NationStates Jolt Archive

I wanted to know what its like living in a country that has a Queen. Like the laws and rules and all that. Also, do you have free healthcare and if so, how does that work.....I mean do you have to pay for any of the Dr services, medicines or hospital visits? Here in the US, I pay $200 a month just for the insurance and then 20% of the cost of service. Then co-pays and blah blah. Not only that, but if I dont use one of the Dr's in my "network" then my insurance pays nothing. It really adds up and basically makes it to expensive to get sick :headbang:

what percentage of your income is that? And your plan sucks. Mine doesn't make me pay 20% of the cost, just an annoying $5.00 copay.

It sure seems expensive yes, but it's not really if you think about it.

Let me elaborate.

Let's say you make... oh... $50,000 dollars a year. A respectable amount, but by no means excessive.

Income tax (here in Canada) is ~35-40% ish for an annual income of $50,000 (not sure on that figure, but it's around there)

That works out to about... $18,000 in income taxes (I'm simplifying numbers obviously)

Approx 1/3rd of income taxes go to health care, hence... $6000

Divide that by 12, that's $500 a month for health care, whether you use the system or not.

Still sound so great?

Not so free if you really think about it, by "free" they mean you don't directly pay when you go to the doctor's. You pay through your taxes.

And having a Queen? Little to nothing really... she's a figurehead in Canada, they have her on the back of the coins and on bills, but aside from that...

It sure seems expensive yes, but it's not really if you think about it.

Let me elaborate.

Let's say you make... oh... $50,000 dollars a year. A respectable amount, but by no means excessive.

Income tax (here in Canada) is ~35-40% ish for an annual income of $50,000 (not sure on that figure, but it's around there)

That works out to about... $18,000 in income taxes (I'm simplifying numbers obviously)

Approx 1/3rd of income taxes go to health care, hence... $6000

Divide that by 12, that's $500 a month for health care, whether you use the system or not.

Still sound so great?

Not so free if you really think about it, by "free" they mean you don't directly pay when you go to the doctor's. You pay through your taxes.

And having a Queen? Little to nothing really... she's a figurehead in Canada, they have her on the back of the coins and on bills, but aside from that...

yeah but what a bargain if you dont have a job or if you make like 15,000/yr eh? :-P

what percentage of your income is that? And your plan sucks. Mine doesn't make me pay 20% of the cost, just an annoying $5.00 copay.

Supposedly, we have one of the best insurance carriers(yeah right) Blue Cross Blue SHield. Its the same price no matter what your salary is. It is $200 per month for family coverage no matter if you make $20k a year or $200k a year at my company. The co pay for a dr visit is $25 and $100 if you have to go to the hospital. Drugs are $10 generic and $35 for the others. After a $100 deductible for drugs and $500 deductible for the family.Yeah I think it sucks too!

Let's say you make... oh... $50,000 dollars a year. A respectable amount, but by no means excessive.

Income tax (here in Canada) is ~35-40% ish for an annual income of $50,000 (not sure on that figure, but it's around there)

That works out to about... $18,000 in income taxes (I'm simplifying numbers obviously)

Approx 1/3rd of income taxes go to health care, hence... $6000

Divide that by 12, that's $500 a month for health care, whether you use the system or not.

Still sound so great?


... compared to one person going bankrupt every 30 seconds due to medical bills?

ya, it sounds fantastic

Supposedly, we have one of the best insurance carriers(yeah right) Blue Cross Blue SHield. Its the same price no matter what your salary is. It is $200 per month for family coverage no matter if you make $20k a year or $200k a year at my company. The co pay for a dr visit is $25 and $100 if you have to go to the hospital. Drugs are $10 generic and $35 for the others. After a $100 deductible for drugs and $500 deductible for the family.Yeah I think it sucks too!

honestly, i feel for you guys

you honestly dont know what you are missing

if only Tax wasnt a curse word down there

Supposedly, we have one of the best insurance carriers(yeah right) Blue Cross Blue SHield. Its the same price no matter what your salary is. It is $200 per month for family coverage no matter if you make $20k a year or $200k a year at my company. The co pay for a dr visit is $25 and $100 if you have to go to the hospital. Drugs are $10 generic and $35 for the others. After a $100 deductible for drugs and $500 deductible for the family.Yeah I think it sucks too!
Aultcare, what my family gets through my fathers work (and I still mooch off of as a college student) is about $200 a month, copay is $5, we don't have to pay anything beyond that for doctors trips, and if we visit an Aultman Organization Clinic or hospital we pay only the $10 copay.

It sure seems expensive yes, but it's not really if you think about it.

Let me elaborate.

Let's say you make... oh... $50,000 dollars a year. A respectable amount, but by no means excessive.

Income tax (here in Canada) is ~35-40% ish for an annual income of $50,000 (not sure on that figure, but it's around there)

That works out to about... $18,000 in income taxes (I'm simplifying numbers obviously)

Approx 1/3rd of income taxes go to health care, hence... $6000

Divide that by 12, that's $500 a month for health care, whether you use the system or not.

Still sound so great?

Not so free if you really think about it, by "free" they mean you don't directly pay when you go to the doctor's. You pay through your taxes.

And having a Queen? Little to nothing really... she's a figurehead in Canada, they have her on the back of the coins and on bills, but aside from that...

uh thats not REAL is it? my fam makes about $70,000/year and our income tax is around 10% once you take out out all the deductions and credits. i do my taxes myself so yes its correct.

ya'll dont REALLY pay $18,000 in taxes on $50k do you? thats abusive.

Our taxes ,well lets see, its about 27% of my total salary, but that includes state and federal. It sure seems like a lot to take out plus the cost of insurance. ($200 monthly) I'd like to see the US give us free healthcare. That will never happen here I'm sure. I should move ay? And other countries seem more accepting of things. Like the part of the country I live in frowns upon inter-racial marriage/relationships. If youre white and marry a black person or Hispanic person- people look at you like your've got Leprocy. Totally of subject sorry, but was just thinking about the differnces in other countries.

uh thats not REAL is it? my fam makes about $70,000/year and our income tax is around 10% once you take out out all the deductions and credits. i do my taxes myself so yes its correct.

ya'll dont REALLY pay $18,000 in taxes on $50k do you? thats abusive.

where do you live!

honestly, i feel for you guys

you honestly dont know what you are missing

if only Tax wasnt a curse word down there
I support universal healthcare, but SINGLE-PAYER is a different issue. Don't you Canadians have to wait like 3 months for a nose job? And tax isn't a curse word here in Taxachusetts! It's a bragging right to say that our tax rates are lower than Sweden's. Tax and spend, tax and spend! No, but seriously, I don't necessarily support higher taxes, just a more progressive system.

It sure seems expensive yes, but it's not really if you think about it.

Let me elaborate.

Let's say you make... oh... $50,000 dollars a year. A respectable amount, but by no means excessive.

Income tax (here in Canada) is ~35-40% ish for an annual income of $50,000 (not sure on that figure, but it's around there)

That works out to about... $18,000 in income taxes (I'm simplifying numbers obviously)

Approx 1/3rd of income taxes go to health care, hence... $6000

Divide that by 12, that's $500 a month for health care, whether you use the system or not.

Still sound so great?

Not so free if you really think about it, by "free" they mean you don't directly pay when you go to the doctor's. You pay through your taxes.

And having a Queen? Little to nothing really... she's a figurehead in Canada, they have her on the back of the coins and on bills, but aside from that...

You obviously don't understand how taxes work.
You have a set amount of money on which you pay no tax. In the UK, that's about £4000 for most people. Then, on the next £9,000 pa you pay 10%. From £13,000-£22,000 it's 20%. From there up to about £35,000 pa it's 33%. Any income over that is taxed at 40%.
You're not paying 40% as a blanket tax on all your income at all.

God save the Queen!!!

Yeah save her....sounds like we need a Queen of the United States. LOL.....can you imagine the candidates? Hilary Clinton, Oprah .....

Yeah save her....sounds like we need a Queen of the United States. LOL.....can you imagine the candidates? Hilary Clinton, Oprah .....
Rupaul. Dennis Rodman.

Rupaul. Dennis Rodman.

and Christopher Lowell

I wanted to know what its like living in a country that has a Queen. Like the laws and rules and all that.
You mean like in Canada? Having a Queen means a face on our coins and a statue next to the House of Commons... and there are lots of statues next to the House of Commons, as anyone who's been there will tell you. Also, the Governor General (representing the Queen) signs royal assent to all laws, but that individual never refuses royal assent and his/her (it's been both) role is entirely ceremonial.

Don't you Canadians have to wait like 3 months for a nose job?
A nose job? I don't think OHIP covers those... at least I hope not. If it is covered and if you do have to wait for a "nose job", that's good because it's low priority. You will not die if you have to wait for it. That being said, I'm pretty sure you still need to go private for that (there are still some private clinics). If we're just talking about minor procedures (nose job is minor, right?) I can tell you that it's never taken me more than a few weeks to a to get in to have minor surgery, whether it's been on my toe (ALL FIVE FUCKING TIMES) or on my.... well.... a very private part of my body, which I actually had diagnosed and operated on within a couple days.

The problem is when you need more serious procedures done, and there's sometimes a less than trifling wait, because obviously those things need more resources, time, etc. or a specialist (low supply of some of those) is required.

You mean like in Canada? Having a Queen means a face on our coins and a statue next to the House of Commons... and there are lots of statues next to the House of Commons, as anyone who's been there will tell you. Also, the Governor General (representing the Queen) signs royal assent to all laws, but that individual never refuses royal assent and his/her (it's been both) role is entirely ceremonial.


A nose job? I don't think OHIP covers those... at least I hope not. If it is covered and if you do have to wait for a "nose job", that's good because it's low priority. You will not die if you have to wait for it. That being said, I'm pretty sure you still need to go private for that (there are still some private clinics). If we're just talking about minor procedures (nose job is minor, right?) I can tell you that it's never taken me more than a few weeks to a to get in to have minor surgery, whether it's been on my toe (ALL FIVE FUCKING TIMES) or on my.... well.... a very private part of my body, which I actually had diagnosed and operated on within a couple days.

The problem is when you need more serious procedures done, and there's sometimes a less than trifling wait, because obviously those things need more resources, time, etc. or a specialist (low supply of some of those) is required.

So all necessary procedures are covered? Like say a heart or kidney transplant. You would pay nothing and wait maybe a few months? I know a family who lost everything they had , house, cars, furniture, because a family member had to have a heart transplant and they had to pay such high medical bills. Also true story for someone who has cancer and cant afford all the treatments for that.(here in the USA) How awful

Also, it doesn't help that Canadian doctors can go to the United States and make twice as much. I don't exagerrate in saying this: I know a certain doctor, a surgeon, who makes about 400,000 a year. He's had offers from hospitals and clinics in a few states where he could make 700,000, 800,000, or over 1,000,000..... he's staying, though.

So all necessary procedures are covered? Like say a heart or kidney transplant. You would pay nothing and wait maybe a few months? I know a family who lost everything they had , house, cars, furniture, because a family member had to have a heart transplant and they had to pay such high medical bills. Also true story for someone who has cancer and cant afford all the treatments for that.(here in the USA) How awful
I think heart transplants or kidneys could take awhile longer. Cause it's mainly dependant on if there is a comaptibel donor organ availebal.

....up to about £35,000 pa it's 33%. Any income over that is taxed at 40%.
You're not paying 40% as a blanket tax on all your income at all.So the Queen pays 40%?

So all necessary procedures are covered? Like say a heart or kidney transplant. You would pay nothing and wait maybe a few months? I know a family who lost everything they had , house, cars, furniture, because a family member had to have a heart transplant and they had to pay such high medical bills. Also true story for someone who has cancer and cant afford all the treatments for that.(here in the USA) How awful
You do have to wait a few months, depending on the hospital... how well staffed it is and whatnot... could be longer, could be a bit shorted. The wait's probably longer than most American hospitals at any Canadian one, because doctors are more likely to move South than North. Do I have stats for you? Nope. I do, however, know stories of some people that, through not making it to appointments and the like, have been bumped down and have to wait longer and longer. It's at least in part their own fault, but it can become truly ridiculous in some of these cases. I can't say that I know or have heard anyone who's died from waiting, but...

I think heart transplants or kidneys could take awhile longer. Cause it's mainly dependant on if there is a comaptibel donor organ availebal.


Youre right, it does take a long time. Here too, the person I spoke of earlier had to wait almost a year for a donor and a good match. But its still of no cost to the patients in Canada and England?

To the post about paying the Dr's being offered more to come here: That doesnt seem fair does it. I'm glad the Dr is staying ......the Dr's here that I have had, for the most part care mostly about their Mercedes and their tee time.

Youre right, it does take a long time. Here too, the person I spoke of earlier had to wait almost a year for a donor and a good match. But its still of no cost to the patients in Canada and England?
I think stuff like that is covered by the insurances. Like in most European countries.

To the post about paying the Dr's being offered more to come here: That doesnt seem fair does it. I'm glad the Dr is staying ......the Dr's here that I have had, for the most part care mostly about their Mercedes and their tee time.
Birmingham has more doctors from Malawi then Malawi has doctors.

You obviously don't understand how taxes work.
You have a set amount of money on which you pay no tax. In the UK, that's about £4000 for most people. Then, on the next £9,000 pa you pay 10%. From £13,000-£22,000 it's 20%. From there up to about £35,000 pa it's 33%. Any income over that is taxed at 40%.
You're not paying 40% as a blanket tax on all your income at all.
PHEW that makes better sense!
its still high but, as was pointed out, it covers your health care

do many people in the UK have private insurance that lets them go to non-government facilities and doctors? or is that just not done there?

Thank you all for your information on my questions. . Its just a problem here in this country that seems endless and unfair. I have know of people not taking their sick children to the dr because they cant afford it. I get mad about things like that.

I think heart transplants or kidneys could take awhile longer. Cause it's mainly dependant on if there is a comaptibel donor organ availebal.
There's probably also some triage going on... who needs it more (you probably aren't picking a 90 year old over a 20 year old) and so forth.

Oh, equipment's probably better in the States too... but there is higher average life expectancy and lower infant mortality rate in Canada. Difference of 2.53 years and 1.81 death per thousand respectively according to the CIA factbook... and I think those guys do their homework.

Edit: maybe that came out wrong. The difference, I should point out, isn't really that high. You've got a good shot at a long life in both countries, but I guess the difference is that if you can't afford coverage you might run into serious problems in the States, but if you can afford it you may be a bit better off than you would be in Canada. It all depends. Me, I like it here, but I don't base my reasons for staying on healthcare... I just like it here in general.

where do you live!
i live in the US. we have a 3 person family and take the standard deduction. we didnt even qualify for the $1000 child tax credit last year and we still paid around 10%

i live in the US. we have a 3 person family and take the standard deduction. we didnt even qualify for the $1000 child tax credit last year and we still paid around 10%

3 person family also on last tax return, but as of june we have a new baby so that makes 4 :) .....i live in the US too and my income tax is likee 27 % of my income. but like i said-thats state and federal. its still 27 % of my money gone plus the cost of insurance. ick

3 person family also on last tax return, but as of june we have a new baby so that makes 4 :) .....i live in the US too and my income tax is likee 27 % of my income. but like i said-thats state and federal. its still 27 % of my money gone plus the cost of insurance. ick
oh hun, if you are paying 27% (unless you live in new york maybe) you need to talk to me in january. unless you are making a HUGE amount of money, and from your need to pay for your own insurance i would guess you dont, you probably should be paying next to nothing in federal income tax. you must be doing something wrong on the forms.

oh and congrats on the new baby! my nephew has a baby that age. they are so cute when they start really noticing the world around them!

oh hun, if you are paying 27% (unless you live in new york maybe) you need to talk to me in january. unless you are making a HUGE amount of money, and from your need to pay for your own insurance i would guess you dont, you probably should be paying next to nothing in federal income tax. you must be doing something wrong on the forms.

oh and congrats on the new baby! my nephew has a baby that age. they are so cute when they start really noticing the world around them!


Thank you! :) And I might come to the forum looking for you in January! lol