Montana Carol
Active member
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2007
- Messages
- 85
- Reason
- PALS
- Diagnosis
- 06/2007
- Country
- US
- State
- Montana
- City
- Corvallis
We're always told here in the U.S. that if we had Universal Healthcare it'd be like socialized medicine, i.e. we wouldn't be able to get the care we need, we'd be on a waiting list forever, we'd have no choices, etc.
What is the experience of the Canadian PALS/CALS on this forum? Can you get Rilutek and other medications free? What about assistive devices? Are you able to get MRIs, EMGs, and consultations with specialists in a reasonable time? Can you see the doctor of your choice, and get second opinions, without having to pay? How is the system financed in Canada?
I'm on Medicare, and have an excellent and very reasonable supplement insurance plan (Sterling Option I). It looks like I'll be able to get all the care I need (except nursing-home, if that ever becomes necessary) without undue expense. My tests and doctor visits have mostly been covered so far. But the cheapest I've found Rilutek is $500 per month, and that's from the Canadian Pharmacy. That's ridiculous, IMO. In the US, Humana shows the cost at $869/mo (60 tablets).
But for younger US patients, insurance costs are so high, and many don't have any coverage at all. I've read on this forum that an ALS diagnosed gets you on Medicare, but if you don't have a diagnosis you're up a creek. What are you middle-aged folks doing in the US? And what happens to the rest of the family when one parent is disabled, another is home being the caregiver, and nobody is working?
Is this an inappropriate thread for this forum? I don't mean to step on anybody's toes or get overly political. It just seems like a good place to ask these questions to see if we'd be better off with a healthcare system similar to Canada's.
Carol
What is the experience of the Canadian PALS/CALS on this forum? Can you get Rilutek and other medications free? What about assistive devices? Are you able to get MRIs, EMGs, and consultations with specialists in a reasonable time? Can you see the doctor of your choice, and get second opinions, without having to pay? How is the system financed in Canada?
I'm on Medicare, and have an excellent and very reasonable supplement insurance plan (Sterling Option I). It looks like I'll be able to get all the care I need (except nursing-home, if that ever becomes necessary) without undue expense. My tests and doctor visits have mostly been covered so far. But the cheapest I've found Rilutek is $500 per month, and that's from the Canadian Pharmacy. That's ridiculous, IMO. In the US, Humana shows the cost at $869/mo (60 tablets).
But for younger US patients, insurance costs are so high, and many don't have any coverage at all. I've read on this forum that an ALS diagnosed gets you on Medicare, but if you don't have a diagnosis you're up a creek. What are you middle-aged folks doing in the US? And what happens to the rest of the family when one parent is disabled, another is home being the caregiver, and nobody is working?
Is this an inappropriate thread for this forum? I don't mean to step on anybody's toes or get overly political. It just seems like a good place to ask these questions to see if we'd be better off with a healthcare system similar to Canada's.
Carol