Type of US Medicine: Paid, Free, Insured, On Credit? Prices for Services and Payment Options
The US healthcare system is the best, but the worst, at the same time. Doctors are a well-paid occupation, but the quality of services is still falling.
Billions of dollars are spent on development annually, but the check is still too large-sized for a particular patient. No one since the middle of the last century has been able to solve the growing problems of the healthcare industry.
Is there free medicine in the USA?
The unequivocal answer is NO. And now we will give you a little explanation.
The patient and the doctor in the USA do not contact directly when making an appointment. There is no free medicine paid by social tax, in the full sense of the term. Buying health insurance is expensive, but it is even more expensive to be treated without it.
The US healthcare system is considered the most complex in the world, if only because the model is not similar to the European or any other. Most Americans cannot use the services of free doctors simply by appointment.
Insurance medicine: is it so convenient and effective?
Having bought insurance, an American guarantees himself a certain set of services. Insurance plans can be different.
- Platinum — the insurance company covers 90% of the costs, while your monthly contribution will be the maximum.
- Golden — compensation of 80% of expenses with a smaller monthly contribution.
- Silver — 70%.
- Bronze — 60%.
In addition, there is a “minimum” plan — it is for the healthy. Most often it is chosen by young people who rarely visit doctors. They spend a minimum, but they also receive compensation only for basic medical services.
Disabled and elderly people, as well as those who have proven their low income, get assistance for free — Medicare and Medicaid insurance programs are available for them. Theoretically, pregnant women, foster children under 26 and multi-child family can receive assistance in paying medical expenses.
Despite the impressive success of US healthcare and the health care system, millions of Americans cannot allow themselves many services because of the extraordinary increase in cost.
Very often, an employer buys insurance for an American, paying for it in whole or in part. It would seem that it is not bad. For the employer, this format is beneficial — it promises some tax reduction.
In addition, there is a tool to “bind” an employee to himself, especially if he is already over 35 years old, and the insurance plan also covers the treatment of his family members. You’ll think a hundred times before looking for a new working place.
The cost of medical services in Georgia, USA
There are no free medical services in Georgia, USA. Even emergency medical care requires payment. If you do not have an insurance policy, the costs will fall entirely on your shoulders.
Let’s see what the most popular medical services cost the residents of the state.
The spread of prices for some services is quite large, this is due to the difference in prices in different clinics, as well as the difference in price for variations of the same procedure (for example, a blood test can be both basic and complex).
Type of service | Rates |
General blood test | $4 — $83 |
X-ray | $51 — $320 |
Ultrasound | $155 — $721 |
MRI | $563 — $3,074 |
CT | $320 — $1,869 |
Appendectomy | $6,063 — $11,445 |
Tonsil removal | $2,935 — $6,189 |
Natural childbirth | $4,032 — $10,037 |
Therapist appointment | $42 — $170 |
Cardiologist appointment | $136 — $207 |
Medicine on credit – is the solution?
Everyone faces health problems. To explain the essence medicine on credit, we will take the state of Georgia. Payday loans in Georgia is the very optimal solution that allows you to immediately receive a large amount, and payments to stretch over time. Thus, the necessary treatment will be received on time, and your budgen won’t suffer very greatly.
The loan is usually taken out for dental treatment, surgery, expensive medical survey.
Payday loans belong to a kind of a consumer loan, therefore it does not require documentary confirmation of the loan purpose — no certificates and extracts from the medical card are needed. The remaining funds can be spent for other purposes — for example, to repay another debt or household expenses.
We have collected for you 10 most popular hospitals in the state of Georgia. Check out this list, maybe it will seem useful to you to find a way out of a difficult situation.
Top 10 GA clinics and healthcare institutions
Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, GA
1364 Clifton Rd NE Atlanta, GA 30322
Main: 404-712-2000; Appointments: 404-778-7777.
Emory St. Joseph’s Hospital, Atlanta
5665 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd Atlanta, GA 30342
Main: 678-843-7001.
Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, Atlanta
1968 Peachtree Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30309
Main: 404-605-5000.
Northside Hospital, Atlanta
1000 Johnson Ferry Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30342
Main: 404-845-5125.
Emory University Hospital Midtown, Atlanta
550 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
Main: 404-686-4411 · Appointments: 404-778-7777.
Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Gainesville
743 Spring St NE, Gainesville, GA 30501
Main: 770-219-9000.
WellStar Kennestone Hospital, Marietta
677 Church St, Marietta, GA 30060
Main: 770-793-5000.
Northside Hospital-Forsyth, Cumming
1200 Northside Forsyth Dr, Cumming, GA 30041
Main: 770-844-3200.
Gwinnett Medical Center, Lawrenceville
1000 Medical Center Blvd, Lawrenceville, GA 30046
Main: 678-312-1000.
University Hospital, Augusta
1350 Walton Way, Augusta, GA 30901
Main: 706-722-9011.
I bought insurance. Are medical services free now?
It all depends on the health insurance plan you choose. For example:
- HMO — the services provided are limited to specialists working under an HMO contract (emergency care is an exception). But you will also pay less for this insurance plan.
- PPO — more opportunities for big money. You use the services of any doctors and hospitals. And if the doctor has signed a contract with PPO, you can count on a discount.
- POS is an average tariff, but there is a definite feature. You can go to a specialist only after receiving a referral from a therapist.
- EPO — you apply only to those medical institutions that are included in the contract.
After buying a policy, you share the costs with the insurance company. As a rule, you pay about 20% of the service cost.
Most plans do not involve visits to dentists and eye care professional. There are other specialists not included in the insurance list, so you need to carefully study the contract.
Whether you go to the doctor or not, you will have to pay in any case. Monthly payment ranges from $150 to $500 per person. On average, a family with one child spends $1,000 a month.
Category: Medicine
Tags: finance, Georgia, health insurance, healthcare, healthcare system, insurance, payday loans