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Health Care In Usa

Discussion in 'General Discussions - USA & Canada' started by gopalan1937, Oct 4, 2018.

  1. gopalan1937

    gopalan1937 Silver IL'ite

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    It is more than two weeks since I landed in USA along with my wife. Our first priority on arrival was to get social security cards for both of us, which we could procure without much difficulty. Now we are shopping for health care insurance, which is getting prolonged which I hope will be finalized soon. The entire spade work is being done by my son, and I remain a spectator.

    I have a couple of questions regarding health care in USA. Is it not possible to get medical aid without health insurance? In India we have primary health centers in small villages, taluk hospitals, district hospitals, corporation hospitals and finally medical college hospitals. One can walk into any of the above mentioned health care facility at any time of the day or night for however minor the ailments are and seek relief without spending a pie.. Major surgeries are undertaken in tertiary care hospitals like general hospital in Chennai and Mathurai.

    Being a country which is far richer than India and less populated than India, why they are not able to provide free medical service at least to low and middle income groups. Public schools here, I am told provide free education. Why not have public hospitals?

    In fact the Centre and some state governments in India have already started providing health insurance cover for the people as a welfare measure. It is paradoxical for me “No insurance, No care.”
     
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  2. Amulet

    Amulet IL Hall of Fame

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    Your question first: "Is it not possible to get medical aid without health insurance?"
    Yes. You can get medical assistance without health insurance. For minor ailments like headache, cold, and mild throat irritations, you can simply go to a small clinic that is part of many super markets, and a nurse will look at you and give you some tablets or syrups for a nominal fee. An actual doctor's clinic would set you back a large sum of money, if you go there without a health insurance plan they accept in that clinic.
    --------------------------------------------------------------​
    Being a country which is far richer than India and less populated than India, why they are not able to provide free medical service at least to low and middle income groups. Public schools here, I am told provide free education. Why not have public hospitals?

    That needs a longer answer:

    America has a life scheme that might seem like an obstacle race, with participants variously handicapped. By and by, you can see how these handicaps (race, economic status, parental education, access to good public schools and healthcare facilities ..etc. etc..) get them to a status that is starkly unequal to those who are less handicapped at the beginning of the race.

    You are declared a healthcare-access winner, if you successfully managed to work (i.e., employment and social security tax payment) for 10 years or more, and reach the age of 65. At that point, there is a government subsidized healthcare insurance called Medicare. That too is rather complex... but then as you say, you have a son to do the digging for information.

    It is best to keep healthy, and minimise your need to access healthcare in America.

    Mark Twain, that famous American writer wrote a travelogue called "Innocents Abroad".
    I like the threads you start on this forum. Keep up with the questions, wonders, and contrasts.
     
    Last edited: Oct 4, 2018
  3. HariLakhera

    HariLakhera Platinum IL'ite

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    For a person who has not worked and paid taxes in America for at least ten years, there is only way to take up an Insurance Policy and your son would know. The facilities mentioned in India are for Indians who have lived, worked and paid taxes there in one form or the other.
     
  4. troubledmom

    troubledmom Gold IL'ite

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    One of the basic things you must understand is that US is a capitalist society. The for profit motive permeates each and every one of it’s institutions. Every decision whether good or bad is take with this aim in mind - how to turn a profit for the investors - not the consumers nor the customers - but the investors. Sometimes this fact will work in your favor like more choices or cheaper things and sometimes not.
    Healthcare here is motivated by for profit concerns as well. Every aspect from docs to hospitals to Care to medicines. If you cannot afford they ask you to find someone to donate the money you need to pay on your behalf they call this philanthropy and tout it as very noble. But the physician or hospital will rarely if ever forego the fees due. Once you understand this basic fact completely a lot of things in this society will stop puzzling you so much.
     
  5. Sunshine04

    Sunshine04 Platinum IL'ite

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    It's TRUE no free care.
    In USA, if you come under the income limit, you can apply for Medicaid. It's an public insurance that would pay for your care
     
  6. Sunshine04

    Sunshine04 Platinum IL'ite

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  7. gopalan1937

    gopalan1937 Silver IL'ite

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    Let me thank you first for your immediate response as usual. thanks for your encouragement. It is but natural when you land here to compare my would be life here what I had back in India. As you mentioned i have started the race . Let me see how I run. Pray that I keep good health.
     
  8. gopalan1937

    gopalan1937 Silver IL'ite

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  9. gopalan1937

    gopalan1937 Silver IL'ite

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    I think you have hit the nail on the head. I am a professional medical man. Started my career with the teaching that health care is service to community and maintained that attitude throughout my career so far. To be frank, I was disappointed that health care in India too has been commercialized for several valid reasons. Thanks for your enlightening response.
     
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  10. gopalan1937

    gopalan1937 Silver IL'ite

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    In India poor people don't pay taxes. they have free electricity.. free rice and free education and free medical care ( even compicated surgeries) at government hospitals. Free bus travel to students to go to schools.
     

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