US medical system?

merlin · #1 07-28-2008, 02:36 AM

Hey just reading a thread earlier where someone said:

"id go to the doctor but i dont have insurance"

Ive heard this before on other forums, can someone explain this to me? Being australian anyone can go to the doctor. You have a choice, sign up to Medicare (which is free and run by the government) or just pay the full consultation fee (often $60). With medicare they pay for most of the cost so it ends up costing say $15 AU to go to the doctor.

There's also systems in place run by the government for low income earners that is also free. All you need to do is ring them, sign up and you get what they call a Health Care Card. Antibiotics only cost $4 then and a doctors visit is practically free.

So im curious as to the US and this "well i dont have insurance" comment. To me, so what? Cant you just go to a doctor anyway? And why should an insurance company get involved?

Im a very baffled aussie. Shed some light chookies!

Damien

lowenduser · #2 07-28-2008, 03:10 AM

Yeh - Im curious how it works there as well. Over here - unless you're on a medical card (which is very difficult to get), you'd pay around €60 to see a doctor, plus any drugs you would need after. It isnt beyond reason to spend over €100 to clear a virus out of your system here.

And that is out of a lot of people's pockets here - same people who are viewed as earning too much to get a "GP Visit Card".

We have insurance here but mainly used for operation lists. Private insurance insures you get a required operation quicker. Otherwise you go on the public waiting lists.

prizefighter · #3 07-28-2008, 03:13 AM

the us medical system is a completely different moster than just card or no card.

chuckjones93 · #4 07-28-2008, 03:18 AM

"I can't see the doctor cuz I aint got no insurance". In America the translation of that is......"I'm too lazy, or ignorant to do the leg work to get free health care." NO ONE in America has to go without the basic needs of health care. Now "I'm skinny and I want to know why". That's another story.

afinalfantasy · #5 07-28-2008, 03:25 AM

The US Medical system always confused me.

Stupid question, but if someone was from Canada and moved there would they get free health care like in Canada or would they switch to the US version?

prizefighter · #6 07-28-2008, 03:27 AM

i think you would switch to the us version since canada's is government funded right?

chuckjones93 · #7 07-28-2008, 03:33 AM

If you become a US citizen, you'd have the same rights as any other American. If your still a Canadian you'd be shot on sight. J/K. The American health care sysyem is confusing because there are differences in each state, city, and county. Not to mention federal "guidlines" to be followed by them.
I'm no expert in the field. But I am 39 years old. Born and raised in America. I have not always had health insurance. And I, nor anyone I've known, has ever gone without health care.

afinalfantasy · #8 07-28-2008, 03:34 AM

So surgeries and the like have to be paid for by the person and not by someone else?

Stupid question, but if you needed emergency surgery would you have to pay for it or would you not get it?

chuckjones93 · #9 07-28-2008, 03:38 AM

Yes, you would get emergency surgery. And then you'd have to make arrangments for payment afterwards.

HollowBassman · #10 07-28-2008, 04:35 AM

I hereby dub this thread topic "PMS", as it seems to visit once a month to bring all kinds of discomfort and irritability to TalkBass.

mike_v_s · #11 07-28-2008, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HollowBassman

I hereby dub this thread topic "PMS", as it seems to visit once a month to bring all kinds of discomfort and irritability to TalkBass.

Nice. What does that make the mod that shows up to stop the, uh, banter?

Mike

HollowBassman · #12 07-28-2008, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike_v_s

Nice. What does that make the mod that shows up to stop the, uh, banter?

Mike

That's a very good question. On top of that, the fact that we have now posted in this thread means we probably won't come away from this analogy smelling like roses.

mike_v_s · #13 07-28-2008, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HollowBassman

That's a very good question. On top of that, the fact that we have now posted in this thread means we probably won't come away from this analogy smelling like roses.

I'm considered unclean all month long by most societies, anyway.

Mike

merlin · #14 07-28-2008, 05:38 AM

So the states does have free health care? Or you have to have health insurance? I have health insurance but yeah like someone said that covers me if i need surgery, other things like chiropractic etc.

Damien

FL Knifemaker · #15 07-28-2008, 06:04 AM

In the US, if you don't work for a company that provides it, you most pay for your own insurance. Being self employed, I pay a lot of money to keep myself and family covered. Our healthcare systems is screwed up but I certainly don't want to see a government sponsored/provided plan either

Relic · #16 07-28-2008, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike_v_s

I'm considered unclean all month long by most societies, anyway.

Mike

Personally, I've been called "douche" enough times to not have to worry about posting and not feeling clean and fresh...

Quote:

So the states does have free health care? Or you have to have health insurance? I have health insurance but yeah like someone said that covers me if i need surgery, other things like chiropractic etc.

Damien

Very simple answer - in the US you can get free health care if you qualify and jump through a few hoops to get it. If you can afford private health care insurance then chances are you don't qualify for the freebie. (if you're income lands you in between the two, this is where the problem lies)
Whether you have insurance or not, you can walk into a hospital and get taken care of. Various payment options can be worked out.

You hear the horror stories about our health care making it sound utterly horrific, the truth is that it's in need of some overhaul, but it's not the monster that it's sometimes made out to be.

WRBass · #17 07-28-2008, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by merlin

So im curious as to the US and this "well i dont have insurance" comment. To me, so what? Cant you just go to a doctor anyway? And why should an insurance company get involved?

Im a very baffled aussie. Shed some light chookies!

Damien

In the US, you don't need insurance to go to a doctor. But, you may need to pay for the service. There are plenty of low cost options, and some are free. If you are indigent, there are government programs (Medicaid for example). If you are over 65 or if you are on Social Security for a disability, there is Medicare.

Tsal · #18 07-28-2008, 06:47 AM

I've thought that in US, you have a medical insurance that you/your workplace has to pay for, while in other western countries you have a similar "medical insurance", except that it's paid by your government and taken out of your taxes. This also means that in Europe, "employee benefits" such as medical plan are less important than in the US - however, companies in Europe often do have a worker healthcare contract with private clinics, so that their employees can see a doctor quickly if they need one.

How much do you americans have to cover per doctor's appointment, in general, if you have some fairly common type of medical insurance?

wazzel · #19 07-28-2008, 06:51 AM

It has already been mentioned but no one in the US can be denied medical care in the US. If you have a job and can afford it you are expected to pay you own way via private insurance. Those with out a job or if that have a low paying one you can get truely free medical care through govt run medical clinics or through govt provided medical payment systems, medicaid for example.

The US system is not as bad as it sounds. eeds a little work but can be a really good system if the govt would work out the kinks.

All of you with govt run health care systems. Hello it is not free, it is prepaid. In addition you are paying for those that can not afford to pay their own way. Why do you think your taxes are so high compaired to the US.

wazzel · #20 07-28-2008, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsal

I've thought that in US, you have a medical insurance that you/your workplace has to pay for, while in other western countries you have a similar "medical insurance", except that it's paid by your government and taken out of your taxes.

How much do you americans have to cover per doctor's appointment, in general, if you have some fairly common type of medical insurance?

That is generally how it works. With my company is is a joint payment system. I pay part and the company I work for pays part. If you have private insurance their is usually a per visit fee. Depending on you particualar insurance it could range from free to $50. Most are in the $20-30 per visit. Same with meds. There is a price the individual payes then the insurance picks up the rest. It is generally stepped depending on the particular med.