Healthcare Costs and Privileges in the U.S
Every year the United States of America sees an increase in the number of international visitors. In this context, we often encounter this question: “What are the healthcare costs of medical care or medical expenses in medical facilities and hospitals in the USA?”
Healthcare costs, while excellent, are costly even compared to other developed nations in Europe or Japan. Americans face astronomical health care costs that seem to defy the law of the economy. Let’s discover the healthcare costs and privileges in the United States.
Characteristics of the Healthcare System in the United States
- The health system of the United States is one of the most sophisticated but also unaffordable (for an uninsured ) in the world. The costly healthcare system in America has made insurance coverage a necessity for everyone.
- That is particularly true for those who are visiting America who cannot afford to neglect the need for insurance in the event of hospitalization.
- Routine medical visit costs are quite expensive in the USA. Health issues like diabetes mellitus with hyperglycemia patients need to get admitted to an emergency room would cost around $25,000.
- A stroke that results in an ICU for about ten days would cost $120,000. Treating a heart attack with medical bills from an ambulance, hospital emergency room, ICU, EKG, and MRI, and ongoing care from cardiologists would cost about $20,000. The Average Cost of Acute Kidney Failure Treatment in the US was over $22,000 in 2018.
- US hospitals will ask for the insurance document while they admit a patient. Visitors are not eligible for national health insurance but can purchase visitor health insurance coverage.
- Always carry your visitor health insurance card and photo identification (proof of identity) with you. Because you will need it if you are hospitalized or going to see a doctor in the U.S.
Doctors in the USA
Doctors in the United States may be a GP who can be a family doctor and a specialist who is a doctor for a specific problem. If you have a PPO network under your insurance coverage, then you can go to the network doctor or specialist directly. There may be situations when you have to pay coinsurance when you see a doctor. Most insurance plans do cover doctor visits, and the bill is sent to the insurance company directly.
Important Advice:
If you are supposed to claim reimbursement from the insurer, then you need to get a detailed bill from your doctor.
Healthcare Costs and Privilege in U.S. Hospitals
Several large hospitals are privately owned, and there are only a few government-operated hospitals in the country. When you are using your visitor health insurance in American hospitals, you will most likely have to pay a deductible. That can be between $100 and $5,000 depending on the plan chosen by you. Also, there may be a co-insurance or a copayment per day that can be 10-20% on your insurance coverage.
Important advice:
In the case of hospitalization, you must keep a record of the treatments received and the details of the charges. Just because you get treated in the United States doesn’t mean everything will be perfect. Hospitals may overcharge or bill for a service you never took. Although the insurer is paying for you, you should not take it for granted, as the money will get spent at the premium paid by others like you.
