Anyone Canadian?
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion Archive: Archive February 2006:
Anyone Canadian?
I just read on a different message board that Canadian WOHM's get 52 weeks of maternity leave now. That is amazing!
Yup, we sure do and the government pays us a portion of our salary as well. Some companies will top you up so you can sometimes make 80% of your salary and stay at home with your babies for 1 year. Oh yeah and your job is protected by law for that time period as well.
If you move to Canada though you'd have to pay our taxes. 
I worked at a college before having kids. They topped up to 98% of our pay. Unfortunately I only got the parental leave, which at the time was just 10 weeks. Adoptive parents don't get the full amount of time off, which sucks. I did take the rest of the year off without pay, and my job was guaranteed if I chose to go back. I didn't, but had all of my accumulated vacation pay waiting for me when I quit, which was a nice surprise.
Wow, that's sweet! With extended sick leave, I managed to stay home for 8 weeks, after my kids were born. It still went by WAY TOO FAST!
Yes and thank goodness. It was 6 months with my first and then the year with Harry. And I got %52 of my salary through Employment insurance for the duration.
I have to say, when I hear about maternity leave in the US it seems a little barbaric. Yeah, I'm spoiled but without that leave I may not have nursed as long as I did and it made for a really good transition to being a stay at home mom.
Off the maternity leave topic, but still regarding Canadian healthcare - how bad is the wait to see a doc for routine medical problems? What if you have, say, endometriosis and need a laparoscopy? How long would you have to wait for that? Is that considered elective surgery?
Just curious - I'm not *that* familiar with your healthcare system. I guess I wonder because DH and I have so many health issues, we'd probably be outta luck!
Back to maternity leave....the Canadian way is WONDERFUL! Lots of people have to really save just to be off for the 3-mth. family medical leave. I agree Unschool...it is "barbaric"!
Karen, regarding our health care system it really depends where you live. If you live in a large centre like I do you don't *usually* see really long wait times although it would very depending on the speciality and the procedure.
Some of the northern or more rural areas people can wait up to a year for a particular surgery, if it's not a emgergency or they have to travel to a large centre. Although I have never known anyone personally who has had to wait that long. Some people have to wait for a long time for something like hip surgery. As for the procedures you are talking about I don't know, but you would not be "outta luck" as you put it here. You are never, never turned away for healthcare services here.
You know our system has it faults but I would still take it over other countries where you are turned away because you don't have healthcare insurance. I could not imagine having cancer, or needing heart surgery and having someone say to me sorry but no insurance no doctor for you. Or having to lose our home and be in debt for the rest of our lives because we had to pay for it. I couldn't imagine thinking you know I'm not feeling well but I can't afford healthcare insurance or I can't afford to pay the doctor so I'm just not going to go. If I get a runny nose and I want to go to the doctor I call and make an appointment and I can ususally get in that day or at the very least within 2 days.
Also we can choose our doctors we don't have private insurance companies dictating to us who we can and who we will not see. There is also no limit on how many times you can see a doctor. Sick, go to the doctor - no charge, your kids are sick no problem take them to the doctor.
It's not an ideal system, people abuse it and it costs the tax payers money. Also many of our talented doctors and nurses go to the US to work because they are paid better there than they are here. Most doctors here though do make a 6 figure salary so it's not like they are in the poor house either. Nurses, although I'm not completely sure make at least $50 annually. But we still have a fairly good system despite the wait times and I love that it is for everyone not just for the privileged. I think the wait time issues are blown out of portion by the media. Like I said I've never heard of anyone peronally having to wait a long time. My Grandmother lives in a small northern community and she waited maybe a month for cateract (sp?) surgery and her husband has had cancer a number of times and he has never had to wait to see a doctor or have any surgeries or treatments.
Sorry that was probably more of answer than you were looking for. Hope that explains it a bit more for you.
No, actually, it wasn't *more* than I was looking for. Thanks!
Personally, we have health insurance, and we pay through the nose for it. We have a PPO as opposed to an HMO - we can choose our docs rather than get referrals from our primary care docs. We have prescription coverage and the copayments are different depending on whether the drug is a generic, *preferred* drug, or new drug on the market, which basically means it's *really* expensive.
However, insurance companies here are asking for pre-certification or pre-approval for many types of testing now, and the copays are getting astronomical.
In our *particular* situation, my DH has had a heart attack, so he's on several meds for blood and cholesterol, etc. I've had 2 back surgeries and have a number of physical health issues, plus I have asthma, so I'm on a number of prescription meds as well. I won't even tell you what our out-of-pocket medical expenses are annually - it would shock you.
I go several times a year for injections in my neck/shoulders/back, etc. The doc I go to for that is my osteopath/physical medicine/pain management doc. I see this particular doc every 8 weeks - one of the reasons is due to the meds I am on. So I guess I was wondering, in situations like that, how is that handled with your healthcare system?
Sometimes I think your system would be better for us! LOL I think I'm basically working to pay for our health insurance and our medical copayments!
We have never had long waits, either. I can get into the doc the same day I need to normally, because they always keep a few appointments open for last minute things.
I have had some long waits for specialists and some tests for the kids, but they weren't emergency things. If we walk into the ER, everything will be done immediately.
I don't think that my dad got the best treatment, but I think that was because his family doctor wasn't aggressive enough, so didn't get him in to see the right people in time. As I said, if he had have walked into the ER, they would have kept him and figured things out.
All in all, I wouldn't trade our health care either, even with the taxes we pay. It's well worth it, in my opinion!
On the maternity leave subject again: That is so neat! I think it's fabulous! There are so many moms in our area that barely get the 6 weeks off before they are pressured into going back. My dd's teacher is scheduled to have her baby on March 1st. She will be back at school the first of April. So sad that so many moms have to leave their newborns to rush back to work.
I think that most countries have some degree of faults with their healthcare systems. Too bad we can't just pick and choose the best from each country and roll it into one
Our health insurance premium is $926 a month. Luckily, my DH's employer foots the bill. None of it comes out of our pocket. This includes 100% (no co-pay) on labor/delivery, eye care, dental care, emergency room visits. We have a $5 co-pay on regular office visits. And, we have a great prescription plan. Free prescriptions if it's generic. $10 for a 3 month supply if it's name brand. My DH takes Advair for his asthma. It is expensive. So, we are very thankful that it's paid for with our insurance. We pay $10 and get a 3 month supply of it.
What ARE the Canadian taxes?
OH MY GOSH...as a teacher I could not image going back to work a month after having a baby. The children in my class, as wonderful as they are, are demanding and need me to be rested and at my best. I can't image being sleep deprived and being able to be the energetic teacher that my students need.
I'm not sure about our taxes really, in terms of federal taxes. Sad, isn't it? I just do up the income tax each year and forget about it. I don't know what the % would be. As far as provincial taxes, it varies from province to province and we also pay a federal GST (Goods and Services Tax) of 7% on many purchases. It's strange how it works. I think for instance, if you buy one donut you pay GST but if you buy 6 you don't. Something like that. I live in Alberta which is a debt free province. We don't have provincial tax but we still have GST.
One thing about taxes, if I ever win the lottery, we don't pay taxes on it here in Canada
15% on the first $36,378 of taxable income;
22% on the next $36,378 of taxable income;
26% on the next $45,529 of taxable income; and
29% of taxable income over $118,285.
Our taxes are higher but I don't have a problem with that - healthcare and maternity leave are certainly worth it. It's paying money to taxes instead of insurance premiums and paying it as taxes insures that all Canadians benefit instead of just my family.
I've never had problems the healthcare system. Wait times can be a problem with elective surgery. I know of an elderly woman in her late 80's who wil be waiting a couple of years for a hip replacement. But personally I've had fantastic prenatal care, hospital stays and post natal care. My family doctor is always easy to get in to see. My son is going in for dental surgery (again - more molars to get capped) and it's covered.
I really think people should have a right to be free from financial stress when it comes to healthcare.
If I'm doing the math right, Breann's health care insurance costs $11,112 annually.
Translating it into the Canadian tax, 15% of $36,378 = $5,457. $11,112 - $5,457 = $5,665. Working it a bit further, the $11,112 paid annually for Breann's health insurance translates to the Canadian tax on an annual income of about $62,100. But the Canadian tax not only provides free full health care, dental (and, I assume vision) care, plus 52 weeks of maternity leave with 52% of salary.
I did a little googling, and came up with quotes for a Blue Cross Blue Shield policy in Virginia for a 2 parent 1 child family, with dental and maternity and preventive care, with the individual paying the premium (not group or employer paid insurance). The monthly premiums, co-pays and out of pockets ranged from a low of
$432/month ($5,184 annual) premium 30% co-pay $5,000 max out of pocket
to a high of
$973/month ($11,676 annual) premium 20% co-pay $3,000 out of pocket maximum.
A member on this board recently posted about her child not being able to see a specialist because she is on Medicare (state paid health insurance) and the nearest specialist that accepts Medicare is a 5 hour drive away. It was only by the intervention of her family doc and the kindness of a local specialist that her son was finally treated.
If you are working and are lucky enough to have an employer who pays for a decent health insurance package, what happens if you become seriously ill for a long period? Eventually your employer will take you off the payroll and stop paying your health insurance premiums. Could you pay your bills AND health insurance from your disability insurance? If you are deemed disabled by Social Security standards, you become eligible for Medicare, but otherwise, you are on your own.
According to a recent Harvard University study, about 50% of all personal filings for bankruptcy in 2001 were because of financial collapse of a family due to a serious illness.
I agree with Dawn - people should have a right to be free from financial stress when it comes to healthcare.
All of the above was me posting as an individual. Now, posting as a moderator, I think maybe if this discussion on health care goes on much longer, it will be moved to the Kitchen Table (debate board). (I note that when someone asked what topics people would like to debate, health care was on my list, and I've done some research on this issue.)
Canadian healthcare does not cover dental or vision. It used to but has been phased out over the years. Vision is covered for children under the age of 12 I believe. Also we have to pay for our medications. Most mid-income families have some sort of insurance through their employers for drugs. Some companies cover all and some half of the premium. Sorry just wanted to clear that up.
Also some provinces you have to pay a monthly premium to the government for your healthcare coverage, but I think it's probably less than $30 monthly. I remember years ago when I lived in B.C. as a single person I had to pay about $17 each month for healthcare. Peanuts for all that it covered.
Canadian moms, is the old-age benefit (similar to our Social Security) also covered by the tax? Is that the entire income tax, or only the part that pays for health coverage and maybe old-age pension?
It does cover dental for children under twelve. For those things it doesn't cover, like my dental, the insurance through my husbands work ($60 a month) deals with.
Dawn, my kids have never been covered unless by my hubby's benefits. (dental)
Ginny, I'm not sure if what Dawn wrote is our total income tax. I do know that on our income tax form we have federal, provincial and Canadian Pension Plan that we pay into, as well as Employment Insurance. (used to be called unemployment insurance, and allows us to be paid for something like a year while searching for a new job)
My mom does get a senior's pension (started at 65), and she is now covered for vision. She pays less for other things, such as chiropractic, than I do. Those benefits kick in at 65.
Ginny! That is an awesome breakdown! I'm so glad you did that. Very interesting
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