Does it cost to go to the doctor for any reason, in the US?

Question

I'm Canadian, and I'm just wondering how it works. Because here, you can go to the doctor for whatever reason and it doesn't cost anything. Does it cost to go to the doctor in the US each time you go? Or does everyone have plans that allow them to go so many times for minor issues during the year?

Don't be rude either, lots of people in the Western world live in countries that have public health systems. How would we know how it works in your country if we've never lived there?
Thanks!

Answer 1

Also, if you can't afford to pay for health insurance and your job doesn't offer it, or if they do it costs too much.....then you're in big trouble. I had to go to the emergency room once and I didn't have health insurance...omg it was bad.

2 MRIs and some bloodwork later I was $12,000 in hole. Medical fees are effing insane here!

But yes, in general you always pay. Usually what it is is you pay a monthly fee for health insurance (averaging around $60 dollars a month) and then if you have to go to the doctor you have to pay a copay, like $20-$40 bucks. Then if you have to have medicine you have to pay the copay for that. Etc. for all medical related things really.

But someplaces can be free if you can prove your income is low enough. Such as PlannedParenthood. Which covers everything from actual pregnancies to mamograms and STDs.

And then for kids if you're low income you can find clinics that'll cover vacinations and things like that.

Answer 2

If your a doctor and you don't profit from treating the sick and dieing, where do you get an income to live on? These questions about profiting are ridiculous. Nobody is in any business to give money away. Nobody chooses a profession to donate all of their time and effort for nothing. Doctors have to study nearly until they are 30 years old. School costs money. How much do you think 8 or 10 years of school would cost? Should the schools do it for free? Should you get paid for doing your job? Who else should treat the sick and dieing if not hospitals and doctors? Health insurance is something you buy so you don't have to pay your own medical bills. It ends up being an agreement between the policy owner and the insurance company. How can the company provide insurance for free?

Answer 3

Yes it cost unless you are very poor and have a good reason to be on public assistance. There are a number of different fees depending on what type of insurance that you have. If you have no insurance you are in a bad place, it can cost about $60.00 per office visit. Some insurance plans make people pay from $10.00 to 20.00 per visit.

I understand that we get better care here than in Canada. At least that is what they tell us. But you can loose everything that you own if you get really sick and don't have an insurance. And the reason so many of us do not have insurance is that the premiums are so very high and more and more employers will not pay the whole thing, if any.

Answer 4

You bet we pay EVERY visit and the big bucks too if we don't buy health insurance and for those of us that have the health insurance we (most of us anyway) have a copay. And then there's a copay for the medicine we have to get if we need meds.
Most people here pay outrageous prices for their insurance. The active duty military don't pay but us retirees do.

Answer 5

Yes. It depends on your insurance. The insurance company will pay for most of the visit and you have to pay a co-pay. It depends on your insurance plan how much you have to pay, it could be $10 or $15 or more.

Answer 6

yes it costs every time..and if you have insurance there is a co pay.doctors and lawyers are the highest paying occupation there is in the us

Answer 7

if you goto the er you dont have to pay they will send you a bill though