Non-Americans, what's it like when you're sick and need to go to the doctor?
-
Don't you think if this was an issue we'd have addressed it by now?
Global warming, inequality, bodily autonomy (euthanasia, abortion), healthcare accessibility, pay gaps... sitting in a room with sick people is not even the first trivially solvable issue on this list but it's definitely among them
. Wouldn't be the first time someone catches long covid from sitting at the doctor's where the other patient wasn't aware they were infected/infectious yet -
You can use the website instead of using the app.
Same login.
Oh, perfect!
-
What sort of money does one need to spend in Sweden to get private health insurance? Can you stop paying the government one if you have that?
(In Germany, I'm publicly insured so idk private prices, but you pay either one and not both, it's not like normal taxes that you always pay)You can't opt out of government-provided health insurance. It's not even really referred to as health insurance, it's really just referred to as health care.
I get my additional private health insurance paid for by my employer, so I never actually pay myself, but the same one seems to be going for about €110 a month.
I don't know that I would buy it if I had to pay myself, but I'm quite happy to get it for the small amount of additional taxes I have to pay on the benefit from the employer.
-
Oh, perfect!
Ehh... . Better but not perfect. Not everything on the app is on my web portal annoyingly but most things are. shrug
-
Switzerland
Depends a bit on the plan you have. Generally I would call the clinic registered with my health insurance or fill in their online form to make an appointment. Depending on what it is you get an appointment within the week, but for more pressing issues it's usually on the same day.
If it's an emergency I can go to any hospital or clinic, but depending on my insurance I would be transfered after the acute symptoms are taken care of.
If for some reason I'm not anywhere close to my registered clinic, I have to call a 24/7 number to get a referral to a doctor nearby.
Prices are reasonable for the high level in Switzerland. Deductibles limits handle how much you have to pay out of pocket, so it rarely fucks you up.
The real issue is the ever increasing insurance premiums. They are not tied to your income level, but to where you live, your gender and age. Poorer people get support by the government, but that's just tax money flowing directly into private insurance companies.
Yeah, our system is quite ridiculous. Health insurance is mandatory in Switzerland. But we waste a lot of money paying health insurance marketing campaigns and sales forces. Its just a waste of money.
-
Which country are you in and what's a typical doctor visit like? How much? Wait time? Etc
Netherlands here, I call, have an appointment the same or next day, insurance covers all costs.
If they proscribe meds, I pay a part up until a maximum of 385 euros per year (called "own risk") , anything above that is covered as well.
I'm also covered for physiotherapy (18 sessions without "own risk"), psychological therapy, dentistry and a variety of alternative medicine!
I pay a pretty hefty premium, like 170 euros a month, but that's because I have the lowest "own risk" and I blow through that in the first month or 3 with my rickety ass body
Definitely beats footing the bill completely, I've seen what dentistry costs
-
Which country are you in and what's a typical doctor visit like? How much? Wait time? Etc
Netherlands. I can call to make an appointment, or do it online. Then i walk/bike there, its in the neighbourhood. We have about 10 minutes for an appointment. The doctor either refers me to a specialist, prescribes drugs (most doctors have a pharmacy attached), or does small procedures. For jabs, check ups, stool samples, that type of stuff, the assistent takes care of it most of the time. You can leave without paying.
We pay a monthly insurance that pays for everything, basically. im over simplifying, its not that straightforward, but its what it boils down to.
-
I know for a fact you haven't been using the health care system in any province if you're spreading this bullshit.
wrote last edited by [email protected]I was literally in the ER on Tuesday.
You must be in one of the provinces that are on the privatisation slippery slope. Alberta isn't really yet.
-
Honestly, as someone who's spent a lot of time in emergency departments, it depends a lot on the hospital and the time of day. Sometimes they're packed and sometimes they're almost empty. (At those times it's very important not to invite disaster by mentioning how quiet it is.) Having an Urgent Care in the same place for Triage to divert people into helps a lot as well.
Can confirm the same thing, there have been times where I've gone in, checked in, and speaking to the doctor within 20 minutes of stepping in the door - whereas other times I've waited 5+ hours to even be given a room to sit in (and then wait another couple of hours for a doctor to see me).
-
Which country are you in and what's a typical doctor visit like? How much? Wait time? Etc
wrote last edited by [email protected]Costa Rica : You can have an appointment the same or the next day, and appointmens can be requestet online, by phone or getting to the nearest medical medical center. Costa Rica's social security covers everything, from medication to surgery and you are covered for the next theree months if you lose your job. There are few surgeried that are not practiced in the country as some may need technology that we do not have. The cons of Costa Ricas social health's service is that for some processes the waiting lines are very long and could take even a year or more. Might not be as good as european social health's services, but for a third world country I think is not any bad.
-
Costa Rica : You can have an appointment the same or the next day, and appointmens can be requestet online, by phone or getting to the nearest medical medical center. Costa Rica's social security covers everything, from medication to surgery and you are covered for the next theree months if you lose your job. There are few surgeried that are not practiced in the country as some may need technology that we do not have. The cons of Costa Ricas social health's service is that for some processes the waiting lines are very long and could take even a year or more. Might not be as good as european social health's services, but for a third world country I think is not any bad.
Sounds pretty good to me. If you lose your job and are still unemployed 3 months later, what happens then?
-
Netherlands here, I call, have an appointment the same or next day, insurance covers all costs.
If they proscribe meds, I pay a part up until a maximum of 385 euros per year (called "own risk") , anything above that is covered as well.
I'm also covered for physiotherapy (18 sessions without "own risk"), psychological therapy, dentistry and a variety of alternative medicine!
I pay a pretty hefty premium, like 170 euros a month, but that's because I have the lowest "own risk" and I blow through that in the first month or 3 with my rickety ass body
Definitely beats footing the bill completely, I've seen what dentistry costs
wrote last edited by [email protected]Very affordable! 170 euros is less than typical US Obamacare insurance, which isn't top-grade and I don't think includes dentistry.
-
Sounds pretty good to me. If you lose your job and are still unemployed 3 months later, what happens then?
You might still have access to social health care but you will be charged, if im not wrong would be something near a 10% of a minimum salary, in Costa Rica that is around 600 to 700 USD. But there are ways to keep your access, you can rely on your spouse coverage if you are married, some conditions might be treated if your life is at risk and children, elder people, indigenous people and people with certain dissabilities will always be covered.
-
Which country are you in and what's a typical doctor visit like? How much? Wait time? Etc
US expat in Colombia
For the general population, if you're sick you go to urgent care and maybe wait for several hours. If you need to see a specialist, those appointments can take a couple of weeks to a couple of months, depending on the type of specialty. Either way, the cost is about $3 (all prices are rough equivalents in USD) per visit to see a doctor.
My employer signed me up for private insurance that gives me "concierge service," so I have access to a different network of doctors with shorter wait times. If I'm sick, I can get a same-day house call. If I need a specialist, I can usually get an appointment in a two-week time frame. I pay about $50 per month for that (in addition to my normal taxes, which are used to fund the public system). My copay per visit, regardless of the type of doctor or procedure (exams, MRIs, etc.) is about $10.
One time, I paid out of pocket for an ultrasound because I didn't want to wait for the insurance company to approve it and go back for a separate appointment. It cost me about $25.
-
Which country are you in and what's a typical doctor visit like? How much? Wait time? Etc
Ireland here. I have been relatively lucky with my health since I've been here (last 10 years). The GP I go to gives a small discount because of where i work. I pay 50 euros a pop to see the doc (usually 60 I think) but the last two times I needed to see the doc it was a same day appointment. I paid for insurance the first year I was here, tried to use it when I saw a GP and they laughed in my face. Also frequently had my daughter seen (for free), they seem to keep increasing the age for which kids are seen for free, now up to age 7?
-
Which country are you in and what's a typical doctor visit like? How much? Wait time? Etc
Germany.
Well, the health system is great, as long as you don't get sick. Or need life-saving emergency care immediately.
But not for many things in between.
Example ADHD: The GP can write a referral to get diagnosed, for free, but no psychiatrist or psychological therapist (the only ones allowed to do that) will take you. So best bet is to pay out of pocket in a practice that does it over video and is recognised in Germany. Can be done under 1k EUR that way, at least (~ 2k EUR with a private, out-of-network therapist). Recurring prescription and private doctor is about EUR 150 per month; a therapy session costs EUR 200. It is absolutely realistic to get the prescriptions and meds covered by a doctor in the insurance network, though. Therapy through insurance is also a possibility if it's not urgent and you don't ACTUALLY have ADHD or depression so you can do many phone calls, like 6 - 12 months, and you don't care who treats you.
Glasses are also not covered, e. g. workplace glasses > EUR 500 out of pocket. But, randomly, a write-off. Treatment by a homeopathic practitioner - covered, just for the lulz.
But yes, about to die within 48 hours? As long as you can convince them that this is the case (got to self-diagnose and be a persistent ass if it's not obvious), you'll get help, it might be at a very decent level even compared to many other 1st world countries, and it'll be completely covered by insurance.
Also, the monthly premium is EUR 1100 (includes nursing care insurance; there isn't much nursing happening either way though). Employer pays half, freelancers pay full. It's not legal to quit and be "uninsured". Also, you can have it lowered if you can prove that you make under 66k per year (to 19 % of income).
Oh, and only the insurance premium is a tax write-off. What you have to pay out of pocket (talking about treatment that your GP deemed essential, not dental bleeching) is paid for by your net income.
Some other random things also work out within a month and are covered, such as a quick eye checkup, dental checkup / very basic dental filling (pay out of pocket for most filling materials, but not the time), anything a GP or family doctor can do in 10 minutes.
-
Which country are you in and what's a typical doctor visit like? How much? Wait time? Etc
wrote last edited by [email protected]Poland:
If I'm sick or it's the 1st step in getting something diagnosed: I call the (public) clinic to book an appointment, get a date within like 3 days max. I usually leave with a prescription and paid doctor's leave for work. The visit costs nothing. If it's urgent you can walk in without an appointment or call the ambulance/go to the ER in your local hospital. This is free.
Sometimes the doctor gives you a medical referral to a specialist or for a certain test. This can be realized in the public health system, or at a private clinic.
Wait times vary a lot - some things like a blood test are very quick, but some specialists in the public system have very long wait times. Like, 6 months to a year. Some surgeries in the public system can take even longer. The public system is free, or has a small symbolic fee.
The private system is much faster for certain specialists - dentists, psychologists, dermatologists, injury rehabilitation, ect. but it also can't do everything. In my experience, almost all serious and niche surgeries are done in the public system for example.
Overall it's a decent experience, but the system is severely underfunded. This isn't really a case of mismanagement imo, it's genuinely just a lack of money in the system. Some surgeries can get delayed because money allocated for them ran out for the year.
-
Germany.
Well, the health system is great, as long as you don't get sick. Or need life-saving emergency care immediately.
But not for many things in between.
Example ADHD: The GP can write a referral to get diagnosed, for free, but no psychiatrist or psychological therapist (the only ones allowed to do that) will take you. So best bet is to pay out of pocket in a practice that does it over video and is recognised in Germany. Can be done under 1k EUR that way, at least (~ 2k EUR with a private, out-of-network therapist). Recurring prescription and private doctor is about EUR 150 per month; a therapy session costs EUR 200. It is absolutely realistic to get the prescriptions and meds covered by a doctor in the insurance network, though. Therapy through insurance is also a possibility if it's not urgent and you don't ACTUALLY have ADHD or depression so you can do many phone calls, like 6 - 12 months, and you don't care who treats you.
Glasses are also not covered, e. g. workplace glasses > EUR 500 out of pocket. But, randomly, a write-off. Treatment by a homeopathic practitioner - covered, just for the lulz.
But yes, about to die within 48 hours? As long as you can convince them that this is the case (got to self-diagnose and be a persistent ass if it's not obvious), you'll get help, it might be at a very decent level even compared to many other 1st world countries, and it'll be completely covered by insurance.
Also, the monthly premium is EUR 1100 (includes nursing care insurance; there isn't much nursing happening either way though). Employer pays half, freelancers pay full. It's not legal to quit and be "uninsured". Also, you can have it lowered if you can prove that you make under 66k per year (to 19 % of income).
Oh, and only the insurance premium is a tax write-off. What you have to pay out of pocket (talking about treatment that your GP deemed essential, not dental bleeching) is paid for by your net income.
Some other random things also work out within a month and are covered, such as a quick eye checkup, dental checkup / very basic dental filling (pay out of pocket for most filling materials, but not the time), anything a GP or family doctor can do in 10 minutes.
That...sounds much worse than what I or anyone in my immediate family and friend group have in the US.
-
Very affordable! 170 euros is less than typical US Obamacare insurance, which isn't top-grade and I don't think includes dentistry.
385 is less than typical Obamacare per MONTH, depending on the state you're in.
-
Canada
Wait 7 years to get a family doctor. Wait 3 months to get an actual appointment. Lose family doctor. Rinse and repeat.
wrote last edited by [email protected]How do you lose a family doctor? Like, they quit?
