The 12 I referenced do pay $25 for each medical visit, including Tysabri, which is being provided by Biogen at no cost (or a minimal cost). The State of California picks up the rest of the bill for each of them.

Good points!

It is the combined cost if the medication, infusion, insurance premiums and co-pays.

This is less of an issue for me than it is for so many others who fall in that ugly gap above the poverty level but below the "Living Wage" level.

This is a good topic to continue.

It forces us to ask some hard questions.

-Vic

Theoretically, no, Jules.

The people (and government) do not want to see a two-tier system evolve (where the more affluent can get better care) . . . but it is happening.

In my case, I can cross the border and pay out of pocket in Washington too . . . just like Americans can cross to ie. Latin America and get much cheaper surgeries if they pay cash.

Basically, it is illegal to set up a "private clinic" in Canada, and all hospitals are run by our government. However, there are ways around it, and there are private clinics out there that will do services for cash. The services they provide must be considered "non-essential" though, like plastic surgery, laser eye surgery, full body work-ups, etc. If a person wants a NON-emergency MRI, and they don't want to wait for a free one, they can pay a private clinic $500 - $800 to have one done the next day.

Of course, a lot depends on what our medical providers deem an emergency too . . . Even though the average wait is somewhere around 4 - 6 months, my doctor had both my daughter and I in (for non-emergency) MRIs within 6 weeks of the requisition.

If it is an emergency, then we jump the queue, of course. If there is a shortage (of nurses, doctors, testing equipment, specialty services, etc.), our government has been known to transport people to the US too.

Cherie

Ok, so I guess that means that if those people chose a much less expensive option, it might be fully or substantially covered by their insurance?

What is sounds like, perhaps, is that these insurance companies are saying "enough is enough" as far as how much they are willing to pay out . . .? I presume the reason is that if they didn't, that could ultimately jack up everyone in the pool's premiums (if the insurer still wishes to make the same profit ).

I guess that makes sense, since most any "insurance" coverage includes caps of some sort . . . well at least here they do. For instance, I am allowed $300 every year for eyeglasses, and I can pick whichever kind I want, but if I chose PRADA with sunglass snap-on's, I would have to pay the "extra" $300 that pair might cost. Or, if I get in 5 car accidents a year, which are my "fault", my annual car insurance premiums are going to go up.

It's a "user pays" system, and like it or lump it, insurance is really only helpful for the "average" person.

If all those people on these expensive drugs/treatments say, "hey, I can get this cheaper if I go on the public system", obviously this is going to negatively impact the costs that the government is paying out. That is going to influence taxes (cuz clearly it has to), and then what you have is a "social medical system" well underway.

The only problem is that the public system there probably doesn't offer adequate health care in many other ways, at least not at the moment.

Hey, BTW, if a person can hide their assets (on paper) enough to qualify for public health, how can they take those assets away if a person dies? Can't those assets be hidden forever?

Cherie

No clue but your question brought up another issue.

I just don't get being so concerned about your estate after you are gone. It will be nice if I have money left to leave animal charities but if I need to use my money for my own care then so be it. The humans in my life have been raised to be self-sufficient so they aren't getting anything from me unless someone happens to have a disabled child etc.

I always tell my parents that I hope they spend every last penny they have on fun stuff before they die. I don't or need an inheritance .

With Tysabri, if you have insurance, there is a set price, and not a less expensive option (unless you are uninsured and have no assets).

I agree that if everyone opted to use a public system the government would be in deep financial trouble.

Hiding your assets: If your assets are assigned legally to another owner, then they are no longer yours. Hence, they cannot be taken from you because the do not exist officially. If a person dies, then that person had better made sure that his/her Trust awards the assets to a charity or other place before they are taken by the government.

Good questions indeed!

The MS Society would be a good place to send your assets.

But then again, you could always send them to me and I will take care of them!

I figure people have the ability to take care of themselves but the critters don't, hence my decision. Science does get my lesion riddled brain and any other parts they deem scavengable though.

I will consider your kind offer of taking them. You sure seem responsible and like a heck of a nice guy.

Edited to add: your offer take my assets that is not my defective brain, lol.

I am one of those that rides the fence. I dont qualify for low cost/no cost services because of our COMBINED income in this house. I refuse to divorce my husband as has been suggested by many in the social services field, just to qualify for more/better services. Medicare is my primary insurance, and because I am married, I am carried under the hubby's policy for a secondary. Without that, my co pays/deductables would surely drive me to the poor house. I dont qualify, nor will I lie about my income when applying for things like cooling vests, and such. I have sat and held the application in my hand and seriously considered it, but in the end, my morals and ethics win out everytime. I have a sister who bends the social services system into pretzels and dances around the camp fire of many benefits she is not qualified for, nor should have ever applied for. She is of the mind, that if they are dumb enough to give it to her, then she is gonna be dumb enough to take it. Her ex b/f was a SS supervisor, and taught her well. I just cant do it.

IF my copays/deductables reached a cresendo of placing my food budget, and or household budget in jeopardy, forcing others to have to do without and or with sub standard care because of me, I would divorce the hubby of 20 years in a hurry to make sure they were taken care of. Its a really sad state of affairs that so many feel forced to take drastic actions because of the way the system forces them to work it. You cant have a car worth X amount of dollars, so you sell it to your spouse that you just divorced, or your son and rent it back from him to show an expense. You give up your property to your divorced spouse as a "divorce decree" and then show a rent payment every month to show expenses on a house that just yesterday you owned free and clear. Its an awful spot to be in, and when you are sick and suffering, its not the time to feel abandoned by the system. I hope we find better ways to truly start taking care of those who not just want it, but those who need it. The problem is for every VictorH in the crowd, there are 10 of my sister in the crowd crying about her adult onset acne. She frustrates, and overwhelms the system and the workers to the point that when a VictorH sits in front of them, they are skeptical and suspicious.

Right between a rock and a hard place. That is where I sit. I dont make enough to get what I need, but I dont make so little that others will help me. It really ticks me off that the only way to get real help is to give up my marriage. For now, I stay married.

Good luck Vic

We are in the same boat and have made the same decision, regardless of the obvious abuses that we have seen.

Others may need these benefits and deserve them much more than I ever will, and therefore participating in these public assistance programs is not warranted by me.

For assistance, I prefer grants and loans at this time.

If I get to the point where I warrant public assitance then I will, without hesitation, seek it.

People who could benefit from these programs legitiamately should pursue them with vigor. They are present for a good reason.

People who abuse these assistance programs whould be sent the pen and have to break rocks to earn their food and shelter.

-Vic