My Canadian girlfriend and I have had a wonderful time
comparing notes on the differences between how her country and the US do things
differently. Some of the biggest
differences are how in her country there are no real estate tax write-offs—none…nothing…nadda. Also, in Canada, if a person needs
surgery, they cannot opt to have it done, as is the case here in the US. Instead, their process to become eligible
for surgery is similar to how we have PPO providers where the insured must go
to a regular doctor then get referred to a specialist who will then write a
prescription for said surgery if they
deem it absolutely necessary. This
can pose problems.
For example, my girlfriend fell a year back and sustained a substantial
injury to her knee that the doctors and specialists are still trying to unravel.
When the original injury took place, the result was a hematoma to that
knee. It’s now believed, since the
knee gives her constant grief—all this time later—that the hematoma may have
torn a hole in the cartilage behind her knee. And here’s the catch.
Though the doctors know that would require surgery to
replace the cartilage, a procedure that’s possible and has great success, they
won’t do it…now. Instead, they
tell my girlfriend she has to wait until the whole knee gives out.
What?!
Only then, when she has complete knee replacement, will the
doctors address the cartilage. So why,
you might ask, doesn’t my girlfriend opt to have surgery done anyhow without going
through her insurance….
Simple. She’s not allowed…or
rather, no surgeons will do the surgery without her getting a prescription for
said procedure… which…she can’t get…at this time.
Sheesh! And I thought medical care here in the
states was messed up….
After hearing my girlfriend’s dilemma, I’m pretty pleased
with how we handle medical processes here. After all, who wants to live out the next two decades in
constant pain when that’s totally unnecessary simply because the country’s medical
procedures won’t allow for the simple corrective surgery to be performed?
So it's all about being in their system then. For all the good you hear about the Canadian medical system the realities aren't always what you think they are, evidently.
ReplyDeleteHey Eli O,
ReplyDeleteLike you, I was under the impression that all was dandy with their medical system, which...isn't the case....