JW> In Canada basic health care is universal but dental is not. There is
JW> a patch work of coverage. Many large employers offer dental
JW> insurance as a fringe benefit and most Natives ("Indian" and Inuit)
JW> are covered under treaty rights, but for many of us it's pay as you
JW> go. I am now getting some limited free dental for the first time
JW> under my medical coverage now that I've turned 60. The GNWT plan is
JW> administered for the Dept of Health by Blue Cross of Alberta.
 
I never had dental under any employer's plan.  I had to pay extra for that.
 
JW> My dentist, who is excellent, charges more than the NWT Dental
JW> Association suggested tariff and therefore more than what Blue Cross
JW> will cover.  But he has a sign in the office stating that up front.
 
When I lived in New Orleans, I had the best dentist I ever went to.  He is
very expensive, but does quality work.
 
JW> My bills show his fee, the Blue Cross portion and a small extra
JW> balance. For him, I don't mind, as his service IS excellent in
JW> every way. His equipment is state of the art, his technique totally
JW> painless and comfortable, his staff friendly. I don't need him
JW> often, but when I do he is accessible. Once I broke a tooth on a
JW> shotgun pellet hidden in a wild duck breast; I was able to call him
JW> at home on a Sunday and see him in half an hour! And the bill waited
JW> until Monday when the rest of the staff was in and they mailed it to
JW> me. (He got a bottle of wine that Christmas as well as his 25% Blue
JW> cross surcharge.)
 
Blue Cross is what my long-time employers carried,  Very good coverage,
except for dental as I mentioned above.
 
 
Regards,
 
Roger

... MEDICAL STAFF: A doctor's cane.
--- D'Bridge 3.43