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Originally Posted by inhalo
13th Question.
I have already asked about health care service in general, now I must dig in a little deeper. In the states, dental coverage and vision are seperate plans. Do these services operate any different than your regular Health coverage? What about birth control and programs like Planned Parenthood?
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There are different plans: THERE IS PRIVATE HEALTH CARE IN CANADA, we just ignore the broad terms of health when we talk. We talk about hospitals, surgeries and doctor's office appointments, and we beam with national pride. When the question turns to dental, vision, pharmacare, emergency transportation, WOAH THERE BIG GUY, that stuff costs money...
Yes, usually an employer will kick in and cover that extra coverage and call that insurance, but don't ever call it 'health insurance'. That is an afront to our national illusion of FREE HEALTH CARE. It is more properly called "Vision and Dental Coverage" instead.
If you can't see and can't eat, I'd say you were pretty unhealthy. IMHO.
I think most full time employers cover anything under the private insurance except your kids braces... you need a real cadillac program to cost share that. I heard of a guy that had his plan PAY FOR HIS KIDS BRACES IN FULL, but I forgot where he worked. If your plan pays this, count yourself lucky.
There are limits (1 free eye exam per year, X number of dental visits with an X amout total fee) to the plan to avoid the brutal overuse of the system.
If you are working min wage or a little above, and you don't have a plan, the costs for drugs, eyeglasses, dentists, and god forbid an ambulance ride can be really steep.