Do you live up there? Everyone I know from Canada loves their Health Care System. Same with people in England. Most say they have never had to wait for much of anything.

I've been waiting nearly 10 years for my insurance to OK a Botox treatment, and I have insurance, so it can't be that bad in Canada.

If you live in the US and still live with your parents (living in the dorms and being home with parents during holidays and summer counts as living with parents) your parents' insurance has to cover you until you are 26 years old!

No, I don't live in Canada. I can't speak for everyone there, nor would I even attempt to do so. However, in every system there are flaws. I know one woman who can barely walk and has no one to take care of her who is forced to figure out a way to be evaluated in office every thirty days by a caseworker just to get her approval for scripts for that month. And nevermind her trying to get in to see a therapist about her emotional issues, she's been waiting for months for that approval. Or my friend in England who needs therapy and can't get in to see a therapist to save his life.

There are problems in every system. People will always fall through the cracks, no matter how good it looks from the outside.

Of course there are problems with every system... humans invent them.

I have to see my doctor every 12 weeks or I don't get my prescriptions, either. I won't survive without them. I am sometimes immobile and can't drive, due to the pain, but when I have an appointment (which can take up to four months to get, so I have to schedule the second one often before I've gone to the one before it) I HAVE to go, no matter what. It's no different here for people with health issues. (And they do have cabs in Canada, I am guessing....)

My husband has never taken a day off of work to get me to a doctor appointment, mainly because I do take it on myself to get myself there. So, it isn't any different here. If you are on certain meds, you have to see the doctor on a regular schedule, and if he's scheduling 4 months in advance, you HAVE TO go when you have an appointment. That isn't particular to the Canadian health care system. I know people who have to go on a set day every month, right here in the US. What I'm saying is, it ISN'T a Canadian rule only, it applies to us in the US, too.

I will admit something, I often take antibiotics made to be put into fish tanks, because they are cheaper than the co-pay to see my GYNE and then the Copay to buy the antibiotics for a UTI. Not to mention I get sometimes put off for 10 days when I have a bleeding UTI, most likely because I HAVE crappy insurance and the nurse refuses to give my Dr. the message to just prescribe an antibiotic over the phone. I LIVE in the USA, have health care, and am still having to practice 3rd World Medicine at times.... I'm certainly not alone, I just know what meds work for UTIs and was able to find them for fish in the same form. Crappy, huh? (Cue up the Star Spangled Banner....)

Ten years, ten years to maybe (I'm not approved yet) to be approved to even try a medication that MIGHT help my migraines, and has been available to the Rich for years. It's NO different here. Worse, because so many are simply NOT covered at all. The Canadian system is a leveler. The US system puts out the working middle class.

Unfortunately, my parents don't have insurance that covers medication - just doctor visits and emergencies.

I'm trying to get on some insurance realted to workers with disabilities, but it's taking forever.

Being an adult sure isn't all it's cracked up to be.

I'm sorry. It seems like even many with insurance are so woefully under covered. We technically "have" insurance, but we are paying more for medical care, with the co-pays and monthly payments than we would have if we had had NO insurance the first 10 years of our marriage.

I hope something comes along for you. Some stores have deals on meds, but most of them are drugs that are already very inexpensive.

Everybody in AU is covered by the goverment, right?

I really wish we had that here. "Private" insurance" under insurance for many, NO insurance for too many and continually changing requirements for state assisted programs in the US simply SUCK!

No one should have to choose between food and medicine, but people here do it every day. (My oldest daughter does. She has chosen food!) I think the if the fucking millionaires would be forced to pay their fair share of taxes, and THEN some, we could easily get everyone covered. Let the wealthy pay for their own if they don't like it.

Wow, this topic is a hot one. Good question!!!

No question it has become scary more expensive. I understand that. I was just pointing out that, realistically, don't think "young and healthy" means "don't need insurance". Fact is, we would have been destroyed, financially, without it. It is ashamed that it has become SO expensive. No doubt about it.

Does your college have a health plan? SOMETIMES they also have discount prescriptions. Worth asking. Even calling the pharmaceutical company..strange as that may seem, may get you an "assistance" card, to help bring that cost WAY, WAY down. Good luck. Our daughter is succeeding wildly in school,but is also dependent on her medication (which we didn't believe in for years) to function anywhere near the top of her game...and SHE is the first to tell you. BEST WISHES ON YOUR SCHOOLING.

Count your blessings, but a career in the military, you earned it. Ashamed that same type system is not made available to all.

The school's health insurance only covers emergency hospital visits. Nobody's heard of preventative healthcare, apparently.

I really don't like medications that much because I don't want to become dependent or build up a tolerance to things (i.e., antibotics or painkillers unless I reeeaaally need them). But certain things, like adderall, I really do benefit from. I have several three-hour classes and I tend to mentally "checkout" halfway through.


I haven't considered calling the pharmaceutical company, but that's a really good idea.

The only true healthcare benefits left are enjoyed by government and former government employees. The tax payers foot the bill for benefits that far exceed anything they could ever hope to get.

It's no accident that Congress has exempted themselves from both Social Security and Medicare - not good enough for those that are so keen to force inferior care on us.