I hate Alberta Health Care

I really really really can't STAND Alberta health care.

So the story starts about a year ago, when I get on board for blue cross, or so I think. Everything is sent, but funny, I never hear back from them and never get a card or anything. I don't think anything of it cuz it isn't costing me money, and I had other insurance. Zoom to august 2005. I now don't have third party insurance, so I get the blue cross ball rolling, or so I think (this will be a common theme). Nothing for a bit so I check again in October, another letter is sent. Then in DECEMBER I get a letter saying I owe the Alberta government like $750 before they'll start up cuz I haven't been paying my health care premiums. I check my paychecks to be sure, and yeah, they've been deducting and the cheques have been going there in my name. So I let our office manager know and she sends another letter. Then I get a call today from a collection agency. A flippin' COLLECTION AGENCY!

So let's get the whole story straight, I apply a year ago, nothing, then I apply again, nothing, then I follow up, a month and a half later they say I haven't been paying. Now I know they have my correct address since at least april because of my tax return, and most certainly sooner because I've been in the hospital a couple times last fall. Now say anyone else, like I dunno a phone company, who is renouned for unbelievably crappy service (telus) would be on me after two months of not paying right, at least to say, uh where's the money. Then after 6 months, probably something similar. But no, not the gov't, they just take the extra money, do nothing with it, never call us to ask what it's for, even though we've registered me on the group plan, then without contacting me, just pass on a $700 bill to a collection agency, potentially messing up my credit rating.

This is stupid. Nettie's gonna deal with it tomorrow, if I don't have an answer by the end of the day I'm calling health care and starting to yell.