How do you pay for health care?

[August1991]

In Quebec, I sometimes show my health card (carte soleil) but more often I use my Visa.

I often pay out of pocket - I keep the receipt to claim on my income tax.

=====

After meeting my private doctor, who sent me to a public specialist: I need a MRI:

-my other public doctor explained: put your name in the queue- you should be called in 3 or 4 months

-I chose to do the MRI next week for Cdn$800. I'll get the travel points.  

[August1991]

Share my files between the two?

The private clinic sent me reports about my health as an attachment by email: no cost.

The public system first gave me a fax number.

Then asked me to return next week and sign a waiver so they could access the information.

[August1991]

I reckon that a doctor/nurse should be able to work both in the public - and in a private system - simultaneously.

More important, no one in the 2020s should be using a fax number.

=======

Conflict of interest? Public school teachers often write textbooks - and offer private tutoring!

[herbie]

Discovered during tax forms there was a zero in the paid for extended medical. Tutns out the the expansion of seniors basic coverage wiped our the need, so the company just stopped.
Then I get a bill for $80 ambulance, which it apparently does not. Not that it's a big deal, anyone getting a company pension can afford $80 once in a lifetime. 
But I do find it unfair that because I've always had dental deducted , it disqualifies me from any benefit whatsoever from the federal seniors plan. It should be like extended was, on top of the basic.

[blackbird]

I'e got news for those that think the NDP health care system is so great.  Wait until you need to get into a care home.  If you want a public or gov't subsidized care home in BC, you may be required to pay 80% of your pensions.  The only alternative is a private care home which can cost $8000 per month.  Hopefully there are some less expensive,  but it could still be thousands per month.

[herbie]

And if it had anything to do with the NDP it wouldn't be exactly the same elsewhere.
That's how it works. They pretty much charge everything you get and leave you with a couple hundred bucks. And the folks both croaked before the NDP got back in.

[August1991]

On 4/1/2026 at 3:48 PM, herbie said:

Discovered during tax forms there was a zero in the paid for extended medical. Tutns out the the expansion of seniors basic coverage wiped our the need, so the company just stopped.
Then I get a bill for $80 ambulance, which it apparently does not. Not that it's a big deal, anyone getting a company pension can afford $80 once in a lifetime.

....

In Quebec, I can pay private. And I can claim on my income tax!

[eyeball]

On 4/1/2026 at 7:36 PM, blackbird said:

I'e got news for those that think the NDP health care system is so great.  Wait until you need to get into a care home.  If you want a public or gov't subsidized care home in BC, you may be required to pay 80% of your pensions.  The only alternative is a private care home which can cost $8000 per month.  Hopefully there are some less expensive,  but it could still be thousands per month.

My wife and I have thought about maybe hiring, housing and  perhaps sponsoring an immigrant couple who can provide senior care and housekeep us as long as possible. They could also run the bnb as part of the deal.

We're still in the same home we raised our kids in and they've all said they want to keep the place so that's kind of comforting.

We're upgrading things - a new roof a few years ago, we're renewing the well and pumphouse and updating the water system. We'll stain the building this summer. The only old things left to maintain will be us hopefully.

I'll probably consider MAID when it gets to the point I can't wipe my ass.

[blackbird]

5 hours ago, eyeball said:

My wife and I have thought about maybe hiring, housing and  perhaps sponsoring an immigrant couple who can provide senior care and housekeep us as long as possible. They could also run the bnb as part of the deal.

We're still in the same home we raised our kids in and they've all said they want to keep the place so that's kind of comforting.

We're upgrading things - a new roof a few years ago, we're renewing the well and pumphouse and updating the water system. We'll stain the building this summer. The only old things left to maintain will be us hopefully.

I'll probably consider MAID when it gets to the point I can't wipe my ass.

The first part about hiring help or live-in care sounds like a possible plan if it can be done.  The last part about MAID is nonsensical.   Suicide is not a solution.

[herbie]

13 hours ago, August1991 said:

In Quebec, I can pay private. And I can claim on my income tax!

All over you can do that. Pay for the extended premiums and then you claim the premiums under 'medical expenses' section. Your total medical expenses must exceed 3% of your income to be worth filling out.
If the company pays your extended it's listed as a taxable benefit on your T4

There used to be a way to write the cost of those off your total income but you had to dig to find it.

[August1991]

On 4/3/2026 at 2:55 AM, eyeball said:

My wife and I have thought about maybe hiring, housing and  perhaps sponsoring an immigrant couple who can provide senior care and housekeep us as long as possible. They could also run the bnb as part of the deal.

.....

I'll probably consider MAID when it gets to the point I can't wipe my ass.

You could also move abroad.

Such is modern Canada when we don't have kids - or kids we agree with.

[August1991]

On 4/3/2026 at 8:46 AM, blackbird said:

The first part about hiring help or live-in care sounds like a possible plan if it can be done.  The last part about MAID is nonsensical.   Suicide is not a solution.

I strongly agree.

Adopt an older cat from the SPCA.

MAiD is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

 

[blackbird]

25 minutes ago, August1991 said:

I strongly agree.

Adopt an older cat from the SPCA.

MAiD is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

 

"Denialism of all sorts is dangerous. Canada’s expanded MAiD policies have fallen prey to a new form of it: suicide denialism. What else can it be called when expansion ideologues repeatedly ignore and deny the fact that some Canadians are getting Track 2 MAiD fuelled not by illness suffering, but by known suicide risk factors of social deprivation?"

MAiD and marginalized people: Coroner’s reports shed light on assisted death in Ontario

It is so easy to do a little search on the internet and find out what is going on.

[SpankyMcFarland]

On 4/1/2026 at 7:58 AM, August1991 said:

I reckon that a doctor/nurse should be able to work both in the public - and in a private system - simultaneously.

More important, no one in the 2020s should be using a fax number.

=======

Conflict of interest? Public school teachers often write textbooks - and offer private tutoring!

That depends. If the doctor is paid by salary in the public system, then you’ll have to make sure they turn up for work as agreed and do what they’re contracted to do. In the UK and Ireland, some consultants have neglected their salaried posts in favour of their private ones. I’m in favour of a mixed system but workers have to be watched very carefully, human nature being what it is. 
 

 

[SpankyMcFarland]

On 4/2/2026 at 3:36 AM, blackbird said:

I'e got news for those that think the NDP health care system is so great.  Wait until you need to get into a care home.  If you want a public or gov't subsidized care home in BC, you may be required to pay 80% of your pensions.  The only alternative is a private care home which can cost $8000 per month.  Hopefully there are some less expensive,  but it could still be thousands per month.

What should be the alternative? Nursing home care is inherently expensive. Somebody has to pay it. 

[eyeball]

10 hours ago, August1991 said:

You could also move abroad.

Such is modern Canada when we don't have kids - or kids we agree with.

Well, we do have kids. And we get along.

[August1991]

On 4/14/2026 at 11:02 AM, SpankyMcFarland said:

That depends. If the doctor is paid by salary in the public system, then you’ll have to make sure they turn up for work as agreed and do what they’re contracted to do. In the UK and Ireland, some consultants have neglected their salaried posts in favour of their private ones. I’m in favour of a mixed system but workers have to be watched very carefully, human nature being what it is. 
 

 

Spanky, you raise good questions.

Health care is complicated. It often concerns end of life; indeed life itself.

Our current Canadian system of "all-covered" doesn't work.

I prefer the the Quebec/European system.

====

Quebec doctors/nurses should be free to work on both sides. 

   

 

 

[August1991]

On 4/14/2026 at 1:04 PM, blackbird said:

One of the problems is government involvement.  Anything the government gets involved in is automatically very expensive because of the bureaucracy.

 

Strongly disagree.

I am not a Libertarian: Canada is a successful federal State because we have provincial governments.

Edited April 17 by August1991

[blackbird]

On 4/14/2026 at 8:04 AM, SpankyMcFarland said:

What should be the alternative? Nursing home care is inherently expensive. Somebody has to pay it. 

Anything the government gets involved in automatically increases in cost significantly.

[SpankyMcFarland]

12 hours ago, blackbird said:

Anything the government gets involved in automatically increases in cost significantly.

What’s the government-free alternative?

[herbie]

( crickets )

[blackbird]

4 hours ago, SpankyMcFarland said:

What’s the government-free alternative?

All levels of government have wrecked the country with taxes and regulations.  It is not possible to fix things so badly wrecked.  It would take a miracle.

Private long term care can cost $8,000 or even $10,000 per month.

Government subsidized long term care has a long waiting list.  It could take a year to get into a place.

Edited April 17 by blackbird

[blackbird]

4 hours ago, SpankyMcFarland said:

What’s the government-free alternative?

If you're talking about long term care, the only alternative is government subsidized long term care.  In B.C. they charge 80% of the person's income.  I guess that is not so bad, but the problem is the long waiting list.  It could take around a year to get into one.  There is a shortage of care homes, another problem.

Edited April 17 by blackbird

[TreeBeard]

1 hour ago, blackbird said:

If you're talking about long term care, the only alternative is government subsidized long term care.  In B.C. they charge 80% of the person's income.  I guess that is not so bad, but the problem is the long waiting list.  It could take around a year to get into one.  There is a shortage of care homes, another problem.

You say government is the problem, but the solution is more government subsidized care.  
 

[August1991]

On 4/17/2026 at 5:36 PM, TreeBeard said:

You say government is the problem, but the solution is more government subsidized care.  
 

Huh? In Quebec, I scheduled next week in a private clinic for an MRI (800Cdn) and a CT scan (500Cdn).

In both cases, I was referred from two specialists (public, no cost) after seeing a private doctor (about 200Cdn).

I have a "family doctor". Her staff wants me to send faxes. She gave me her email. She is a good woman.

====

Health care is complicated.