Endgame of health-care privatization complex
By Lethbridge Herald on March 22, 2023.
Much concern has been expressed over UCP plans to increase the private delivery of health care.
To be fair, our health-care system already comprises a mix of public and private delivery, so it is not simply a matter of increased privatization.
To appreciate what is happening, and what is at stake, we need to dig deeper. The endgame is more complex and devious than simply shifting some services to the private sector. What then is the master plan?
Here is how I fear things will play out: As more services are offered in private, for-profit settings, patients wishing to access those services will face fees.
As a case in point, the cost for a scan done at the privately-run MRI facility located on the University of Lethbridge campus ranges from $250 to $725.
Some people will able to pay those fees but for many others, other payment options will be needed. The rubber hits the road here.
Private clinics will offer repayment options, extending over some period with interest paid as a separate line item or hidden as an “administration fee.” And there is every reason to think that insurance companies will seize the opportunity created by UCP policy to offer new “products.” Indeed, the MRI facility mentioned above has this statement on their website: “Some health benefit plans offer MRI reimbursement or health spending accounts – check your plan to see if you qualify for reimbursement.”
This scenario raises some important questions to consider between now and the provincial election in May.
Two come immediately to mind. First, do we want a society where a person’s timely access to health-care services depends on their ability to pay; whether that payment is made up front, or over time, or by paying for additional health-care insurance?
And second, regarding the last point, when is the last time any of us dealt with an insurance company which was not ultimately concerned with their bottom line and serving the interests of shareholders?
If we continue the course being chartered by the UPC, we will find ourselves in a situation that fails to serve the vast majority of Albertans, and one that will be nearly impossible to reverse.
Tom Johnston
Lethbridge
14-13
That’s exactly how the seniors in my circle of friends see it and Danielle Smith has made it clear that’s what we will get if she is re-elected. There will be a lot of seniors, who on a regular bases, need a lot of medical help, in financial ruin if she is allowed to do it. My American relatives point out that if I had been in the U.S. with private for profit health care insurance I would be serious trouble and likely facing at least a $300,000. to $400,000. debt. I was in hospital 8 times over four years and had four operations in Edmonton.
This is what Smith is planning to do to us: ” Danielle Smith’s Plan For Health Care? Brace Your Selves for User Fees, co-pays, privatization, and sly delisting”.
Don’t forget this is the same Danielle Smith who promised to privatize our health care and education systems if elected in 2012 and it got her defeated. Let’s make certain she is defeated again.
The least you could be is grateful that the rest of us chipped in, provided the care, and the surgery so you could emerge and continue your coffee shop rants. You’re welcome.
quite off the mark. nothing you have chipped makes a point to support privatisation of health care. on the other hand, it might give one some insight into the pettiness of those that support privatisation
There has been some chatter online from folks who live in the USA who have excellent medical coverage through their employment benefits. They are incredulous that we would let private-for-profit health care be established here. Even with their coverage they still, have had to copay significant amounts over and above their coverage. One of my uncles from Washington state had a medical issue and part of which his medical insurance company stated that it was not covered….and these are not poor people who would have to decide between medication, medical treatment, or groceries.
My American relatives would certainly agree with you. Harvard did a study that proved that the majority of Americans who were forced into bankruptcy had private-for -profit health care insurance ad it didn’t nearly cover what they needed forcing them into financial ruin.
You may wish to Google this
“Only in America: Bankruptcy Due To Health Care Costs”
In a total display of disgusting stupidity, once again buckwheat ,proves what an idiot he is , and hurls sarcastic comments at anyone who isn’t as dumb as him. While he kisses the ass of these Reformers he doesn’t give a damn that they have financially destroyed our children’s future, by helping the rich steal our oil and tax wealth, praises criminal Convoy Truckers and doesn’t care that their actions cost taxpayers $65 million, doesn’t care about the Albertans who died because of the stupid way they handled the Covid pandemic by ignoring what doctors were telling them and tried to blame it on Doctor Henshaw, doesn’t care that the oil industry was allowed to pollute our farm land, and dump a clean up mess on our children’s lap, tried to pollute our water supply with coal production, took the caps off, that Notley had put in place and allowed the rich to gouge us, and doesn’t care that Danielle Smith found it smart to make back room deals with her friends and screw Albertans out of another $20 billion to pay for the mess the oil industry has made in the orphan well clean up, while they brag about record profits and should be made to clean it up.
Now we learn that Smith has created another financial disaster for Albertans by going over the head of Ottawa and buying children’s drug medication, that was needed last fall, from Turkey costing Albertans $80 million and now that it’s no longer needed and Albertans are refusing to buy a product they no nothing about and guess who is stuck with the cost? The seniors in my world have had enough of buckwheat and these other stupid seniors who are so ignorant they vote for the name Conservative, and don’t care what they do to us, and we know we have got to get it stopped, they have literally destroyed our children’s future.
I would suggest that you google these articles to show what fools they all are: ,
“MLA Dan Williams beer guzzling in the Legislature” – treating Albertans like morons and showing us no respect. They can do what ever they want.
“Tylenot is here at last, premier and health minister proclaim”
From what I understand if the province does not get its health care spending under control, by the year 2040 it will eat-up 80% of the total yearly budget based on inflation, demographics etc. If there is indeed any truth to this then immediate action is needed now! Shoveling more money as needed into the black-hole should be the last option. On the federal level we have seen the disaster this has caused with this Liberal mentality.
Gee Johnny why do you think so many of us true conservatives are fed up with you fools who have blindly supported these Reformers and allowed them to help the rich steal our oil and tax wealth. We estimate that Albertans have been screwed out of $975 billion. It’s our children and grandchildren we are worried about, while you fools don’t give a damn.
How are you going to repay the $260 billion orphan cleanup mess you helped them create? Where are you going to find the $20 billion Smith has promised to the oil industry and the $80 million to cover the cost of the drugs she bought from Turkey that is no longer needed? Maybe you should have been listening to the rest of us instead of hurling your sarcastic comments at anyone not as dumb as you?
First of all FC I don’t think you were ever a true conservative! Second you need to stop living in the past! The past is the past you-me and anybody should live in the here-and-now. As far as the previous conservative governments are concerned that’s done! Time to move forward FC.
Really when I was a card carrying Conservative for 30 years? The difference between you and me is the fact that I know the difference between a true conservative and a damn Reformer, trying to pretend they are one and you aren’t smart enough to understand it, are you? The difference is simple. The true Conservatives support the people and make the rich pay their fair share in Royalties and taxes, while these damn Reformers deliberately destroy everything our hero Peter Lougheed created for us by helping their rich friends steal our oil and tax wealth in an effort to buy votes and you aren’t smart enough to understand it, sad isn’t it? You aren’t even smart enough to understand that it’s the past , starting with Ralph Klein, that I refer to that put us in this horrific financial mess and you don’t want to believe it, do you? Lawyer friends would say that’s because you feel guilty about what you’ve done and I bet they are right, are they? You had better wake up before someone, who has been greatly hurt by these reformers decides to haul your ass into court, as lawyers have been warning us seniors in Edmonton. Helping these Reformers destroy our children’s future doesn’t make you fools look very smart, does it? We don’t see young Albertans being this stupid, do you?
thoughtful letter and excellent further observations from fedup and so.ab. there are far too many real life examples of how sleazy private insurance “providers” pull the rug on people when they need to use their insurance to any significant degree, such that regular folk end up without the coverage they were led to believe that had, and/or bankruptcy. our system is excellent in terms of fairness, but it needs to be streamlined. we have had sundry auditor and commission reports, but little to no action coming from any of that. we need to dust off those reports – and act. our health care must remain public, and what has been privatised must be reined and reversed as we fix what is obviously wrong with bloated public health.
Retired Doctors have been pointing out to us for years just how corrupt it is and it’s no secret that under reformers that’s what you will get. It’s always been their plan. It’s their only way of recovering the billions of dollars they help the rich steal from us. Make the stupid people pay seems to be the attitude. You can bet privatizing our education system will be next. How many young families will want to be forced into paying $1,000. per month, per child, to send their children to school, while they watch these Reformers help their rich friends steal our wealth? Are you going to be dumb enough to let them?
In 2012 one of Danielle Smith’s candidates and I got into it. She told me she fully supported Smith’s desire to privatize health care and our education system. She had a son in a private school and it was only costing her $1000. per month. It was wonderful. I asked her if she had six kids would she feel the same way. Her reply “No one has any right having six kids, you should never have more than two”. In the election she got 198 votes and the conservative who defeated her got over 25,000, and of course Smith was defeated by Allison Redford. Albertans weren’t nearly as dumb as they wanted them to be.
Letting fools like Preston Manning fill his pockets with taxpayers money and firing Dr. Deena Hinshaw and all the other board members was about as dumb as it gets. Dr. Cowell promised to fix the wait times within a few days, but as we know that didn’t happen. My grandson broke his wrist playing hockey and him and his parents waited 6 hours in an emergency room. The only intelligent way you can fix the problem is with proper staffing and these Reformers treat doctors and nurses so badly we can’t keep them, nor will they come to Alberta to work, we have such a horrible reputation on how they are treated. We never saw this type of stupidity under Lougheed and Getty, did we? .
there are those that might say playing sports is risky, and therefore sports injuries should not be covered…you know, the type that are so self centered. in such a case, they would support such an idea, until a family member got inured playing sports.
excellent points here. also, one wonders is the lady in question right to suggest each family is 2 kids max, or, should we go the china route and cap ’em at one? just love these people so self-righteous that make it up as they go along to suit themselves whenever it pleases and serves them to do so.
She certainly found out what the people thought of her stupid attitude and so did Danielle Smith. With only 1% of Albertans supporting her when she was elected, this time, we can’t see her winning the next one. After all the damage these Reformers have done to Rural Albertans you would think they would be a lot smart and not support these phony conservatives, but apparently they aren’t? .