Can someone explain to me how the health service in America works? As I understand it, everyone has to have medical insurance, which pays for basic medical treatment. Any further expense has to paid by the patient. What happens if you don't have medical insurance, do you get turned away? If you're involved in a road accident and are taken to hospital, do they refuse to treat you if you have no insurance? Are there charity hospitals for those who can't afford to pay?
Medical Treatment in USA
- Thread starter Rosemarie
- Start date
jujube
SF VIP
Most hospitals cannot refuse to treat a person just because they don't have the insurance/money up front, at least in an emergency situation. There used to be "charity hospitals" but I'm not sure if they exist any longer. The cost of treating these patients, who probably are never going to pay, gets written into operating costs, which of course gets passed onto those who DO have insurance or money to pay. I know, from working at a hospital for years, that everyone has to sign an agreement to pay later, but a lot of them don't ever pay a cent. The hospitals are good at setting up payment plans because that way they get something, at least, if not all. Usually somewhere along the line, you can make a deal with the hospital, i.e., "I know my bill is $100,000, but if you'll accept $30,000 to close it out, we have a deal. Otherwise, I'll just declare bankruptcy and you'll get nothing."
The practice was, for years, for the "private" hospitals to stabilize anyone who showed up and then pass them on to a "public" hospital (which were essentially the "charity" hospitals of yore) for the rest of the treatment/hospitalization.
As for doctors' offices......I assume they CAN turn people away and tell them to go to the emergency room instead.
The practice was, for years, for the "private" hospitals to stabilize anyone who showed up and then pass them on to a "public" hospital (which were essentially the "charity" hospitals of yore) for the rest of the treatment/hospitalization.
As for doctors' offices......I assume they CAN turn people away and tell them to go to the emergency room instead.
johndoe
Member
- Location
- On the Move
When you are old enough you can get on Medicare where the government picks up 80% of the tab and you are responsible for the rest, but you can buy insurance which covers most of the rest. I'm satisfied with that part of our healthcare system. Those not like myself are having a tougher time. Could someone please tells us who pays for the British system by way of taxation. I assume nothing is really free.
UK. NHS...…… is mainly funded by taxation 80% -- the rest is funded by national stamp we pay when working .. it makes me shudder when I read about the hospital care in America ……...unless you go private and pay for a operation / and private ward ..in the UK. ALL prescription are free as well at 65 onwards ..
Lc jones
Senior Member
I am covered for medical care dental care and some vision under my insurance company. I received this Insurance through my employer. After I retired I was eligible to obtain this insurance after paying a premium. After age 65 I will be eligible for Medicare which I have been paying into since I was a young person and started working.
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
Do you as Americans..and I realise every state may be different , have to pay for an ambulance if you call 911?..
Here in the Uk and Ireland ambulances are free...
Here in the Uk and Ireland ambulances are free...
Patio Life
Member
With my insurance I have a co-pay of $250.00 for an ambulance. This is my Medicare Policy.
I just had a heart attack and spent 6 days in the hospital - ER, ICU, step down care, 2 stent surgeries, meds, etc, etc, etc. The total bill was about $200,000.00. My portion is $700.00.
Very good care, top of the line Drs.
I just had a heart attack and spent 6 days in the hospital - ER, ICU, step down care, 2 stent surgeries, meds, etc, etc, etc. The total bill was about $200,000.00. My portion is $700.00.
Very good care, top of the line Drs.
Trade
Well-known Member
The cost of the BCBS PPO for State of Florida Employees, the family plan I was on when I was working is $1653.18 per month. That's almost $20,000 a year.
https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.co.../951981/2019_Benefits_Guide09_28_18_FINAL.PDF)
That's a group rate that the State of Florida gets. If you had to buy that on your own it would be more. That will get you decent coverage. Not as good as what you get from your NHS. You will still have co-pays and deductibles.
The argument I keep hearing against universal health care is that it will cost too much and that our taxes will go up. Well hello! What do you think that $20,000 a year that we are paying the health insurance companies for a decent family plan is? I consider that a tax.
I have no doubt the government could do it better and cheaper, just like they do under our Medicare system and like your government does under your NHS.
https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.co.../951981/2019_Benefits_Guide09_28_18_FINAL.PDF)
That's a group rate that the State of Florida gets. If you had to buy that on your own it would be more. That will get you decent coverage. Not as good as what you get from your NHS. You will still have co-pays and deductibles.
The argument I keep hearing against universal health care is that it will cost too much and that our taxes will go up. Well hello! What do you think that $20,000 a year that we are paying the health insurance companies for a decent family plan is? I consider that a tax.
I have no doubt the government could do it better and cheaper, just like they do under our Medicare system and like your government does under your NHS.
C'est Moi
Dishin' it out.
- Location
- Houston Y'all
Seriously?
Trade
Well-known Member
Seriously?
Serious as a heart attack.
C'est Moi
Dishin' it out.
- Location
- Houston Y'all
Yeah, because the government does such a good job running everything else. We definitely need them involved because the national debt just isn't high enough yet.
We definitely need them involved because the national debt just isn't high enough yet.
Trade
Well-known Member
Yeah, because the government does such a good job running everything else.
Find one person in a country with Universal Health Care that would like to trade systems with us. For every one you find I will find ten that will say that person is full of crap.
C'est Moi
Dishin' it out.
- Location
- Houston Y'all
I suppose the Canadians who cross the border for various treatment. Frankly, I don't care whether they'd trade systems with us. I don't want our government running the health care system.
Trade
Well-known Member
Patio Life
Member
They already run Medicare, VA and put in place requirements for Medicaid. I'm guessing the government already runs about half of all "insurance" now.
Insurance companies are run for the benefit of the shareholders, not the benefit of the policy holders/payers.
Trade
Well-known Member
Apparently C'est Moi doesn't have Medicare.
Because surely she knows Medicare is run by the government.
Trade
Well-known Member
Are you on Medicaid?
The reason I ask is that I only know one person that was and from what they told me it wasn't very good.
Trade
Well-known Member
Are you kidding?
The last time I had to call an ambulance for my wife the bill came to somehwhere between $400 and $500 for a three mile to the hospital. And that was about 7 or 8 years ago. I'm sure it's more by now. Fortunately I had good insurance which covered it. When I got my kidney stone I called my daughter to come and take me to the ER. Sure my insurance would have covered an ambulance but I didn't want to reward those extortionists again.
As it stands now I would not call an ambulance for myself or a family member unless it's a matter of life or death. Anything less and it will be "get in the car".
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hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
OMG!!! I feel for you, that astonishing. ours are free... totally free!! of course there are those who try to abuse the system who probably wouldn't if there was a charge, but it's always free to anyone who needs it. ...that said there's been a discussion for a few years now about possibly implementing a charge for those who go out get drunk or drugged and need to be lifted off to hospital in an ambulance ( self inflicted injuries ) should be made to pay ..even our Air ambulance helicopters are free, so if you get stuck rock climbing, the air ambulance will rescue you FREE!! ..equally the RNLI ( the free rescue lifeboat service)..they too will rescue for free if you've capsized way out at sea , and call an air ambulance or regular ambulance for you once you're rescued ..all for free!!
What happens to the old , sick, and poor, in the USA , Trade.. who need to get to a hospital ..say after a minor acident like a cut , or a fall breaking or spraining a bone or muscle and can't walk, and have no-one to drive them ?.. they have to pay?..even if they're poor?.
My neighbor had to be Care Flight (helicopter) 8 miles between hospitals and the bill was $18,000!!!
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
The one thing that is not free here is dental (unless you're a child)... but otherwise we all have to pay dentist fees...
Many of the disabled and poor get Medicaid. There is transportation available to them by Medicaid. In emergency situations no one is turned down.
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England