The United States does not have socialized medical care. If you have no health insurance coverage, you have to pay for health care out of your own finances at the time of service. This can run into many thousands of dollars for serious illnesses.
You buy health insurance for the same reason you buy other kinds of insurance: to protect yourself financially. With health insurance, you protect yourself and your family in case you need medical care that could be very expensive.
You cannot predict what your medical bills will be. In a good year, your costs may be low. But if you become ill, your bills could be very high. If you have health insurance, many of your costs are covered by a third-party payer, not by you. A third-party payer can be an insurance company or, in some cases, it can be your employer.
Many people in the United States are enrolled in some sort of managed care health insurance plan. This is an organized way of both providing services and paying for them. Different types of managed care plans work differently and include preferred provider organizations (PPOs), health maintenance organizations (HMOs), point-of-service (POS) plans and fee-for-service plans.
Individuals enrolled in health care plans pay a monthly or quarterly fee as insurance for the time when they will need medical attention. At the time when a service is provided, the health insurance organization pays part or all of the fee, minimizing the amount you have to pay at the time you receive the service.
The information presented here will help you choose a health insurance plan that is right for you. If you are married or single, have children or no children, this information will help you to find out how to choose a health insurance plan that best meets your needs and your financial circumstances. Definitions of the health insurance terms used are included in the section called Understanding Health Insurance Terms.
Understanding Health Insurance Terms
Coinsurance
The amount you are required to pay for medical care in a fee-for-service plan after you have met your deductible. The coinsurance rate is usually expressed as a percentage. For example, if the health insurance company pays 80 percent of the claim, you pay 20 percent.
Coordination of Benefits
A system to eliminate duplication of benefits when you are covered under more than one group plan. Benefits under the two plans usually are limited to no more than 100 percent of the claim.
Co-payment
Another way of sharing medical costs. You pay a flat fee every time you receive a medical service (for example, $5 for every visit to the doctor). The health insurance company pays the rest.
Covered Expenses
Most health insurance plans, whether they are fee-for-service, HMOs, or PPOs, do not pay for all services. Some may not pay for prescription drugs. Others may not pay for mental health care. Covered services are those medical procedures the insurer agrees to pay for. They are listed in the health insurance policy.
Customary Fee
Most health insurance plans will pay only what they call a reasonable and customary fee for a particular service. If your doctor charges $1,000 for a hernia repair while most doctors in your area charge only $600, you will be billed for the $400 difference. This is in addition to the deductible and coinsurance you would be expected to pay. To avoid this additional cost, ask your doctor to accept your health insurance company’s payment as full payment. Or shop around to find a doctor who will. Otherwise you will have to pay the rest yourself.
Deductible
The amount of money you must pay each year to cover your medical care expenses before your health insurance policy starts paying.
Exclusions
Specific conditions or circumstances for which the policy will not provide benefits.
HMO (Health Maintenance Organization)
Prepaid health plans. You pay a monthly premium and the HMO covers your doctors’ visits, hospital stays, emergency care, surgery, checkups, lab tests, x-rays, and therapy. You must use the doctors and hospitals designated by the HMO.
Managed Care
Ways to manage costs, use, and quality of the health care system. All HMOs and PPOs, and many fee-for-service plans, have managed care.
Maximum Out-of-Pocket Expenses
The most money you will be required pay a year for deductibles and coinsurance. It is a stated dollar amount set by the health insurance company, in addition to regular premiums.
Non-cancellable Policy
A policy that guarantees you can receive health insurance, as long as you pay the premium. It is also called a guaranteed renewable policy.
PPO (Preferred Provider Organization)
A combination of traditional fee-for-service and an HMO. When you use the doctors and hospitals that are part of the PPO, you can have a larger part of your medical bills covered. You can use other doctors, but at a higher cost.
Pre-existing Condition
A health problem that existed before the date your health insurance became effective.
Premium
The amount you or your employer pays in exchange for health insurance coverage. Primary Care Doctor
Usually your first contact for health care. This is often a family physician or internist, but some women use their gynecologist. A primary care doctor monitors your health and diagnoses and treats minor health problems, and refers you to specialists if another level of care is needed. In many health insurance plans, care by specialists is only paid for if your are referred by your primary care doctor. An HMO or a POS plan will provide you with a list of doctors from which you will choose your primary care doctor (usually a family physician, internists, obstetrician-gynecologist, or pedicatrician). This could mean you might have to choose a new primary care doctor if your current one does not belong to the plan. PPOs allow members to use primary care doctors outside the PPO network (at a higher cost). Indemnity plans allow any doctor to be used. Provider
Any person (doctor, nurse, dentist) or institution (hospital or clinic) that provides medical care.
Third-Party Payer
Any payer for health care services other than you. This can be an insurance company, an HMO, a PPO, or the Federal Government
Here this nice Video about health insurance
As President Bush threatens to veto crucial legislation that would provide millions of children with the health insurance that they need, Sen. Ted Kennedy speaks in front of the White House, urging citizens to take action.
Eh, do you really think that all the EU do is this?
And some people have ill-feelings towards the EU because of media writing false stories and trying to place the EU in a sinister light. Don’t belive the crap the media writes about the EU.
haha lucky people
Most of the time its for internal records but sometimes its used to check previous medical records.
I don't know why they will need proof of income it's really none of their business… I work @ dr.office and i never heard that!! we only be concern about patient's having their co-payment and correct insurance card. Called the doctor office and ask to speak to an office manger to what are their requirements?? Good Luck
They don't believe private insurance is the answer to all ills. Simply put, they are not currently experiencing any medical problems that their private insurer has denied coverage for, so they don't fully understand that millions of people WITH insurance go bankrupt in this nation every year. Ultimately, though, the real issue is, they don't care. That's your problem, your illness, and they don't have to deal with it. Until it is their problem and their illness, and their family on the line, they will continue not to care.
Hooray for Socialist Europe! May our Soviet European Motherland live and prosper, Comrades! Our Great Leader, Barroso, will show us the way to eternal life, happiness and prosperity in our great Union of Soviet-European Socialist Republics!
YES we need health insurance companies, and NO this is not how to bring the costs down. Under this logic, why would we need auto insurance? If you cause a wreck, you'll just have to pay the other party and pay to repair your car, or you'll just have to declare bankruptcy and walk. Why do we need life insurance? Save enough money while you're alive, or let your family become destitute after you're gone. After all, you're dead – what do you care?
Insurance is designed to prevent people from having to incur unforeseen expenses. Who PLANS to develop cancer, MS, diabetes, heart disease, Crone's disease? These can be VERY expensive. A 30-day supply of weekly Avonex injections (4 total) for MS is $6,000. That's $72,000 per year, or more than most individuals or families earn in that time. Does that mean that only the extremely wealthy "deserve" to survive catastrophic or chronic illnesses? And the rest of us will just die off? But then who will clean the toilets and make the meals for the wealthy?
Edit to add:
The reason we don't have insurance plans for "auto repair, Christmas, and college educations" is that Christmas and college educations are foreseeable expenses. Christmas comes at the same time every year; and if you have a child, you know that in 18 years, the child may be going to college. As for auto repair, while some of those expenses may be unforeseen, if you maintain your car regularly (i.e., routine services and oil chances), you can greatly reduce the chance of having "catastrophic" auto repair costs.
Insurance companies may be one of the wealthiest businesses going, but they provide a service that's valuable to most Americans. They have to weigh risk vs. benefit. While some people may never have to utilize the insurance they pay for, they know it IS there if they need it, and the premiums they pay go towards the benefits that may be paid towards another insured who does need it.
I would say no, unless your cat is old. Cat insurance is pretty cheap so you might think about what benefits it might provide, but cats usually just need to have shots and the cost of insurance may not get recouped over the life of the pet for the rare occasions that the cat is sick enough to need to go to the vet. The claim might also be difficult or time consuming to get paid for, check to see if your vet has an insurance partner that they work with to make it easier, usually you will be required to fax in all the signed documents to make a claim and you'll only get refunded for whatever isn't covered by an often high deductible. Vet insurance isn't going to make the vet trips cheaper by a large margin.
It might be a good idea for an older cat that may need tooth extractions, etc, that can be expensive. Make sure the plan covers a high percentage of costs on the services you expect you will need, and that the payments aren't going to be more expensive than if you just paid the vet directly.
Basically, do a cost-to-benefit analysis to see if it would be right for you.
The card isn’t working!
I have the European Health Insurance Card and I was skying last Winter in Austria. After I breaked my leg I hat to pay 500€ to the Doctor. With or without the Card. It makes no difference. Still work to do here.
Btw. I’m from Germany
You don't need insurance for that, you will just have to pay for all expenses out of pocket.
They should pay.
If you don't feel like you have a need for them, DON'T BUY THEM!! Don't let a salesperson "create a need" for you!!!
MOST people buy auto insurance because it's required by law. Most people buy HOME insurance because the lender requires it. Most people buy HEALTH insurance because uninsured medical costs can lead to bankruptcy and loss of all assets faster than anything else. And most people DON'T buy travel insurance. It's not a good deal.
This is what they spend our money on? No wonder people have such ill-feeling towards the EU.
I don't understand how you could be discontinued for medicaid for being 21. Do you mean you were taken off your parents medicaid when you became of age? because if that is the case then you should be able to apply for your own. If not you can check into using the health department, they charge according to your income, and in some cases it is completely free.
looks like NWO (New World Order) commercial to me!!!whats the prise? having our personal data given to a european data base? it is trying to make us believe that EU is better then state sovereignty and that is so dangerous people you need to WAKE UP!!!
I used the card in Greece and it worked…however..when telling my greek friends they were amazed and had no idea wtf this card is and how they can get it…the whole problem with things like these is that they are not uniformely communicated to us..however..in italy they told the population pretty well…still..in germany it replaces the health insurance card while in italy you now have the Italian health insurance card as well as the European one…the confusion couldnt be bigger…
EU is great… but wtf is this?
wtf whats up with that dumb cartoon
God the EU is to hippy sometimes
It doesn't matter what your grades are – just that you are enrolled for full time status.
I can see 2 scenarios happening here –
1) They just didn't get the info. When you sent it in, did you include something referencing you as a dependent on your mom's policy? If the document only had your name on it, they may not have been able to identify what policy it went with and thus weren't able to process it correctly. (Note to everyone – include the policy ID number and the name of the insured individual on ANY documents you send to your insurance company. It will be extremely helpful in making sure your document is processed correctly.)
2) Is the school you're attending accredited? Sometimes there's a clause that you have to be attending an accredited university, so if a person were attending a technical school, beauty school, etc. full time it wouldn't count.
I suspect in your case that #1 occurred, and you should be able to get this resolved on Monday.
Also, you can make the call yourself – anyone on a medical policy can make calls and discuss their own information, it doesn't only have to be the cardholder. (Sure, if you had never been on the policy at all, your mom would have to make the call. But you can call to discuss your own personal information, which includes full time student documentation.)
“I have the European Health Insurance Card and I was skying last Winter in Austria. After I breaked my leg I hat to pay 500€ to the Doctor. With or without the Card. It makes no difference. Still work to do here.”
No, no. Card works perfectly.
Just because you have card it doesnt mean the treatment is free everywhere! The card means you have same rights on same treatment as people in that country. Meaning if you are german, and broke a leg in austria you will get same treatment as austrians.
Most doctors in clinics or urgent care centers charge around $80-$100 for an office visit. That's in addition to any treatments they prescribe. You should first check if there's a Walgreen's or CVS with a retail clinic in your area. They are cheaper than a regular doctor's office and can handle simple problems like sore throats.
I don't think there really would be an affordable rate for some of us. I am disabled, can't work, have to see specialists all the time, can't get any assistance on medical bills, and barely make it every month on $ 800.00
per month. Where could it be affordable.
I would assume they would lower their prices, and would hope so. I can't get insurance anyway. The medical bills just stack up and maybe 5- 10.00 pr. month. I am 17.00 over the income limit for medical assistance in my state, how stupid can that be.
Those Dr's have went to college and much more for many years to get where they are and I believe they do deserve a good salary. But now a stay and surgery of some is over 100,000.00.and that is just the hospital and extras.
It is so complicated. I just wish we all could have some decent health care.
get public aid, the insurance sucks but it covers everything and you pay absolutely nothing
So probably in austria if you break a leg you must pay 500€ no matter whether you are austrian, german, italian etc.
Then if you were in Poland and broke your leg, then you will be treated as polish people, so maybe you won’t pay anything, or maybe 100€ etc – depends on rules in country you are skiing.
EU rocks big time. I bring my card everywhere.
in germany, they just added it to the back of each of the normal cards.
i didnt even realize, i mean, i considered it to be nothing more than a change in design, and found out that it has a function much later.
and… if some ppl for example dont have health insurance that actually pays for stuff that happens in different european nations, then those people obviously cannot get this european card thing. it connects structures that already exist, nothing more nothing less.
They’re at it again. Why can’t they make the videos more adult. It seems like they’re trying to brainwash kids with this propaganda.
Ameriplan is the biggest giant rip-off in the world.Go to ripoffreport.com and do a search for it and Jud Morris their top enroller!
Seriously, guys, leave cartoon making to Disney and go change the world!
part of the NWO (New World Order) agenda!!!
The EU needs to spend a bit of money on publicity. Barely anyone in Britain even knows about the EU emergency services number (112). Britain’s attitude is disgusting, most of my fellow countrymen regard our country as not a part of Europe and somehow superior.
no insurance is needed
A good independent agent is the best thing you can have and its FREE. The plan premiums are the same whether you work thru an agent of you buy direct. So whats so good about an agent? #1) All plans have good points and bad points. There are tradeoffs. I can assure you that the customer service dept of XYZ company is not going to go out of theirway to point these things out. For example one plan has unlimited $25 doctor copays…sound great but the fine print on page 13 says only for "family physicians. A good agent gets paid from all companies. He is free to work for you!! He/she understands the big picture with all the products. When you say maternity is important he know exactly what the issues are with all the plans and is not afraid to tell you.
No insurance will cover cosmetic procedures. The only time an insurance may pay for it is, if your front teeth have a a major defect. Then the procedure should be pre-approved by the insurance by sending a pre-determination and narrative to the insurance. The dental office would have to do that for you.
Tricare Prime is your medical coverage, United Concordia covers the dental portion. If you are active duty, you will not have United Concordia at this time.
Your insurance with cover repairs for YOUR car if someone wrecks into you but they do not have insurance. The purpose of the law is that everyone had car insurance, if someone hit your car, their insurance would have to pay and your insurance would not raise your principle. I am sure that if you read your insurance policy closely, it will say it only covers damage to other cars… unless you have a compehecive (sp?) policy in which case it will cover both cars.
Massachusetts is considering or has already passed a law requiring everyone to have health insurance.
Switzerland didn’t even join to EU. Fuck this shit!
It looks like a non easy cracking nut,looking around here http://www.InsuranceFreeTip.info/insurance-for-free.htm ,you may find something useful for you.
It seems to me that many countries want to claim being part of the european-union, but aren’t quite ready to let go of their old ways. The United States is having the same struggles, in every aspect; not just health care.
Take it from one who cannot get insurance because of a pre-existing condition(I cannot even get the supplemental). it sucks. I've had rheumatiod arthritis since I was 20. Only bothered me once in awhile. When my husband found a new job, his health insurance would not cover me at all for something that really doesn't bother me. My company does not offer health insurance anymore.
God help us if I do really get sick…….it will ruin us financially.
ok i am european. i love the helth insurance protecion we have.
but oh! the messages are so stupid in these ads. i can’t believe we are using taxpayers’ money to produce something as silly as this ad.
Actually, the only time the copays are so low for health insurance is when you're dealing with those high-dollar plans provided by a lot of employers. (At least those are the types of plans that were provided be employers in the past; that's changing significantly because of the cost involved.) Trust me, these are FAR from the "norm."
As for dental insurance, the fact is that there are nearly as many organized networks for dental providers as there are for medical providers (where belonging to as many networks as possible is the best way to ensure you keep new clients coming in to your practice.) Dental insurance, by comparison to what you pay for medical coverage (particularly of the variety you mention) is also CHEAP. And I don't know very many people who would pay triple the price for dental insurance so they could get the $10 copay. In the end, it's really that simple.
In fact this card covers your expenses up to the price for the treatment in question in the issuer country. For example if some medical procedure coasts 100€ in your country and it happens that you need it in another country where the price double, you will still have to pay the difference of 100€.
There’s still work to do in this direction…
You don't have to have health insurance to get a check-up.
Just like you said, car insurance doesn't pay for oil changes, but YOU have to pay for it, maybe $25.00. But if you get a complete check-up on your car, such as computer anaylsis, you may have to pay $150.00 – $600.00. The oil change and computer analysis on my car costs close to $600. I think you can get a physical check-up for less than that. If you don't have insurance, YOU have to pay for it.
Healthcare is very expensive. Here are some of the reasons:
Doctors and hospitals have to be insured with medical malpractice insurance. For a specialist, that coverage could cost as much or more than $100,000 per year. The hospitals medical malpractice insurance is greater than that; in the millions.
Doctors have to earn a good living just to pay the insurance, in addition to their living expenses, student loans, etc.
All the technical instruments that hospitals and doctors use are very expensive in this day and age of technology. Some are valued in the millions of dollars. Somebody has to pay for those.
Some medications are extremely expensive.
I'm a cancer patient. So far my medical bills are nearing $750,000. My chemo treatments are over $20,000 per month. Thank God for insurance.
Remember, this is not the 70's and 80's, so doctors and hospitals are not using 70's and 80's technology.
BTW, an oil change in the 70's was about $6.00.
UIM or underinsured motorist is for pain & suffering & lost wages & loss of daily function (stuff that health insurance does not pay) that happens to you when an at fault driver does not have enough liability insured to cover your injuries. Your medical insurance is fine but I am sure you have a deductible & copayments. Medical payments under a motorcycle policy usually does not & should be primary in an accident.
The UIM is totally different than health insurance. I wouldn't go anywhere without it. Some states require it, mine does.
Do not confuse this issue.
The emphasis is not on reducing health insurance cost. It is on maximizing insurance company Profits.
It has nothing to do with providing service, taking care of the clients or any other of the noble causes of health care.
It is simple. More money for the company and less for the health care community and you the customer.
The insurance companies pay about 35% of the charges the uninsured do. It has nothing to do with providing care it is what they are willing to pay and the hospitals take it.
Then in order to make up for those shortfalls from insurance and medicare the uninsured pay exorbitant charges and end up subsidizing the insurance companies.
If they were concerned in lowering the real cost of health care they would pay for preventive care. 10 years of diabetic treatment costs about $250,000 but a nutritional program which can prevent it costs about $5000 over that same period.
That cuts out, pharmaceuticals, insurance, blood glucose machines and the specialists.
As always the corporations have us convinced that this should be free market. There is nothing free about this market and the theory does not fit the system.
The future of health care for the greatest number will be social medicine like England and Canada. You will not get that from the conservative media. They have too many profits at stake to allow that to happen.
We have very good health coverage. My son went to a family clinic for what could have been considered an urgent issue.
This was not covered. Yet, had he gone to an urgent care center or ER it would have been covered ( if after the denial I could prove it was "urgent"). They refuse a claim of $86.00 but would pay a claim which would have been $1200.00.
Remember that $1200 would only be paid at $400 by the insurance company.
They are not interested in saving money this way. They are more interested in taking the premium, denying the claim, making you fight it and paying only when they are proven responsible within the terms of your policy that they must.
About 20% give up and pay it themselves.
This is how private insurance maximise profit.
If you buy the story that they are interested in helping the policyholders you are naive.
The hospitals cannot maintain thier non profit staus if they turn away the indigent. The insurance companies pay at a reduced rate. it is up to the general public to make up the difference.
By now one would think that the public would get wise to the fact that the banking and insurance industries are NOT in this for our benefit. The McCain free marrket plan WILL NOT work. These groups are in it to take and keep our money.
This is not a free market in any sense of the word.
We posses the greatest capability for care in the world which is focused on the smallest number. It is because of corporate greed.
Heath insurance is a business first – thier buiness only prospers when they make lots of money. Insurance companies only make money by taking in more money they dole out, which makes it good business for them to deny claims.
It depends upon the school and the salary. Many private schools pay quite a bit more than universities and don't provide all the benefits that a university will provide. Additionally, a school is NOT required to pay taxes for their foreign teachers . . . it's merely a common benefit provided by many schools. Some schools may decide that any tax payment must be borne by the employee and not the employer.
The tax law in China is fuzzy. They have set limits, but then they have tax-exempt income.
First, the tax table:
Table of Income Tax Rates in China for an Individual in 2009
Tax % Monthly Income (CNY)
5% 1 – 500
10% 501 – 2,000
15% 2,001 – 5,000
20% 5,001 – 20,000
25% 20,001 – 40,000
30% 40,001 – 60,000
35% 60,001 – 80,000
40% 80,001 – 100,000
45% 100,001 and above
http://www.worldwide-tax.com/china/china_tax.asp
With a 5,000 yuan per month salary, under this table, you would have to pay 15% tax or 750 yuan. HOWEVER, you have an exempt allowance:
* A standard monthly exemption of CNY 4,800 on income from a salary for a foreign resident, and CNY 2,000 for a Chinese resident.
This means your monthly taxable income would be a mere 200 yuan, of which 5% (25 yuan) would be taxable.
http://www.worldwide-tax.com/china/chi_exempt.asp
You could go down to the tax office to pay this, but it would create more trouble than it is worth! Additionally, there are deductions as well, so in light of that, you probably wouldn't owe anything.
I have paid taxes on income above and beyond my teacher's salary as I have additional income from published works. However, the publishing company usually takes the taxes from my salary, which makes things simple for me and my school as my school doesn't have to get involved.
I know this is a long answer, but it should give you the background.
Good luck.