The immigration experts at WorldWay introduce that the United States has advanced medical equipment and technology, but it is essential to have health insurance to ensure you can receive necessary medical services. When living in the U.S., what should you do if you need to see a doctor, buy medication, be hospitalized, or experience an emergency?
What to do in case of an emergency in the U.S.?
In the U.S., if you experience a life-threatening emergency, you can call emergency services at 911 for an ambulance. Generally, upon arrival at the emergency department, a triage nurse will classify patients based on the severity of their condition before a doctor attends to them.
If there is no immediate threat to life, you can go to the hospital's emergency center on your own. Emergency services in the U.S. are not free; you need to bring your health insurance documentation or pay a deposit as required by the hospital. Patients with insurance may have their related costs covered by the insurance company.
If the situation is not extremely urgent, it is advisable not to visit the hospital's emergency center. This is because emergency care can be very expensive. Additionally, insurance companies will closely scrutinize whether your condition warranted the use of emergency services. If it does not meet the insurance company's criteria, they may refuse to reimburse your emergency expenses.
The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act of 1986 mandates that hospitals must treat patients with emergencies, regardless of their ability to pay for medical services or their legal status.
However, when hospitals determine whether a patient qualifies for protection under the "emergency law," it generally refers to life-threatening situations. If the hospital believes the patient does not fall into this critical category, they may refuse to admit the patient.
How to see a doctor in the U.S.?
In the U.S., more than half of doctors have their own private practices. These practices may be general or consist of several family doctors, or they may be specialized clinics (such as cardiology, endocrinology, or obstetrics and gynecology). Doctor's offices typically provide basic medical services, such as treatment for common illnesses, follow-up care, and family health care.
Most Americans have a designated primary care physician, and many health insurance companies require insured individuals to select a primary care doctor. Primary care physicians in the U.S. usually hold one or two specialty certifications, with the most common being internal medicine, pediatrics, family medicine, and obstetrics. Most people choose an internist or family practitioner as their primary care doctor.
When you feel unwell, you should first see your primary care doctor, usually a family doctor. The primary care doctor will assess your condition, conduct examinations, and prescribe medication. If your primary care doctor cannot address your issue, they will refer you to the appropriate specialist. Most doctors in the U.S. are affiliated with one or more hospitals or health insurance groups.
If a doctor believes a patient requires surgery or hospitalization, they will admit the patient to their affiliated hospital for inpatient treatment. You will need to make an appointment with the doctor for your visit. After your consultation, you may need to pay for the medical services upfront and then seek reimbursement from your insurance company. Therefore, it is essential to keep all receipts.
If you need to be hospitalized, it is best to confirm with your insurance company whether your hospitalization costs are reimbursable. If your purchased insurance covers hospitalization expenses, the insurance company will generally pay the related costs directly after admission, so you do not have to pay out of pocket.
In major cities in the U.S., you can generally find doctors who speak Chinese. You can look up doctor information in the local phone directory or ask your insurance company for information on Chinese-speaking doctors.
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