According to media investigations and reports, traveling abroad for medical treatment to enjoy internationalized healthcare services has become a new trend among China's wealthy class. What should you pay attention to when seeking medical care in the U.S.? Let's take a look at the four "unspoken rules" encountered by long-term immigrants when seeking medical care in the U.S.:
See a family doctor first; going directly to a hospital will result in being turned away.
In the U.S., those with health insurance must choose a family doctor, also known as a family physician. This family doctor is responsible for all medical and health issues for you and your family. When I first arrived in the U.S., there was a family doctor's clinic near the university. The brochure introduced that they treat everything from ear, nose, throat, heart disease, urology, gynecology, to arthritis. I thought to myself, Americans are really boastful, much like the "old traditional Chinese medicine practitioners" on utility poles in China who "cure all diseases." Later, I learned that family doctors really do know everything. American doctors can generally be divided into two categories: one is a specialist, who specializes in treating one particular organ or disease; the other is a general practitioner, who is uniquely trained to care for you as a whole person. Family doctors belong to the category of general practitioners.
American family doctors are self-employed and run independent clinics. In the U.S., it is stipulated that you must first see your own family doctor. Whether it is a headache, fever, back pain, insomnia, or loss of appetite, you must first go to the family doctor. Family doctors treat each organ, every disease, all ages, and both genders. General problems can usually be solved at the family doctor's office.
It sounds like China's "barefoot doctors" or health station doctors. However, American family doctors must obtain a medical degree, complete a 3-year residency in family medicine, and pass various rigorous examinations before they can practice medicine. Their level is sufficient to serve as a private health doctor for high-ranking officials in China. Family doctors are fully capable of solving various common medical and health problems. If the family doctor deems it necessary, they will refer you to a hospital to see a specialist. If you "act on your own" and go straight to a hospital or a specialist's clinic, you will be turned away.
In addition, even if the patient is very clear about which specialist they should see, they must be referred by a family doctor. Otherwise, the health insurance company will refuse to pay.
You must make an appointment every time you see a doctor.
People who work in U.S. government departments or formal companies know that you cannot make personal calls at work. However, making an appointment with a doctor is an exception. American family doctors see about a dozen patients a day. Therefore, you must make an appointment and must not be late. Usually, arrive ten minutes early because you still need to fill out some forms. The benefit of an appointment is to ensure that the doctor has enough time to carefully and seriously examine you, being kind and approachable, just like a friend or relative. Otherwise, if patients line up in long queues, the doctor may feel irritable and might dismiss you in a minute or two, saying "Next!". Appointments limit the number of patients a doctor sees each day, so the hospital cannot be "shoulder to shoulder" like a vegetable market. An appointment is like booking a taxi; it is guaranteed and has a seat. If you don't make an appointment for a bus, you might not be able to squeeze on, or you might squeeze into a sweat. The quality of service is absolutely different. The downside of an appointment is that you have to wait; three to five days or one or two weeks is normal. If it is a common cold, it can heal itself in a week. Therefore, if you feel something is wrong, you must make an appointment to see a doctor as early as possible. If you have a high fever in the middle of the night, a broken arm, a myocardial infarction, etc., of course, you don't need an appointment; you can be sent directly to the hospital emergency room by friends or family, or call 911.
See the doctor first, pay later.
Of course, when you see a doctor, the hospital has already registered some of your important information: name, address, health insurance company name, social security number, etc. You are treated first, and then the bill is mailed to you. This is the case for both hospitalization and emergency care. Especially in emergency situations, it is absolutely emergency treatment first. The U.S. federal law EMTALA stipulates: regardless of citizenship, legal status, or ability to pay, you must be diagnosed and treated first. About three or four weeks later, you will start to receive bills one after another. I say "one after another" because there is more than one bill. The doctor who treats you naturally has a bill. Lab tests, X-rays, CT scans, as long as there is an examination, there are bills, and doctors who did not directly treat you will also send you bills, such as the doctor who reads the films. There is also "rent"—the cost of using a hospital room or emergency room.
In addition, eating in the hospital also costs money. Adding it all up, thousands or even tens of thousands is very normal. For those with health insurance, the insurance company will pay the bulk, and you pay the small portion. Companies with good benefits will even pay the small portion for you. Those without insurance have to pay out of their own pockets.
Medical bills can be discounted or waived.
One way is through local government. The U.S. federal government has an official website called "answers.usa" that provides convenient services. It is easy to find "Help with Medical Bills" content, which lists introductions and links to many organizations.
For example: Every state has a "State Medicaid Office." "Medicaid" is government-provided health insurance used to help people who cannot afford medical care pay for some or all of their medical bills. Each state also has special State Children's Health Insurance Programs, which provide health insurance for children up to the age of 19.
The second way is through charitable organizations. Americans are fond of charity and donation. Charitable organizations help both in emergencies and with poverty. They are willing to help others and extend a helping hand to those who cannot afford to pay medical bills.
Of course, to go through the above two channels, you must have certain qualifications, that is, low income, and no savings in the bank, for example, only 2,000 U.S. dollars.
If you are not qualified, you have to pay the bill painfully. However, wait, there is another unspoken rule, which is very simple, and that is to bargain with the hospital. Call the hospital's billing department and say, "Give me a 50% discount, and I will pay immediately." Usually, it can be done. The discount range is about 50% to 30%, which is also an unspoken rule.
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