Health care insurance in the USA

[seba.1988]

Hi to everyone,

I wanted to know the opinion of all the people who has lived in the USA about the health insurance and the conception of "health" in the USA.

I just accessed the Medicare Webpage, and the impression I got is that health is a grosssss business in the USA.

I know that in Argentina is the same with "Prepagas" (private health insurance) but I dont get the same feeling, at least not such a bad feeling as with the USA H. insurance. ( cause at least people in need have access to state hospitals which offer a good service, in my opinion).

Whay do you all think ?

Thanks !

 

[MizzMarr]

Seba, this is an enormous and complicated issue. You'd be better off reading about the current healthcare debates online as there is a wealth of information there. My nutshell opinion is that healthcare in the states is dominated by pharmaceutical companies and policy dictated by big business dollars lobbying for their cause. It is not about the health of the people, and is a shameful wreck. Argentina healthcare is much more accessible.

 

[jenh]

Hi Seba, I studied health policy and health care economics and have been working in health policy in the US for many years and now here. If you really want to know, I can recommend some things to read, or we could get a cup of coffee or glass of wine and discuss (in ingles o castellano) ... it is a complicated topic yet fascinating.

 

[seba.1988]

Thank you all for your answers.
Jehn, I will be more than glad to have a drink with you and learn about this interesting but complex issue.

 

[jrockstar80]

OMG don't get me started on this. all i know is that i've already had a medical problem here that i was able to take care of for about US $40, without insurance (need to go and buy that...), and in the US it would have been about $100 to handle, WITH employer-provided insurance. and this was a MINOR health problem.

 

[seba.1988]

Wow,

well, I know that our health system (state system) has problem, but your statement makes me feel that at least my perception is not so wrong XD
thanks for your opinion jrockstar80 =D

 

[andebobandy]

I can tell you this — without doubt or hesitation — that my experience of the public and private health care of Argentina make me afraid of our ever returning with my child to the U.S. health care system.

The cost is astronomical. We're self employed so we are responsible for insuring ourselves, because there is no public option. We're not poor enough to qualify for the assistance, but not many people are. I think your household has to make somewhere less than $10,000/year to qualify.

When we left, we were paying nearly $15,000/year for extremely limited health insurance with co-pays (which is every time you see a doctor you pay) $30 for clinical and $50 for specialist. We also had deductibles (the amount you pay before insurance kicks in) of $750 for each category of diagnostics, hospitalization and pharmaceuticals. So all in, before the insurance pays a penny, we had to pay $6750 (that's all three of us together) plus $15,000. So, theoretically, if we were all in a car accident together, we'd be in for $22,000 that year, plus we'd be responsible for 30% of our hospital costs.

It's an infuriating topic for many, myself included.

 

[seba.1988]

andebobandy, that was great and clear example. Thank you very much. At the same time I feel completely terrified at those figures XD
That ´s really discouriging for my future trip to the US XD.

 

[andebobandy]

From what our insurance tells up (osde), you can get a card (I can't remember the name - medi-card or something like that) that extends your coverage overseas. I think it has a time limit, but it's something to investigate.

 

[seba.1988]

You are buddy. I have OSDE too. I guess it could come in handy for my trip =)