Insurance in the USA

Insurance in the United States

In Washington, the Library of Congress has been organized for us an interesting and informative meeting with Jay Merchant - Adviser for International Affairs Coordination Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services Department of Health and Human Services United States. Mr. Merchant is responsible for the coordination of international relations Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. It is he who is the main intermediary between the major agencies and the international community. Since 1983, when Mr. Merchant took office, the Ministry of Health has established a permanent working contacts with many countries - EU members. In particular, he is working with colleagues in the Russian Federation.

     It was Jay Merchant and told us about the health insurance system in the United States, so that the information in the literal sense of the word "first-hand".

   To be treated in the U.S. "insanely expensive" health insurance system is not closed a significant group of people.

They can rely on the provision of emergency medical care, and as soon as the situation stabilizes them or discharged home, or they continue to be treated, paying for all, without exception, procedures, practices and medicines.

     What types of insurance exist in the U.S.?

     The first is private insurance. That is the person himself buys insurance and the members of his family too. Depending on its value can be expected to cover part of the treatment. That's part. Neither the insurance does not cover the treatment completely. In any case, when referring to the hospital to pay part of the cost of treatment. Just sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on the insurance. Why? Mr. Merchant said simply: "To appreciate and feel their responsibility. All, without exception."

   In addition there is private insurance by employers, but it is not compulsory health insurance, as we have. In the U.S., no one can force employers to insure their employees. Employers offer insurance at will as part of a benefits package to attract the most valuable employees.

   The government insures military personnel and their families.

   As part of health care reform has been proposed and implemented public health insurance programs: Medicare - the government insurance of persons older than 60 years, and Medicaid - insurance for the poor, which is carried out jointly by the federal and state governments.

     What can you get for these insurance programs?

     Under the program of Medicare (insurance for the elderly) can be expected to stay in the hospital hospitals, nursing facilities, nursing care at home, it is funded by deductions from the salaries of all employees in the amount of 1, 45% of earnings, and 1, 45% of the earnings per employee paid by the employer. Just seniors can count on visits to doctors primary observation, to specialists for outpatient hospital services. This is part of a 75% funded from general tax revenues to the U.S. Treasury and 25% of the contributions of each holder of an insurance policy, in 2013, then $ 102 a month (the pensioner is sent a check, he shall sign it, send to the Pension Fund and the Pension Fund of his pension transfers the money).

     The Medicaid benefits package is about the same, but the financing is carried out in another way: are jointly spending federal budget and the federal budget.

     What can I say.

It is hard to imagine how it is - to live without insurance. And people live, and a lot of people. They can not even get a free one aid that is constantly criticized us. How is it that they cost? And for how much you can buy insurance, it covers most of the costs? Later, in a museum in Reno, we talked to the boy's father, who was finishing treatment of nephroblastoma, and he told us that in order to cover a large part of the treatment of their child, he would have to have an insurance value of $ 1 million. Such insurance he had. Who helps these people? As it turned out, the same foundations: specially designed to help people with a particular disease charities by churches of various denominations, and so on. All are primarily associated with social services in the community and find out what help this family has already received, and then help pay for the medical bills if anyone else has not paid them.

     Yes, the U.S. high level of development of medicine, and all Americans can get vysokovalifitsirovannoe treatment, but sometimes it is necessary to prove that you can not pay for it. But, I must say that now in Congress introduced a bill that the government insure those citizens who do not have insurance and seriously ill, to still part of the payment covered. They hope that this bill will become law.

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