Canadian health care is it really free?
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It is free and as previously noted, medications are usually covered under the employers work plan to a certain degree. You usually end it paying the dispensing fees. It may sounds like such a bonus, but because it's subsidized by the provincial government, the monies put into equipment and other necessities aren't like you see in the US. I wouldn't be surprised if there's only 6-12 MRI's in the entire province of Ontario. Average wait, can be 2-4 months just to get images and then comes the follow-up with the specialist which may be another month or two. Because of this, they try and prioritize which is understandable and if there was any suspicion of me having a tumor, I certainly wouldn't/couldn't wait that long. Also, because the government controls the spending, who in turn pay for surgeries, I've heard from a friend who's brothers a surgeon and apparently they've been mandated, to avoid surgery at all cost unless absolutely necessary. So in my case, because I have soft tissue issues as opposed to bone/structure, they will not even attempt surgery, unless it got to the point where I'm more/less bed ridden. So it has it's pros and cons, one way, you avoid uneccesary surgery by someone that's scalpo happy.
Yes, it is subsidized by the goverment just like the UK.
Yes, it is free. Medication is not free unless you have a medical plan. My husband has one at his work he pays $30 a month and we only have to pay $1 for any prescription we need. The plan also covers any dental work etc that our family may need.
Here's a thought though. As high as gas prices are in the U.S. now, they are twice as high in Great Britain. They use a gas tax to fund socialized medicine.
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