B.C. stuck with medical bills worth $10M
Yay! There's another 'B.C' out there!
Posted on 07/03/2006 8:05:39 AM PDT by MassRepublicanFlyersFan
B.C. Health Minister George Abbott said taxpayers are on the hook for nearly $10 million in unpaid medical bills by hundreds of foreigners who have obtained hospital care in this province.
He is urging health authorities to "look at every angle" for new methods to recover monies owed by those who have skipped out on paying.
"B.C. is not a destination that is in the habit of providing free health care for the rest of the world. We have lots of demands for medical services by B.C. citizens, let alone serving the rest of the world," said Abbott.
The health minister said he recently heard about an approach being used by the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) and Interior Health Authority (IHA) to register the names of all debtors with Canada Border Services Agency officials so that those who have unpaid medical bills would be flagged at border entry points.
A spokeswoman for VIHA -- which is currently owed $1.7 million by non-residents -- said border agents would then ask the visitors in question to pay off their debts by credit card over the phone from the airport or other border crossings.
(Excerpt) Read more at canada.com ...
And the problem is? I thought liberal Canadians cherished free medicine...for everyone.
Parkland Hospital(one hospital) here in Dallas, TX delivered over 10,500 babies last year to illegals at a cost of over 50million to taxpayers. So, this story is no big deal.
I don't see why this is a problem. Socialist countries offer "free health care" all the time. Look at Cuba! If Hillary were president, we'd have unlimited health care and it wouldn't cost us a dime!
Dig deep you socialist of the north.
Exactly. It falls into the "be careful what you wish for..." category.
B.C. Health Minister George Abbott - what a mean, heartless man.
Why does he hate children???
Whay does he hate immigrants? Is he a racist?
I thought it was "free"...you mean somebody has to PAY?
what the h#ll is that all aboot?
He's obviously a racist, homophobe, and antichildren bigot.
Canadian health care is not "free". In fact, the average Canadian who makes $60,000 pays about $18,000 a year in taxes for it.
That's the "free" health care leftist here want.
I know, but who cares about the details when it sounds soooo good to say UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE.
We could easily multiply his sissy figure by 1,000!
Really, isn't health care a basic human right?
(The Palestinian terrorist regime is the crisis and Israel's fist is the answer.)
The term wetback is sooooooo deragatory, I prefer the term humid posteriers.
As long as I get my free medical marijuana.
"look at every angle" for new methods to recover monies owed by those who have skipped out on paying.
Not so sure they skipped out at all. I went to a clinic in Moncton, eastern Canada a few years ago. They patched me up and just said "no charge" when I offered to pay since I wasn't Canadian. I think they're so used to not charging in some areas they don't have the personnel to do processing of payments and in big government style just said "don't bother". They get paid regardless so why bother. Government freebees at your service.
And he was sent on his way.
Oh great, now I have to pay for health care for tourists, and all other foreigners. My brother needs a MRI but has to wait a year. And does anyone know if California has ever paid off its major debt to BC Hydro, or am I subsidising that also. I am all for charity, but not at the expense of those who reside here. My local hospital is in the news constantly here. Over crowded, underfunded. A woman miscarried in the ER washroom a few weeks ago. Too many people, too few staff and beds. I drove by the hospital the other evening around 7:30, and the ambulances were lined up in front of the ER. The city is growing and the hospital is not. The government shut down smaller hospitals in the smaller communities surrounding our city. It isn't working. It's a bloody mess.
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