Letter from the Boss

[shmike]

Originally Posted by Papa_Complex

When I've looked at moving south, I always came out worse there unless my employer provided medical. It wasn't by a small margin either.

Up here I get basic medical simply by being a citizen. In my current job I haven't had to pay a penny for dental in 10 years. I get life and travel insurance, by default. That, and my pay, makes it a tough combo to beat. Sure, I could probably (well now definitely) afford to buy a house down there but now here without singificant belt tightening, but you have to look at the whole picture. It's basically a wash.

Fine but we weren't discussing cost of living.

Dollar for dollar my income in Ontario would be taxed over 12% more than here. I can buy health and dental coverage for 4 people with that difference.

[the chi]

Originally Posted by Papa_Complex

Life saving is part of "basic services." I get tossed in an ambulance (might have to pay $40.00 for that trip) and get carted off to a hospital ER, from which point on I wouldn't pay a cent unless I wanted a private or semi-private room for my recuperation.

You?

Hmmm, i pay about $50 a paycheck for crappy coverage, it costs me $30 bucks to see a doc, $50 to see anyone other than a general practicioner, god forbid I have to go to the hospital or take an emergency ride...as I woud be out of pocket THOUSANDS...

[Papa_Complex]

Originally Posted by The Chi

Hmmm, i pay about $50 a paycheck for crappy coverage, it costs me $30 bucks to see a doc, $50 to see anyone other than a general practicioner, god forbid I have to go to the hospital or take an emergency ride...as I woud be out of pocket THOUSANDS...

That's why I always buy supplemental travel insurance when i go down there, despite the fact that I have it through my company policy also. One crash on the bike and a broken limb later, and I could be looking at a $50K medical bill.

[Amorok]

I have absolutely nothing to add to the insurance thing, I'm government property and am insured as such. They'll keep me alive by any means necessary until they get the passwords.

[pauldun170]

A % of Medical cost is part of my compensation. Otherwise I'm looking at $700-$1000 for medical insurance. If I were to skip insurance and just pay for individual service rendered per vist (shudders)

Anethesioligists charge about what...$6000 an hour not included materials?
Doctors - 200-3000 an hour?

[the chi]

Originally Posted by Amorok

I have absolutely nothing to add to the insurance thing, I'm government property and am insured as such. They'll keep me alive by any means necessary until they get the passwords.

Thankfully soon I will be too in a roundabout way, then I wont have to worry about it, just about what strange experiments the military docs will try to pull without telling me!

[Trip]

Originally Posted by Papa_Complex

Not a whole hell of a lot more than you. Possibly less, if you toss in things like paying for a health plan.

Are you part of the 65% of canadians that have supplementary private insurance?

Healthcare is fucked up pretty much everywhere.

[Rsv1000R]

Originally Posted by Papa_Complex

Life saving is part of "basic services." I get tossed in an ambulance (might have to pay $40.00 for that trip) and get carted off to a hospital ER, from which point on I wouldn't pay a cent unless I wanted a private or semi-private room for my recuperation.

You?

My rotator cuff surgery as far as I can tell didn't cost me anything, I suppose there was the $10 co pay office visits....

[Papa_Complex]

Originally Posted by Trip

Are you part of the 65% of canadians that have supplementary private insurance?

Healthcare is fucked up pretty much everywhere.

I have additional health and medical insurance through my employer. This translates to being able to recuperate in a private room and having drugs that are not covered by OHIP being largely covered by that insurance. Nothing above that, and I haven't used even that yet. So far when I've been pitched off my bike it has always resulted in a ER visit and out-patient care.

Originally Posted by Rsv1000R

My rotator cuff surgery as far as I can tell didn't cost me anything, I suppose there was the $10 co pay office visits....

What's your annual cost on medical insurance?

[Rsv1000R]

Originally Posted by Papa_Complex

What's your annual cost on medical insurance?

Well, depending how you want to slice it, it's 100% company paid for. I do pay $70/month more for my benefits than I'm given, But I also get dental, eye, AD&D and life ins for that amount.