Hi. Palme School is here. We will discuss the type of health care in the United States and what options you have for getting health care if you are not a United States citizen.
- A bit of history.
- How does health care work in the United States today?
- What should I do in the event of an accident or emergency?
- The reading time is 7 minutes.
A little history
Before 50-х Insurance benefits and coverage of medical bills in the U.S. were more of a competitive advantage among employers, because during the war there was a law to control prices and benefits of the population. So companies that added health insurance to their unvarying wages were favored by workers.
Since the 60's, the government has adopted a number of reforms, under which insurance became not a luxury, but a mandatory attribute of any citizen.
Already in 70-х presidents and some ministers have talked about universal national insurance, and other ministers have proposed voluntary private insurance to counterbalance it. But no bill ever went far enough. And by 1979, only work accident insurance had been approved.
In the '90s. Clinton initiative and a number of initiatives after it went through dozens of debates but were never enacted due to domestic policy disputes. The controversy has been going on since the 1920s to the present day.
How does health care work in the United States today?
In 2024, the United States is the only developed country without a Universal Health Care System. This means that medical care is provided to the population through private insurance, which is partially financed by the state. And everything depends on the state, because the state administration in the USA is decentralized.
What do you need to know?
- Medicine in the USA predominantly expensive. A three-day hospital stay can cost 30000$.
- You should get health insuranceYou can do this through your employer in the United States or through a university if you are a student. You can do this through a U.S. employer or through a university if you are a student. You can also get insurance on your own through the state portal HealthCare.gov..
- Insurance is calculated on your income and unfortunately, rarely covers 100% medical accounts.
- Monthly premiums are cheaper than a one-time bill from the hospital for thousands of dollars if you never take out an insurance policy.
- Any medical care other than acute starts with the primary care physician. And this doctor is referring you to a subspecialist.
- In some states. There are clinics that will see you for free or at a minimal cost.but only in cases of acute need, not for routine check-ups. These clinics do not care about your income and migration status.
- Several federal programs Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) offer government insurance for the following groups:
- Green card holders
- Refugees and asylum seekers
- Coming from Cuba/Haiti
- Persons under humanitarian protection
- et al.
But for some groups, the waiting period goes up to 5 years.
What's happening in the states of New York, California and Florida?
Health care in New York State:
This state supports free healthcare for populations: migrants, low-income families, etc. Here. you can find out details of free or cheap insurance in Russian.
Health care in the state of California:
Here, the department is interested in making sure that every resident can get affordable health care.
The state of California is working on programs that will lower the cost of medical services.
And the state of California has also developed its own version of Medicaid - Medi-Cal. Free and low-cost insurance for groups of people like immigrants and low-income families, the entire list can be viewed on the website. The program is sponsored by the state.
Health care in the state of Florida:
Unfortunately, the situation is more complicated in Florida. In the 2010s, the local government invested 30% of its budget to treat citizens, which is about 18 billion $. But in 2013, the state refused MediCaid assistance, even though it would not have cost the state a dime.
Therefore, those living in the state of Florida can only obtain private insurance through an employer or on their own.
It is noteworthy that Florida - the second most uninsured state in the nation. Texas is in first place.
What should I do in the event of an accident or emergency?
А) Call in 911.
For burns, cuts, fractures, choking attacks, etc. A trained professional will explain what to do and send an ambulance to you. Remember, there is a fee for any service.
Б) Go to urgent care centers. for sprains, fever, or nausea. A number of clinics can provide services for free or at a reduced cost.
Take care of your health!
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