don't expect anything to happen until at least October at the earliest, Ya, this is GREAT healthcare!

[jeff66]

well,

If you hate it, you can always return to the UK. It is so much better there, right?

[progpen]

If we all get anything out of this discussion it should be that the health care systems in Canada, UK and US each has good and bad points. It is up to the individual to decide which system sucks less in the ways that mean the most to them.

But talking about the problems with each of the systems is absolutely necessary for those of us who want to make an informed decision.

[Helrig50]

Originally Posted by progpen

If we all get anything out of this discussion it should be that the health care systems in Canada, UK and US each has good and bad points. It is up to the individual to decide which system sucks less in the ways that mean the most to them.

But talking about the problems with each of the systems is absolutely necessary for those of us who want to make an informed decision.

It would be useful to let potential migrants know that Canada has a serious, deliberate shortage of GP/Family Doctors (about 5 million Canadians without one), so if that's an issue for you, think about your move. If you have a condition that needs monitoring and following up, like I do, it's quite stressful not having that relationship with your doctor as you work through the ups and downs of your condition. You spend a lot of time waiting for a random doctor in a walk-in clinic, some good, some not-so-good, and it's all very rushed and very tiring explaining the situation to a new doctor every time.

In BC you pay $1300/yr in medical premiums for a couple so I don't find it good value. I'd rather pay more, as I did when we lived in Australia, and have a healthcare system. Canada has a good Accident and Injury Management System. Big difference. The wait times are often unreasonable and can turn minor issues into major ones, not to mention the pain and stress during the wait. This is for the euphemistically named "elective" surgery which makes one think it's for a tummy tuck or nose job. I don't "elect" to have my painful knee fixed or not fixed. I need it so that I can maintain my fitness and health, support my family and be a productive member of society. Yes, I won't die from it but a healthcare system shouldn't make that a condition of timely care.

[EVHB]

Originally Posted by Helrig50

It would be useful to let potential migrants know that Canada has a serious, deliberate shortage of GP/Family Doctors (about 5 million Canadians without one), so if that's an issue for you, think about your move.

Or move to a place where doctors like to live? Where I live, there are always Family Doctors who are accepting patients. You can choose if you want to have a male or female doctor. So it all depends on where you live.