Question's regarding a new life in the U.S.
Jul 17th 2008, 3:41 pm
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Question's regarding a new life in the U.S.
We are thinking of moving to the U.S. but there are a few things putting us off the idea.. In the U.K. we have the knowledge of knowing that our good old N.H.S. system is in place if a member of our family were to take a turn for the worse (whether it be nature OR accident), but as we all know that system does NOT exist in the U.S.
So, how does the American health system work? as we have heard tales of the health/insurance system being a total mine field and you might not even be covered in the event of a serious injury and so what happens then?
We would appreciate any in-put into this if any of you have any experience or knowledge regarding this matter or other matters relevant to us moving to America.
Yours,
K + A
So, how does the American health system work? as we have heard tales of the health/insurance system being a total mine field and you might not even be covered in the event of a serious injury and so what happens then?
We would appreciate any in-put into this if any of you have any experience or knowledge regarding this matter or other matters relevant to us moving to America.
Yours,
K + A
Jul 17th 2008, 4:28 pm
#2
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Avon Lake, OH
Posts: 5,270
Re: Question's regarding a new life in the U.S.
Forget about everything other than what visa you qualify for. Without the visa you can't live here so everything else is moot.
Check this
Check this
Jul 17th 2008, 4:38 pm
#3
MODERATOR
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Hong Kong, mostly.
Posts: 5,214
Re: Question's regarding a new life in the U.S.
Honestly we can't answer in full in just a few messageboard posting, but we can give you a general idea.
First, you need insurance. Most people get insurance from their employer, who pays all or some or none of the monthly premium. This insurance can usually be extended to include your spouse, children, and even a dependent parent (in some cases).
How much it costs is a mystery. Some people pay small monthly 'premiums' but have very high 'deductibles' (i.e. they pay for the first $5000 of any health care each year out of their own pocket). Others pay larger premiums monthly and have $0 deductible, but have 'copays' of $20 or so each time they see a doctor or get some medicine.
Some things are specifically not covered, like a sex change operation, or a bionic eye, or cancer, or self-inflicted gunshot wounds (seriously--the list is a book). It depends on what you get.
Once you have insurance, you pick a doctor. You can pick one 'in network' with your insurance company (i.e. they have agreed on a process of billing and prices) or 'out of network' (meaning any random joe doctor you can find). Needless to say out of network will cost more / the insurance will pay less.
If you need to see a specialist the doctor will write a note 'referral' and you take that to a specialist (again, in or out of network, more or less expensive)
If you get hit by a herd of Buffalo, you are taken to the nearest hospital where they treat you for the emergency (by law) regardless of your ability to pay. Once you are stablized then the insurance company can ask you to move to another hospital (i.e. one in network) or try to get you out of the hospital and back home recovering (saving them money).
If you have some weird disease that requires the top surgeons of the world to be flown in and review you might run up against the policy maximums, which could be $1 million of health care per year, or per policy lifetime.
Some of the problems come a) when people don't read the fine print and get hit with something not covered, b) when they don't have enough money left at the end of each paycheck to buy insurance and opt not to, and c) don't have a job and cannot afford insurance on their own (i.e. the most expensive).
Older people (with GCards / USC) or poor people are covered somewhat by government programs.
But basically it's this--you need to find a job that offers the best health insurance and you NEED to read the fine print as to what is and is not covered and then you NEED to decide if you want (can afford) supplemental insurance to cover some things that are not covered.
It's all quite a pain.
OH YEAH--and what Duncan Roberts said--deal with the VISA first because that's the real problem.
First, you need insurance. Most people get insurance from their employer, who pays all or some or none of the monthly premium. This insurance can usually be extended to include your spouse, children, and even a dependent parent (in some cases).
How much it costs is a mystery. Some people pay small monthly 'premiums' but have very high 'deductibles' (i.e. they pay for the first $5000 of any health care each year out of their own pocket). Others pay larger premiums monthly and have $0 deductible, but have 'copays' of $20 or so each time they see a doctor or get some medicine.
Some things are specifically not covered, like a sex change operation, or a bionic eye, or cancer, or self-inflicted gunshot wounds (seriously--the list is a book). It depends on what you get.
Once you have insurance, you pick a doctor. You can pick one 'in network' with your insurance company (i.e. they have agreed on a process of billing and prices) or 'out of network' (meaning any random joe doctor you can find). Needless to say out of network will cost more / the insurance will pay less.
If you need to see a specialist the doctor will write a note 'referral' and you take that to a specialist (again, in or out of network, more or less expensive)
If you get hit by a herd of Buffalo, you are taken to the nearest hospital where they treat you for the emergency (by law) regardless of your ability to pay. Once you are stablized then the insurance company can ask you to move to another hospital (i.e. one in network) or try to get you out of the hospital and back home recovering (saving them money).
If you have some weird disease that requires the top surgeons of the world to be flown in and review you might run up against the policy maximums, which could be $1 million of health care per year, or per policy lifetime.
Some of the problems come a) when people don't read the fine print and get hit with something not covered, b) when they don't have enough money left at the end of each paycheck to buy insurance and opt not to, and c) don't have a job and cannot afford insurance on their own (i.e. the most expensive).
Older people (with GCards / USC) or poor people are covered somewhat by government programs.
But basically it's this--you need to find a job that offers the best health insurance and you NEED to read the fine print as to what is and is not covered and then you NEED to decide if you want (can afford) supplemental insurance to cover some things that are not covered.
It's all quite a pain.
OH YEAH--and what Duncan Roberts said--deal with the VISA first because that's the real problem.
Jul 17th 2008, 5:44 pm
#4
Account Closed
Joined: Aug 2002
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 38,865
Re: Question's regarding a new life in the U.S.
Jul 17th 2008, 6:15 pm
#5
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: London > NJ > PA > London > NJ.. whew.
Posts: 253
Re: Question's regarding a new life in the U.S.
American doctors and hospitals are very, very good. You can't complain about the quality. Just the accessibility - this is where you have to delve into the murky depths of health insurance. Penguinsix has covered most of the bases here. I'll add that, if you opt to become self-employed, you become responsible for 100% of your insurance costs, since you're not a part of a group plan that bigger employers get to use, where they get considerable discounts. This can be crippling - my father-in-law is a self-employed mechanic and pays $1600 a month just for himself and his wife, and that's with no dental, optical, etc. And the level of coverage you get from these insurance plans varies so much - not just the deductibles (ie, the insurance excess), but also cost of prescriptions, cost of doctor visits (co-pays) and many other issues. If your healthcare plan doesn't cover prescriptions, be prepared to pay a small fortune for some kinds of medicine (although you can get $5 prescriptions from places like Wal-Mart, where a "generic" version of a medication exists instead of a more expensive branded one).
Jul 17th 2008, 7:51 pm
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Question's regarding a new life in the U.S.
American doctors and hospitals are very, very good. You can't complain about the quality. Just the accessibility - this is where you have to delve into the murky depths of health insurance. Penguinsix has covered most of the bases here. I'll add that, if you opt to become self-employed, you become responsible for 100% of your insurance costs, since you're not a part of a group plan that bigger employers get to use, where they get considerable discounts. This can be crippling - my father-in-law is a self-employed mechanic and pays $1600 a month just for himself and his wife, and that's with no dental, optical, etc. And the level of coverage you get from these insurance plans varies so much - not just the deductibles (ie, the insurance excess), but also cost of prescriptions, cost of doctor visits (co-pays) and many other issues. If your healthcare plan doesn't cover prescriptions, be prepared to pay a small fortune for some kinds of medicine (although you can get $5 prescriptions from places like Wal-Mart, where a "generic" version of a medication exists instead of a more expensive branded one).
Once again,
Big Thanks
Jul 17th 2008, 7:51 pm
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Question's regarding a new life in the U.S.
American doctors and hospitals are very, very good. You can't complain about the quality. Just the accessibility - this is where you have to delve into the murky depths of health insurance. Penguinsix has covered most of the bases here. I'll add that, if you opt to become self-employed, you become responsible for 100% of your insurance costs, since you're not a part of a group plan that bigger employers get to use, where they get considerable discounts. This can be crippling - my father-in-law is a self-employed mechanic and pays $1600 a month just for himself and his wife, and that's with no dental, optical, etc. And the level of coverage you get from these insurance plans varies so much - not just the deductibles (ie, the insurance excess), but also cost of prescriptions, cost of doctor visits (co-pays) and many other issues. If your healthcare plan doesn't cover prescriptions, be prepared to pay a small fortune for some kinds of medicine (although you can get $5 prescriptions from places like Wal-Mart, where a "generic" version of a medication exists instead of a more expensive branded one).
Jul 17th 2008, 7:52 pm
#9
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 208
Re: Question's regarding a new life in the U.S.
We are thinking of moving to the U.S. but there are a few things putting us off the idea.. In the U.K. we have the knowledge of knowing that our good old N.H.S. system is in place if a member of our family were to take a turn for the worse (whether it be nature OR accident), but as we all know that system does NOT exist in the U.S.
So, how does the American health system work? as we have heard tales of the health/insurance system being a total mine field and you might not even be covered in the event of a serious injury and so what happens then?
We would appreciate any in-put into this if any of you have any experience or knowledge regarding this matter or other matters relevant to us moving to America.
Yours,
K + A
So, how does the American health system work? as we have heard tales of the health/insurance system being a total mine field and you might not even be covered in the event of a serious injury and so what happens then?
We would appreciate any in-put into this if any of you have any experience or knowledge regarding this matter or other matters relevant to us moving to America.
Yours,
K + A
Jul 17th 2008, 7:53 pm
#10
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Question's regarding a new life in the U.S.
Honestly we can't answer in full in just a few messageboard posting, but we can give you a general idea.
First, you need insurance. Most people get insurance from their employer, who pays all or some or none of the monthly premium. This insurance can usually be extended to include your spouse, children, and even a dependent parent (in some cases).
How much it costs is a mystery. Some people pay small monthly 'premiums' but have very high 'deductibles' (i.e. they pay for the first $5000 of any health care each year out of their own pocket). Others pay larger premiums monthly and have $0 deductible, but have 'copays' of $20 or so each time they see a doctor or get some medicine.
Some things are specifically not covered, like a sex change operation, or a bionic eye, or cancer, or self-inflicted gunshot wounds (seriously--the list is a book). It depends on what you get.
Once you have insurance, you pick a doctor. You can pick one 'in network' with your insurance company (i.e. they have agreed on a process of billing and prices) or 'out of network' (meaning any random joe doctor you can find). Needless to say out of network will cost more / the insurance will pay less.
If you need to see a specialist the doctor will write a note 'referral' and you take that to a specialist (again, in or out of network, more or less expensive)
If you get hit by a herd of Buffalo, you are taken to the nearest hospital where they treat you for the emergency (by law) regardless of your ability to pay. Once you are stablized then the insurance company can ask you to move to another hospital (i.e. one in network) or try to get you out of the hospital and back home recovering (saving them money).
If you have some weird disease that requires the top surgeons of the world to be flown in and review you might run up against the policy maximums, which could be $1 million of health care per year, or per policy lifetime.
Some of the problems come a) when people don't read the fine print and get hit with something not covered, b) when they don't have enough money left at the end of each paycheck to buy insurance and opt not to, and c) don't have a job and cannot afford insurance on their own (i.e. the most expensive).
Older people (with GCards / USC) or poor people are covered somewhat by government programs.
But basically it's this--you need to find a job that offers the best health insurance and you NEED to read the fine print as to what is and is not covered and then you NEED to decide if you want (can afford) supplemental insurance to cover some things that are not covered.
It's all quite a pain.
OH YEAH--and what Duncan Roberts said--deal with the VISA first because that's the real problem.
First, you need insurance. Most people get insurance from their employer, who pays all or some or none of the monthly premium. This insurance can usually be extended to include your spouse, children, and even a dependent parent (in some cases).
How much it costs is a mystery. Some people pay small monthly 'premiums' but have very high 'deductibles' (i.e. they pay for the first $5000 of any health care each year out of their own pocket). Others pay larger premiums monthly and have $0 deductible, but have 'copays' of $20 or so each time they see a doctor or get some medicine.
Some things are specifically not covered, like a sex change operation, or a bionic eye, or cancer, or self-inflicted gunshot wounds (seriously--the list is a book). It depends on what you get.
Once you have insurance, you pick a doctor. You can pick one 'in network' with your insurance company (i.e. they have agreed on a process of billing and prices) or 'out of network' (meaning any random joe doctor you can find). Needless to say out of network will cost more / the insurance will pay less.
If you need to see a specialist the doctor will write a note 'referral' and you take that to a specialist (again, in or out of network, more or less expensive)
If you get hit by a herd of Buffalo, you are taken to the nearest hospital where they treat you for the emergency (by law) regardless of your ability to pay. Once you are stablized then the insurance company can ask you to move to another hospital (i.e. one in network) or try to get you out of the hospital and back home recovering (saving them money).
If you have some weird disease that requires the top surgeons of the world to be flown in and review you might run up against the policy maximums, which could be $1 million of health care per year, or per policy lifetime.
Some of the problems come a) when people don't read the fine print and get hit with something not covered, b) when they don't have enough money left at the end of each paycheck to buy insurance and opt not to, and c) don't have a job and cannot afford insurance on their own (i.e. the most expensive).
Older people (with GCards / USC) or poor people are covered somewhat by government programs.
But basically it's this--you need to find a job that offers the best health insurance and you NEED to read the fine print as to what is and is not covered and then you NEED to decide if you want (can afford) supplemental insurance to cover some things that are not covered.
It's all quite a pain.
OH YEAH--and what Duncan Roberts said--deal with the VISA first because that's the real problem.
Jul 17th 2008, 8:22 pm
#12
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Avon Lake, OH
Posts: 5,270
Re: Question's regarding a new life in the U.S.
Not all doctors and hospitals are good, they can be very, very bad. You may not get a chance to complain about the quality because you may be dead, that's how bad. Like everything, there are good and bad everywhere.
Jul 17th 2008, 10:05 pm
#14
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Question's regarding a new life in the U.S.
Not sure wot u mean by suitable path.. but we are basically thinking of getting out of this country for a better life for us and a better head start for our 3yr old daughter somewhere else and U.S. is one option for us. So at the moment we are feeling the water temp. with our toes if you like :-)
If we do decide to make a life changing move then it wont be for at least another year yet.
Cheers
If we do decide to make a life changing move then it wont be for at least another year yet.
Cheers
