RTS -Mental health

Mental Health & Access To Healthcare

***Let me state that I truly do not understand the healthcare system for my neighbors to the south of the border***

Yesterday I just happened to look at all my medications, on how much they would cost me if I did not have compassionate help from my province. That left me uneasy because I can see the top of the hill when I will turn sixty-five.

I read and hear in the news about the price of prescriptions keep going higher. There are those who must make a choice, medication or basic necessities.

Then there are the wait times for diagnostic scans. My last MRI I waited nine months. I am now waiting again for another one.

I realized yesterday that when I write about mental health I write it with a bit of a bubble. I forget that not everyone has basic healthcare for free.

I cannot imagine how many in America at this time, this place, are coping especially when it comes to health care. All I understand is that in the States you have to buy coverage through an insurance company. So I guess if you do not have that insurance you have no access to the healthcare system.

It is my understanding that the emergency departments are overwhelmed at the best of times, I hear that for some it is the only access they have to seek medical help. Then what, the Physician gives you a prescription but if you cannot afford it then basically you still do not have access to the system.

Now life has so many challenges, housing, food, school, taxes, and health. It can be smooth if you have a job to go to, that pay a living wage where you are not below the poverty line.

Now add to all of that a new challenge, mental health issues. It must be feel like hell if you are one of those who cannot access healthcare.

I am sure that there are horrendous stories right here in my own country of Canada. I can remember how my grandparents did not jump to go to see a doctor, they had remedies they would use instead. It came to my thought the reason for this. Canada at one time did not have the healthcare system that we have now. They would have had to pay for the doctor’s visit, pay for child birth. My generation and those that follow know nothing else but our current system.

So dear reader to have good mental health you need to have access to good healthcare! My heart goes out to those who are struggling at this time!

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Comments (

10

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  1. ashleyleia

    There are weird attitudes towards healthcare in the US. People call Bernie Sanders a communist because he wants (gasp!) Medicare for all! One thing I’ve heard repeatedly is that people don’t want the government involved in their healthcare, but do they really want greedy for-profit insurance companies? And with so many people losing their jobs because of COVID, it should be clear that having most people get insurance through work is really problematic.

    Liked by 1 person

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  2. Chel Owens

    It all gets paid for, one way or another. The U.S. health system bothers me because health insurance companies are clearly for-profit entities yet everyone talks about them in NewSpeak like they are not. Still, a socialized system like yours gets its funding from *somewhere*. The medications that companies use often come from the megalithic pharmaceutical process in the U.S.; expensive, but thorough.

    How do we pay for it? Save up. Does mental health get coverage? Not usually. If it does, it’s a percentage or a copay or a “you can see these doctors but not these.” A FB friend posted about how she cannot get good help for her daughter unless she pays $1600 a month…

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    1. rts – Facing the Challenges of Mental Health

      Chelsea sometimes the word “socialist” gives a picture of those European countries we learned about in history during the first part of the last century.
      Health care here in Canada is a mixed bag. Some things are free, while others you have to cover the cost.
      One province now has a two tier system, if you have money you can jump to the head of the line for diagnostic issues.
      When our current health system was in it’s infancy it was not well accepted. People thought we were going to be like those European nations.
      I guess not any one nation has a perfect system. I wrote this because I was hoping bloggers like you would give me the real deal about your health care system. I cannot believe the media, I can see where some would be afraid. One candidate gave a very bad picture about “medicare for all”. My question was and still is, how did he plan on paying for it all?
      Thanks Chelsea for your input!

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      1. Chel Owens

        Yes, that makes sense. Thank you for clarifying.

        The problem is that we have a system designed to always pay the health insurance. If Person A goes to the emergency room, where he cannot be turned away, and he doesn’t ever pay, that cost will be covered by those who do pay. Therefore, costs for responsible people rise.

        I want those who need care to get good care, but can’t see that happening with such high costs. Someone has to pay the costs.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. rts – Facing the Challenges of Mental Health

        Yes someone always has to pay the fiddler!

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Mental Health, Mental Wellbeing – Some Facts – rts

    […] A couple posts back I wrote a post titled “Mental Health & Access To Health Care“. […]

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  4. mentalhealth360.uk

    Fortunately for us here in the UK, we have an amazing NHS where people will receive care and treatment free at point of care. Of course, it has to be paid for through some other channel, but I think it’s right that everyone should have access to same care and treatment.

    Obviously, those who can afford to pay must pay for their prescriptions which are a pricey £9.15. However, if you need more than 11 prescriptions per year you pay a one-off £105.90, and as I need 11 different boxes of medication each month, I think this is more than generous.

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    1. rts – Facing the Challenges of Mental Health

      Here in Canada it is very similar to the UK. Prescriptions are the difference. Now if a person cannot afford one they can ask for exemption based on compassion programs. These differ from province to province though.

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      1. mentalhealth360.uk

        That’s not good that it differs from province to province tho, is it 😦

        Liked by 1 person

      2. rts – Facing the Challenges of Mental Health

        Yes, it is a patchwork because province has control over healthcare, not the Feds.

        Liked by 1 person

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