Catch-Up

I've been really negligent about posting. Living in temporary quarters, having my mother with us, having knees and a shoulder that have given up and gone home, and major frustration with the house are taking their toll. But, while sitting here waiting for the builder to call, I thought I'd try to post a little something.

We've taken care of all of the "getting settled as PR" things. E.g., NB Medicare application and the car. A word about each... The Medicare app wasn't bad, but after submitting it we received a letter asking for photocopy of our PR cards, front and back; photocopy of our driver's licences and car registration; proof that we're living here (e.g., rental receipts, utility bills, etc.); copies of our Customs form for bringing our goods into Canada; and something else I can't recall at the moment. We don't have anything like rental receipts so I sent a copy of the deed to our land! Hopefully that is evidence enough of our intent to stay!

As for the car - that would have gone really smoothly except that, when I found out that we wouldn't need our driving records to obtain licences here, I didn't request them before leaving. Then, I found out that, yes, while we wouldn't need them for licences, we would need them to obtain car insurance. And, you have to have Canadian car insurance before getting tags. The good news - miracles of miracles - is that I sent the requests via Purolator to Minnesota, with a note asking that if they could possibly fax them directly to the insurance agent... Lo' and behold she had them within the week. I was shocked! So, we now - after the modifications of the car seat tether and day time running lights, federal and provincial inspections, and a minor repair to one wheel - have New Brunswick plates.

We've taken a quick trip to Halifax to take my mother to the tattoo, visited Peggy's Cove, Hopewell Rocks, St. Andrews by the Sea, the Ganong Chocolate Museum, etc. 7YO has been swimming almost daily and started weekly swimming lessons. We've lined up a tutor for twice weekly sessions for what's left of the summer. We've selected appliances. We've not been letting the dust settle around us, that's for sure. Last night P and I got to go out for a "grown-ups only" dinner, but we were so tired we went early and were home before 7! Ah, we're such party animals!

In other news - a word about health care. As you might recall, back in May I spent one day at the ER here in Fredericton. Now, under my excellent health care coverage in Minnesota - and I mean that seriously as in 13 years I've been very happy with the care and coverage I've received - the ER bill would, based on experience, probably have been around $800. What one would actually pay would vary, depending upon coverage. I just received the bill for my May visit. $231. Yup. Just as I thought. A not wholly unreasonable charge for being seen in the ER.

A 20 minute appointment with a doctor at the MN clinic is $220. Again, what you actually pay varies. Under my former coverage it would be a $30 co-pay. Under my current high deductible HSA it is about $158. I say "current" because I've kept my insurance since I'm not yet covered here and my employer pays for it. Last week I went to the after hours clinic here in F'ton - what you do when you don't yet have a family doctor. I had to pay $50 because I'm not yet covered by NB Medicare. It cracked me up that in MN that would have been a $30 co-pay or $157. I was essentially paying for an orthopedic referral, but that's what I would have to do in MN, too. So, is NB subsidizing the costs, even for those who don't have coverage? Or, are costs in the US ridiculously jacked up? Get this - when I went in for a 20 minute appointment, during which the physician gave me a cortisone injection, the bill was $220 for the "20 minute appointment" and $204 for his giving me the injection (plus the cost of the medication itself). Call me crazy, but that's like a lawyer saying, "I charge $200 an hour to see you and $100 if I take notes while we go over your complaint." Lawyers may have their issues, but an hour is an hour. I couldn't believe that I paid for the visit and separately for what he did during the visit! I guess I shouldn't be surprised... But, geez!

So, speaking of health care. My knees, one in particular, are still trashed. Bad. Wrecked. I actually think that they may have been put over the edge when I laid vinyl flooring - getting the house ready to sell - without knee pads. I remember standing up and thinking, "Oy!" But, time will tell.

That's the latest. I've written all that and still not heard from the builder. Time to make a phone call. Hope all is well with you and yours! More as it happens!