Guest Post: What it’s REALLY like to live in Canada with diabetes
Hey there party people! At this time, I’m somewhere on the island of Oahu running around like a chicken with my head cut off because I’m getting married in two days and I am sure there’s a million things I have not done yet. But more importantly, I’m thrilled to have my buddy Bram Hutchinson guest posting for me today. Bram is a friend of mine, a recent newlywed himself, and also the entertaining author of his own kick-ass diabetes blog, www.trainedbyinsulin.com. He’s an accomplished cross-fitter, sometimes runs half marathons without training, and also recently moved to Canada. For all of us here in the U.S. of A. who are constantly wondering “What does it really mean to live in a country with socialized medicine if you have diabetes?”, Bram is here to provide some answers. Take it away Bram! And if you have more questions for him, be sure to visit his website for his direct email address.
Hello all, Happy greetings from your neighbor to the north, aka Canada. It is an honour (yes that is how you spell it in Canada), to be a guest here on IrunonInsulin. Also, want to give a huge congratulation to Lexi on the wedding. I got married last year in San Diego about this time and my wife and I had such an amazing time with all our family and friends! So enjoy your special day!
The quick low down: My name is Bram, I was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes around my eighteenth birthday, so have had for eleven years and have pretty much been on the same insulin regime of Humalog and Lantus since my diagnosis. Now living in Canada, I wanted to share my current experience of the healthcare system. I won’t be able to cover all aspects, but just some things I have noticed so far.
Outside of my insulin, needles and test strips, the other device I use to manage my diabetes is my Dexcom G4 continuous blood glucose monitor. It has enabled me to safely do so many activities from day-long hikes, to half marathons, all the way to intense Crossfit workouts. It has also shown me how a variety of foods affect my blood sugar. Once I was really able to understand these things, it was a real game changer for me in the management of my diabetes. It was a real disappointment to learn that it was not available in Canada when I made the decision to move up to Vancouver, British Columbia in January of this year to work for Lululemon. There are quite a few differences in the healthcare system that I have experienced, so hope this provides some insight.
I know the political scene of healthcare with Obamacare in the US is a very heated topic, so I am not writing this to endorse one way or the other, I am simply writing my experiences with healthcare in two different countries. When I graduated college in San Diego, not having a job directly out of school with healthcare coverage was not an option. My prescriptions alone would have cost hundreds of dollars a month to manage my diabetes, not taking into account any other medical bills from potential complications. It was a good thing I graduated in 2006 and not during the great recession of 2009 when finding a job out of school was near impossible. I still do not know what I would have done to be able to afford the Rxs that were needed. Outside of landing my first job, I also used to always feel trapped by my job because of my diabetes and the need for healthcare, which is never a good feeling.
In Canada, each Province provides the basic healthcare for all residents located in that Province (employed or not), which includes doctor visits, labs, emergency room visits, surgeries, ect. It is called an MSP. However, most employers still provide an additional “extended” healthcare insurance with premiums similar to the US, but much cheaper and your premiums don’t increase as you add dependants passed one other person. So basically, my premium right now is for my wife and me. I have to pay for both, but then if we are to have any children they are all covered at the same premium I am paying now. The extended insurance is to cover Rx, dental and vision. So to my surprise, you still need another form of insurance to cover your Rx, which are my primary costs associated with diabetes. So the Canadian healthcare system is still reliant of “extended” healthcare coverage for Rx. Even in Canada you are still somewhat tied to your employer to cover prescriptions. However, with the extended coverage, there are not any co-pays with your Rx, only dispensary fees of between $4-9. That money only goes to the pharmacy. So my $30-60 a month multiple Rx in the US are now only $4-9, which a good savings. Weird part is that you have to pay for the Rx upfront, and then you are reimbursed (sometimes the same day), not sure the purpose there yet? Additionally, the doctor has given me a standing appointment card to get my bloodwork done for free at any of the labs here every three months, so no need to get a referral. For me, the coverage of Rx and bloodwork are my priorities, so pleased to know they are fairly easy and less expensive in Canada.
Overall, I feel like I receive good care from the walk-in clinic I go to, which is just a doctor’s office that accepts walk-ins. I didn’t have to wait to see a doctor; I was the only one there in the waiting room. Slight disappointed with the three-month wait to see an endocrinologist though, but I know there can be long waits in the US too, so not too surprised. I am able to get all of the Rx I need at a cheaper price and am happy to announce that the Dexcom G4 has been approved in Canada! It will be available to me in the next couple months. Just in time because I am just about out of the stock piled sensors gathered before I left the US. The process to obtain is still unclear, but either way it is at least available, so that is exciting! As mentioned in the beginning, this is just one person’s experience with the healthcare system within eight months time. There are always different perspectives and this is just one view, but hope this provides some light on how another country approaches healthcare. Some things I still don’t understand though: three-downs football and $13 for a six-pack of bud light? Come on!
Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment