[catastrophic]

I gather we are from all around the world - I'm interested in hearing how your healthcare works where you live...

I'll start - I'm in Australia

I have a general practitioner Doctor who looks after most of my needs, it is free to go and see her, she Works in a practice with a few other doctors who have access to my file if she is ever not there.

I am under a mental health plan that gives me ten free sessions with my psychologist every calendar year...

If I need blood tests, ultrasounds, MRIs these are mostly bulk billed (free) depending on where you go.

I find that healthcare in Australia is easily accessible, we are very lucky, but as I am reading his forum I am finding that it doesn't seem the same for everyone else, I've heard of people talk about needing insurance etc.

Can you help me by explaining how it is for you?

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[jenh526]

I'm in the US. It varies a lot here. When I've been between jobs, I have gotten health insurance through COBRA (continuation of benefits from previous job). However, COBRA is fairly expensive, along the lines of $500/mo. This is because you are paying the full premium, whereas when you are working (full-time), the employer generally pays more than the employee for health insurance (60/40 split or something like that).

Now that I am working full-time, I get about $90 per paycheck deducted for health insurance. I also have access to an employee assistance program where I can get up to 3 free visits per year with a psychologist. After that point, I would be paying $50 out of pocket for each visit.

I looked into Obamacare and Medicaid earlier this year when I was out of work, but didn't qualify for either one. So I guess I'm fortunate to be back to work, so that I can get the health coverage I need for the job-related anxiety and stress I suffer from. Ironic, ain't it?

[catastrophic]

What would happen to you if you didnt have insurance?

And what does your insurance cover?

In the U.S. if you don't have health insurance you will get stuck with the whole bill to pay. The average doctors visit is about $100 - $200, labs depend on what you are having done but average $350 - $500, MRI, Ultrasounds, etc are higher but I forgot how much it is in the $1000+ range though. Healthcare is expensive in the U.S.

I have two insurance policies personally. I have one that I get from my mother which is a 90/10 split on health and dental so long as they are in the PPO. Which is a really good plan in the U.S.. My doctor visits cost me $10. My prescriptions have a $10 - $20 copay depending on what it is.

I also take out a vision insurance policy with my work which covers up to $120 on frames, $100 per lens, and one eye exam a year. It also has some other things on it but I am not sure.

My health and dental plan is $180 a month and my vision plan is $8.80 a month.

Also depending on your insurance you may not be able to see a specialist without a referral from a GP. So then you can get stuck with an extra exam cost just for a referral. Luckily my insurance doesn't have that rule I can straight to a specialist.

I am in California and, with great thanks to our current president, I finally have health insurance after not having it for 8 years. I belong to a health insurance corporation called "Kaiser". In my case, I pay $80/month as a premium, then usually $3 per doctor's visit (same with p-doc). I pay about $3 for each prescription.

I do not have dental care or optical care yet because I cannot afford them. I'm not sure what to do about those.

Without health insurance, it's pay out of pocket (full cost) or, if you can prove that you're living below the poverty line, you can get crappy occasional health care.

I would like to see socialized medicine happen in the USA one day.

[jesusplay]

Free, america takes care of it's veterans despite what's seen on the news.

[jenh526]

Originally Posted by catastrophic

What would happen to you if you didnt have insurance?

And what does your insurance cover?

I would imagine that if you didn't have insurance, you would go without medical care, since it is prohibitively expensive here in the US. Having said that, if you show up at an emergency room, they are required to treat you. Whether you can pay the bill or not is another story.

My insurance covers everything, but I am paying a portion of the premium (deducted from my paycheck), as well as a portion of the bill when I'm treated (it's a $30 flat rate called a copay for a general practitioner, or $50 for a specialist). The breakdown is different for in-hospital stays, where you may be paying a percentage of the final bill (20% or something like that). In-hospital stays are usually in the thousands, but they try their hardest to kick you out at the end of 3 days. They told my mom they were going to put her in a wheelchair in the lobby after her surgery because they needed the bed. Fortunately, I got to the hospital in time.

[Forget-Me-Nots]

I know, this isn't a question post, but since it's in topic, I was thinking it would be okay? What service can I use to get a free ear checkup? I got some pressure build up, and it's an annoying pain. I don't know if it is my nerves, ear infection, or if I just need a cleaning. I tried vocal rehab, it's a no go. Oh I'm in the US.

Originally Posted by Forget-Me-Nots

I know, this isn't a question post, but since it's in topic, I was thinking it would be okay? What service can I use to get a free ear checkup? I got some pressure build up, and it's an annoying pain. I don't know if it is my nerves, ear infection, or if I just need a cleaning. I tried vocal rehab, it's a no go. Oh I'm in the US.

If you don't have insurance, you need to look for a clinic. Then you pay either a low fee or nothing (if you're very low-income).

[Hellion]

I have medicaid, because being on SSI I qualify and there is no way I could afford insurance...before I got on medicaid I signed up for a program in my state that helps with medical costs its not very good but it was better than nothing.

I have unpaid hospital/er bills from before I got medicaid which have gone to collections agencies since I can't pay it....but whatever. Yeah healthcare here kinda sucks, and medicaid certainly does have its limits as its not accepted at all medical facilities and sometimes there is still co-pays for things.

[Forget-Me-Nots]

Originally Posted by Hellion

I have medicaid, because being on SSI I qualify and there is no way I could afford insurance...before I got on medicaid I signed up for a program in my state that helps with medical costs its not very good but it was better than nothing.

I have unpaid hospital/er bills from before I got medicaid which have gone to collections agencies since I can't pay it....but whatever. Yeah healthcare here kinda sucks, and medicaid certainly does have its limits as its not accepted at all medical facilities and sometimes there is still co-pays for things.

What is the difference between Medicaid and Medicare?

If I remember right; Medicaid is available to anyone who is under the poverty line, or is pregnant. While Medicare is for those that are 65+ or on Social Security Disability.

[Hellion]

Originally Posted by Forget-Me-Nots

What is the difference between Medicaid and Medicare?

Not entirely sure I thought with medicare you had to be like 65 or older with below a certain amount of income...and I thought medicaid was either for older people or disabled people on SSI. But I think they have changed it up a bit so not sure quite what the difference is anymore or if there is much of one but i think more people now are able to qualify for it than before.

[catastrophic]

Thanks for replying everyone that is really interesting reading how it works in other countries.

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[Lina123]

I am from Norway where we have free healthcare.

Which is great for me being sick since 2000, and under constant care since 2003. I have spent years in hospital, residental homse and now I live in my own apartment with psychiatric help when I need it. Most likely it would have cost millions in the US as I also have been able to attend university free of charge as well as Get money to pay my other bills as well.

Mostly I am grateful for being alive and not having put my family in debt.

[splitimage]

Canada has publicly funded health care. How it's funded and what exactly is covered varies somewhat from province to province. I'm in Ontario, so that's what I'll write about. Healthcare is funded through a combination of general taxes and a supplemental healthcare levy, paid with your taxes. It's indexed to income. If your income is under 24,000 you don't pay anything. I earn about 25,000 so I pay $200 annually. The maximum for most people is $900, but I think it goes up, if you earn over 100,000 but I'm not sure of the calculation.

For that all hospital services are covered as are all visits to MD's. Most tests, x-rays, mammograms etc. are covered, unless you need them for a third party like work, in which case they're not covered.

Dental is not covered which to me is a big flaw. Drugs are not covered unless your on Ontario Disability Support Payments, in which case you are. For the working poor, there's a drug plan "Trillium" that pays for your drugs, once the drugs get to be over 4% of your net income. So I pay an annual deductable, quarterly, of about $90. Otherwise all my drugs are covered.

Another big flaw in the system is mental health care. Psychologists, social workers and councillors are not covered, unless you have private insurance through work. That's how most people get dental coverage as well. And even then visists are severely limited. This keeps a lot of people from getting help.

Access to care varies, from region to region. I live in a major metropolitan area, and have superb care. I've got a great family Dr., referals to specialists typically take about 2 weeks, speciallized tests are usually done within 48 -72 hours and I have an amazing psychiatrist who I see once a month, more frequently when I'm in crisis. The same is not true in rural Canada where many people don't have a family Dr., and access to specialists can be rare or take a long time, or require significant travel.

I'm very happy with the healthcare I receive and there's no way I could have afforded the rehab and psych admissions I've had in the past several years if I had to pay out of pocket.

splitimage

[freefallin]

I live in the US. I am covered under my dad's health insurance for one more year. It allows me to get blood tests and other routine stuff for a $20 copay, so it's helpful if I have something like a bad sore throat that just requires an antibiotic. Other than that, it's pretty useless to me. Even though I can get in to see a doctor for $20, I have to pay a ton more to get any testing they request or medications they prescribe. Some medications are pretty cheap...I can get an antibiotic for $4 at Walmart. But the medications I really need on a daily basis are much more expensive, so I don't take them. I never got the brain MRI I was supposed to get 5 months ago because it would have cost me somewhere between $1,000 and $2,000. I didn't get the chest CT scan and vestibular rehab my doctor wanted me to get for the same reason. Once I turn 26, I'm hoping I'll no longer be working as a freelancer and will be able to get my own health insurance through an employer. Otherwise, I just won't go to doctors.

[Perna]

Originally Posted by Hellion

Not entirely sure I thought with medicare you had to be like 65 or older with below a certain amount of income...and I thought medicaid was either for older people or disabled people on SSI.

Medicare has not changed any, just "Medicaid" includes more people now. Medicare is Social Security-related so you have to qualify for Social Security or be 65 or over. So, if you are on SSDI you get Medicare, SSI or can't afford any other insurance, it's Medicaid.

At 65 everyone switches from whatever insurance they have to Medicare. I'll be 64 this year and though I get my Social Security check (since being 62) I won't be eligible/be forced to take Medicare until next year. Everyone gets a "basic" level of Medicare and then can add the different extra parts so more is covered if they have the money/want to. What is Medicare? | Medicare.gov

Because I'm retired but not yet old enough for Medicare, I had to buy my own insurance but was rejected because I am overweight. However, Maryland has always required health insurers in the State to offer other plans for people who got rejected, couldn't afford insurance, etc., so I have an MHIP plan (Maryland Health Insurance Plan) which is just a regular Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO that I pay a whole lot more for than I would if I weren't overweight. Maryland's insurance marketplace website was just as bad as the Federal one so instead of having to buy a plan there and the MHIP being discontinued, they are just continuing MHIP until everything gets settled. My particular policy is just like what I had at work before, so I hope nothing changes until next year when I'll do the whole Medicare thing and have to figure out who to buy the extra parts from, etc. Fortunately my husband is older than I and has all that so I'll probably just get whatever he has.

[Victoria'smom]

I'm under medicaid my family's prescriptions are well over $3000 + a month. I pay $10. I can see my pdoc 6x a year and my therapist 20x a year. However my therapist can petition for more sessions. I don't have dental. I have to go to my gp to get referrals to specialist. I don't pay a co-pay. The drs that accept my insurance are generally overworked and only have about 10-15 min. It takes about a month to get in to your GP but we have urgent care if you are really sick. Honestly its really good insurance .