Re: Getting HOSED by my health plan - anyone else?
I used to live in the States. I was born there, but became a Canadian citizen several years ago.
It makes me sad and angry to see people fighting to get medical coverage or having premiums increased due to illness. That's the last thing a person needs when they are sick.
Here in British Columbia, Canada, my husband and I pay $109 per month for both of us. That covers all medical expenses. Lab, hospital, x-rays, everything. There is no co-pay. There is no deductible. There are no forms to fill out. Ever. I think this is a reasonable amount to pay. It is based on a sliding scale as well. Also, I have never waited for care. I know that's a popular myth perpetrated in the US but it's not true, at least where I live. We can choose which province we want to have care in if a specialist happens to be out of province. That's a huge benefit and it's free.
National socialized healthcare is definitely the way to go, having experienced the alternative for most of my 50+ years in the US. When we lived in the US, we paid for co-pays and that 20% added up. When I broke my shoulder in 2003 in the US (I was still living there) I had to wait 6 hours!! in ER for care before they even looked at me. That is inhumane. For comparison, when I broke my wrists in Canada and was not even a resident or citizen yet, the hospital took me right in. No questions asked. No forms to fill out. And I never got a bill.
I hope there are some real solutions to the medical issue in the US because what you have isn't working. I have a daughter living there and I worry about her not getting medical care because she can't afford the co-pays. People, not money, have to come first.
Best of luck to you, my heart goes out to all of you!
Dianne
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Three years and 5 months NED
Dx: Aug 2008 right breast IDC with 50% of tumor DCIS, Stage II or IIA, tumor size: 2.1 cm
Grade 3
8/9 Richardson/Bloom test
ER+ weakly positive
Alred Score: 4 (suggesting I would strongly benefit from hormone therapy)
PR-,
HER2 positive +++
No vascular invasion
No lymph nodes involved
Surgery: Sept. 9, 2008 -Modified radical mastectomy, right breast. I chose to have a simple mastectomy on the left. Began Taxotere/Carboplatin/Herceptin November, 2008. Finished T/C March 2009. Finished #16 Herceptin Sept. 09. AI's and Tamoxifen made me sick. Began natural Tamoxifen which is Quercetin, I3C and a combo of other supplements. I am also a DES Daughter. There is now a link between DES exposure in utero and breast cancer!
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