While this is an issue everywhere, America dials it up to 11 by making you deal with all sorts of overcomplicated nonsense.
Healthcare in the US:
Annual Prep: Open enrollment
Figure out what HMO, PPO and HDCP means, and what it means to you (which one is better depends on both your needs, your job, and also your spouse’s job, so good luck coasting on knowledge from last year)
Figure out what to do with HSA and/or the various FSAs, requires mapping out what you’re expecting to happen with your health, childcare and elderly care that year
If your chest hurts and you’re worried:
Go to the ER (not urgent care, they’ll forward you to the ER even if you seem fine)
Get lots of unnecessary care (like three EKGs, a chest X-ray and some blood work) before they conclude you’re just stressed from living in America
Receive five different bills several weeks later
Keep those in mind for another week or two until your health insurance sends their version of events
Receive the explanation of benefits, which does not match the bills
Call both the provider and your insurance a few times to figure out what’s going on, because of course you have to mediate between them (they don’t talk to each other)
After thinking about these bills every day for about three months, you can finally pay them and be done with it
Healthcare in Norway:
Annual Prep: None
If your chest hurts and you’re worried:
Get a same-day emergency appointment at your doctor or call an ambulance, depending on how worried you are
They listen to you with a stethoscope and maybe do an EKG, conclude you’re fine
You pay your copay on the way out, and never think about it again
After thinking about these bills every day for about three months, you can finally pay them and be done with it
Oh your not done with it. In almost all cases you’ll get another bill in 6 months to a year later that’s a mistake but you have to call to correct the error.
Right? It’s insanely well done. I’ve showed that video to my mom who’s worked in the health care/insurance industry for multiple decades, and she had no notes
While this is an issue everywhere, America dials it up to 11 by making you deal with all sorts of overcomplicated nonsense.
Healthcare in the US:
Healthcare in Norway:
Oh your not done with it. In almost all cases you’ll get another bill in 6 months to a year later that’s a mistake but you have to call to correct the error.
Here’s a thirty minute video for anyone struggling with those first couple bullets!
https://youtu.be/-wpHszfnJns
Oh, I knew it would be BDG. It’s fascinating how nicely he managed to put all that
Right? It’s insanely well done. I’ve showed that video to my mom who’s worked in the health care/insurance industry for multiple decades, and she had no notes
No thanks, i will continue to have zero Healthcare
In Germany you wouldn’t have to pay for any of it, you go to ER or call an ambulance, they help you, you’re done.