3 ms·
> In Ontario, if you're working you have to pay a health care tax that is similar to what an employee would pay at a Silicon Valley company. You must be compar
by f6e9ed793b 8y ago
> In Ontario, if you're working you have to pay a health care tax that is similar to what an employee would pay at a Silicon Valley company.
You must be comparing California monthly costs to Ontario yearly costs. Maximum Ontario annual premiums are $900.[1] To get equivalent coverage (by equivalent, I mean in terms of insurance value - as in, I won't have a $15,000 copay if I get into a serious accident) from Kaiser in Southern California (the "silver" plan) is about $750 per month for me and my wife. If you are covered through your employer (we both freelance), you might be getting fooled into thinking you are paying less money because your paychecks show a smaller number as "deducted," but that is because the rest is paid by your employer and is still part of your compensation.
[1] https://www.ontario.ca/data/ontario-health-premium-rates https://www.ontario.ca/data/ontario-health-premium-rates
- refurb 8y agoDon't forget prescription drug coverage in Ontario if you have to buy your own insurance. Hell, in BC, the gov't plan has a $4000 deductible if you make more than $100,000.
- Scoundreller 8y agoAlmost all professional employers include prescription drug coverage as a part of their standard benefits package. The $4k deductible in BC (which is similar in Ontario), provides catastrophic drug coverage for those that don't have drug coverage (e.g. contracts).
- docker_up 8y agoI did say "what an employee would pay at a Silicon Valley company." I pay no monthly premiums, but if I added my wife, it's about $100/month. So you verified what I said above. And your point about being "fooled" is disingenuous. Canadians pay for their health care through their taxes, so the amount is much higher as well than the health care tax which is nominal.