All Psyched Up: Medical care

By Linda Hancock on September 14, 2024.

It is now six months since I had my accident at the airport where I fell and was dragged down an escalator from the top to the bottom. Fortunately, my doctor has stated that I am now 85% healed.

Over the months, though, I have had repeated appointments with my family physician, chiropractor, physiotherapist, massage therapist, radiologist, ultrasound technician, laboratory, surgeon, optometrist, ophthalmologist, optic specialist and yoga instructor. As well, an ambulance with three personnel transported me to the hospital for crisis services on the date of the accident.

Please don’t misunderstand when I say that I am sick and tired of going to appointments! In fact, I am extremely grateful for the services I received. Each month I paid hundreds of dollars for treatment but do not begrudge one penny and am extremely thankful that I had the ability to pay.

I feel sad when I hear Americans call us “socialists” and criticize the medical system, especially when often they do not have the information or research to back up their claims. Yes, we have wait times and don’t always have a choice about who will provide treatment but we do have multiple options. For years, there has been talk about how we might break out into a two-tiered system but we already have that!

In fact, if we were to split hairs, I think it might actually be a four-tiered system consisting of no coverage, limited coverage, private coverage and insurance coverage.

One tier is for individuals who do not have any coverage at all because of access barriers, personal economic reasons or citizenship issues so are forced to do without specialized assessment and treatment.

A second tier is for some services that are covered by Alberta Health Care and, although this was originally designed to be a universal program, there are many Albertans who do not have all the benefits because of extra costs involved that aren’t covered. (A limited number may qualify for a supplementary benefit card if they are under specific government funding programs such as those for Seniors or AISH).

The third tier involves services that are excluded from Alberta Health Care – even when recommended by a doctor. It is believed, for example, that as many as 80 percent of patients who visit their physicians have emotional, mental or stress-related problems that could be treated by a psychologist but these are not be covered. Other physician-recommended services such as massage or physiotherapy, exercise programs (such as aqua-size), dental care, specific dietary plans (for example diabetic), prescriptions or a number of other preventative or treatment interventions may also excluded. Some or all of these expenses might be covered through Employee Assistance Benefit programs or Health Spending Accounts set up by employers or by individually purchased private insurance plans such as Blue Cross.

Finally, the fourth tier is for those who pay all expenses from their own pocket. Some Canadians may even choose to leave the country in order to have surgeries or treatment elsewhere rather than being on a wait list in Canada.

I know that things could improve but they are much better than many other countries where there either aren’t services or bribery is required in order to get access.

Today, I give thanks for the medical care options that I have had the fact that they have taken me from severe injuries complicated by the fact that they were throughout my body to an outcome of 85% improvement.

Dr. Linda Hancock, the author of “Life is An Adventure…every step of the way” and “Open for Business Success” is a Registered Psychologist who has a private practice in Calgary. She can be reached by email at office@drlindahancock.com

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