Can we talk dollars?

[Greg a]

In Ontario,Canada the "TAX BURDEN" is on all employers and through federal transfer payments to the provinces so here a Doctor bills OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) and their funds come from the provincial coffers. I live comfortably on a modest disability pension and last year had to pay no taxes ...that is why I say I recieve free healthcare.

........................... My son and his family emigrated to Canada. The taxes they pay in Ontario are much less than what health insurance was costing them when they lived in Colorado. I can only speak to the experience my family has had........................................................-Philip

So I thank Philp Bs son for coming to Canada and earning his wage here so that his employer could help me out .

As irritating as Michael Moore can be I learned a lot about how lucky I am by seeing his movie "sicko"

I am sorry to anyone that got upset by my use of the word FREE in another thread where I was addressing a fellow Canadian who I was trying to help as I thought that is what a support forum was supposed to be and not a political soapbox

again my appologies

 

[JeffM]

AVR cost

AVR cost

What a range! It seems the number of complications and days in hospital are the key factors in the resultant cost. I was lucky in that my total for a 3-day hospital stay and surgery amounted to only $80K, the majority of which was paid for by insurance. I can't imagine what life would be like without insurance and I sincerely hope everyone in the US can get affordable decent coverage soon.

 

[Luana]

What did you guys pay for meds (pre-insurance) in the first 6 months? I'm trying to estimate what to put into my flexible spending account to cover it. From what I've read it sounds like there are LOTS of medications immediately following surgery.

While it is hard to say, if you're not taking any meds now, and your recovery is very uneventful, you may just go home with a beta blocker, and if you have a mechanical valve, warfarin. Both are available as $4 generics. Oh, and some pain pills, which should probably be generic, too.