if, say, someone from europe, whom normally recieves universal health care in their own country, gets sick, would they have to go through the american health care system to get treatment? meaning, will they come home with a bill for $60,000?
i know this is in the wrong section, but there are more people to give a responce here, and you guys are hella cooler. =D
2007-07-08 06:07:29 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You should get supplemental insurance before travelling to any foreign country.
If you're English and you break a leg in Switzerland, you're still going to pay 60k out of pocket.
Same deal in the USA.
2007-07-08 06:11:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Having never been a tourist in my own country, I'm not sure I can answer you correctly on this.
There are some really good Community hospitals here, and they take in everyone and anyone who needs care and make you pay on a sliding scale, according to what you can afford.
Some of the best doctors work there.
In an emergency, you would probably go there, if you were not able to specify a preferrred hospital.
As doctor visits go, as a tourist, I'm afraid you'd have to put up the money up front BEFORE treatment. Most doctor visits cost somewhere between 45 and a hundred dollars... my doc costs 65 dollars per visit. I have insurance, though.
I think there is some kind of insurance for tourists... you might check into that. I once hosted a Japanese student in my home... she brought with her a special paper, indicating a health plan and how she'd pay, if she needed healthcare while in America.
It's a good question, and I'm sure it's one that has been addressed. I guess you would just need to know who to talk to about it. If it were me going to another country, I'd probably ask my doctor what she recommended I do to prepare for minor or major emergencies in another country.
2007-07-08 13:17:25 · answer #2 · answered by scruffycat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Really good question, even if it is in the wrong section!
I work in the health care system here, although I hasten to add I'm not knowledgeable about all of the "ins and outs" of billing policies. I do know that no one in need of emergency care is turned down on the basis of not having insurance or being unable to pay. But it is entirely possible that an eye-popping statement for services rendered would be issued after the fact. The extent to which a hospital would actually pursue collection in the situation you mention is unclear ... my thinking is that it would eventually be written off because they really have no recourse for collection.
[Edit] For non-emergency care, such as treatment for a sore throat, etc., payment at the time services are rendered is usual.
2007-07-08 13:18:56 · answer #3 · answered by Clare † 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They will treat you the way they treat anybody else. They send you a bill. You might want to check with your national health service to see if you have coverage when traveling.
2007-07-08 13:12:09 · answer #4 · answered by atheist 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes they would be presented with a big bill...if they got into the hospital at all...no insurance you know...
2007-07-08 13:11:57 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
travel insurance is for that reason
2007-07-08 13:12:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋