I am a native of Germany and enjoyed the healthcare system while I lived over there. I never had to worry about my life or had to spent a penny out of pocket except for a prescription fee and some dental work. I never expedted to be seen by a doctor this instant, and I really did’t think any wait was a major dissaster, nor did I ever receive bad treatment anywhere.

Now to the US. I came here debt free, got a job, so did my husband. We both had seperate health insurance plans offered by our employers. No need to go out and choose one of the non competetive creedy crooks on the private market.
We had a 200$ deductible, a 25$ copay when seeing a doctor, and full prescription coverage. Emergency room cost was at 100$ a visit, short and long term disability in case of an accident or illness available and coverd, plus disability payments for a time period when wages are lost. We felt fortunate and blessed that we got plans that good and felt all around secure.

Fast forward, two years later. I have fallen ill, needed a hospital stay, blood transfusions, lab testing and expensive medications. My illness is permanent, which puts a pre-existing condition stamp on my forehead. I lost my job, my insurance due to lack of hourly labor contribution, was left with a copay in the thousands, and the hospital collection agency calling on a daily basis. Care was excellent, no extra charges on the single room, no waiting for the doctor to show up to answer questions. To this day, I am beeing cared for in a superb manner. However, we have struggled to be covered again due to my pre-existing condition and job changes. Times have changed, private plans are so expensive, no family of three or four can afford them without taking on second and third jobs on the side. People are looking forward to employer sponsored health care plans. The downside unfortunately is, that people are stuck with those plans and outrageous deductibles and copays. I went from 200$ 11 years ago, to 6000$ today. That means, if I see a doctor, no matter what specialty, it costs me what ever he is charging, no matter the network. There has never been a shortage of in-network hospitals or doctors in my area, but that doesn’t benfit me in any way since we pay,pay,pay til doomsday up until the deductible is satisfied. Lab work in connection with a office visit is no longer covered, DNA testing is out of pocket anyway, running a whopping 1200$ per test and prescription copays are running anywhere between 2500$ and 4500$ a month out of pocket…We don’t even make that much money. Our live consists of paying medical bills and medical credits.
We have been forced to take out a medical credit for a oral surgery last year and will be making payments for another 4 years. The insurance covered amount was a joke, and we are hoping and praying that we don’t need another procedure done before the other amount is paid off. This beeing said, we worry everyday that nothing is happening to us or I get worse.

To me it is outrageous, that this country’s health care system has so badly derailed, and politicans call this the best health care ever??? I guess they are never sick and never will be.

I hope, that the US will get national healthcare in place, so that everybody will be covered, no matter child, adult, married or with a pre-ex, costs manageable, so people don’t have to choose between food on the table or drugs or beeing worried sick weather they will loose their house in case of an emergency. I would very much welcome a plan to take e certain percentage out of the paycheck to cover costs like in Europe. People will benefit from it in the long run instead of going bankrupt in a life time.

As a grad student in the US, I spent 6 hours in the hospital with a very bad case of the flu. Nothing drastic—-but the grand total was $10,000. (Including an outrageous charge of $400 for a saline IV). My insurance left me to pay about $2,000 (and as a grad student that was my entire savings). In comparison, this year in Germany I spent 6 DAYS in the hospital for getting my tonsils out. Total that I was charged: 60 Euros.

I am grateful every single day for the German health care system.

When I lived in UK the healthcare was free but long waiting times were frequent and you were shifted out the door in 5 minutes for a GP visit.

I remember the healthcare in Australia was pretty good but you had to pay as you go although not too expensive.

There is free healthcare in Argentina but most expats avail of private care which is as expensive as USA but better.

Still figuring out how it all works in Hong Kong!
.-= Quickroute´s last blog ..Macau, China =-.