Hola, Sneakers! This week on the show: much numbers confusion! (Yes, we know it’s Episode 263 now.) Also, Ian has returned from Ft. Lauderdale with his report on Paradise Con; Dave insults all the residents of Ft. Lauderdale; Ian learns about airport runways; Ian and Dave wonder how the f*** does their healthcare system work; Dave Dedrick – white wrapper; Ian doesn’t understand free pizza; Ian shouldn’t fleece The Odyssey; get ready for Suicide Mess 2: The Sirens of Gotham; Dave bemoans so-so movies; we can’t get behind Rogue One yet; more fucking Star Wars!!!; Ian gets robbed, insulted by lunatics and challenged to fights by young goofs, yet he is not allowed to call 2016 a sucky year. On the other hand, Dave fell down.
Thanks for listening.
Department of corections: After some research we have found that both Ian and Dave were correct in their Healthcare debate: People who earn more than $24, 000 a year are expected to pay their healthcare premiums in BC or will face the consequences. It wouldn’t be fair to other people who paid for their healthcare to have a bunch of shirkers walk into hospitals for free healthcare, would it? As to coverage when traveling in other provinces, Canada’s healthcare act has a portability criterion which requires provinces to extend coverage of their residents during absences up to three months. Dave’s daughter Mary was staying in Quebec for more than three months; hence, paying for extra coverage.
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BC MSP 101:
I used to work out-of-province for a few months out of the year. All the provinces except Quebec have an agreement to honour each other’s health care cards if you are travelling there short-term. (Quebec makes you pay up front and you have to apply for reimbursement at home.) If you’re working temporarily or studying in another province, you are still covered but you have to let your province know about it.
But here’s the hitch: BC will only pay out what they’d charge if you had the same service here. If another province pays out less for say, an x-ray, you’d be out-of-pocket for the difference. And some services like physical therapy may be covered in one province, but not another. So out-of-province medical insurance may be a good idea.
Ian is partially right about not having to pay for medical services. If, according to your income tax return, you make under $22,000, you can get a CareCard without having to pay medical premiums. But if your income is higher and you haven’t paid your premiums and the province cuts you off, you’d have to pay to see a doctor or have a medical procedure done. You may not be turned away bleeding from an emergency room, but they would bill you and could use the legal system to recover the money (garnish wages, take your tax refund, sue your assets off, etc.)
Sorry, that should read if another province bills more for an x-ray… New Year’s Resolution…proofread!
Thanks David and Louise for clearing that up. For the record I’m fine with “shirkers” getting free healthcare in hospitals if they need it.
As working in the arts can be cyclical, some years you’re a “shirker” and some years you are the shirked. Hopefully it all balances out in the end.
What a great podcast this is. I can’t be the only listener who’s both grateful and kind of amazed you even made a show this week in the midst of all these troubling events – never mind still being so funny, engaging, warm, sometimes wise and (perhaps most important) often silly. Thanks so much for taking the trouble to record and share the general goofiness. Love to all, especially Charlie.
Thanks Chris, really appreciated.
You know what, Chris? You’re right! My hugest thanks to Ian for putting himself out there during this rough year.
Ian, so sorry to hear of the break-in and about Charlie being vulnerable. I appreciate your courage in sharing your story. The podcast is an inspiration in part because the both of you are so open about your experiences.