I am an American living in France on a long term visa. A year ago I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in Paris and was immediately admitted to the hospital, first dealing with the jaundice that was caused by the cancer, then began 6 rounds of chemotherapy.
A month after completing the last chemo, I was again admitted to the hospital for the 10 hour surgery to remove the cancer and remained hospitalized for 4 weeks for recovery. Then started the post surgery chemotherapy for another 6 rounds. All of this care included multiple CRT’s and MRI’s, blood tests, a private hospital room for a total of just under 6 months, food of course, a few ambulance services during an emergency, paid taxi rides back to my apartment after each visit, etc.
In the states before I left, I couldn’t afford insurance because I made just enough to not get free coverage but not enough to be able to pay for coverage, which meant I would be SOL and dead.
However, in my adopted country where I don’t work (I do get social security benefits from the states), everything was absolutely free, though they did ASK if I could pay for the private hospital room…at an ungodly rate of $20/day, which I gladly agreed to do.
It seems you, the person who asked the question, don’t care about your fellow human being and prefer to give millionaires your money…those same millionaires who are basically middle men making a profit off of others suffering…they provide nothing tangible and don’t provide any care for their profits.
I think you need to reevaluate your life before asking asinine questions and figure out just why it is you prefer some millionaires profits over another human being.
First, I wish to thank everyone who upvoted my answer and for all the mostly positive comments. I have received a few that had obviously biased, conservative responses that were not relevant and extremely racist.
I have deleted some of the ones that not only off topic but also factually incorrect and racist. I don’t tolerate racism in any way shape or form which is why I deleted some of them, especially E.A Vic and America first. I didn’t delete other conservative comments because at least they kept their answers civil and left open the possibility of a useful discussion.
I will continue to monitor the answers for such comments and will make decisions based on their actions. My answer is based on lived experiences and living in both the US and France. Thank you again.
I am a Canadian who used to travel regularly to the US in the winter time. On 10 February 2016, I tripped over a race sprinkler head in Tarpon Springs Florida. I was taken to the hospital in an ambulance and spent three hours at a hospital. The end result of my three hour stay wise that I received three stitches and a bill for $77,554.20.
Here are a few line items from the Bill.
SIMPLE REPAIR F/E/E/N/L/M 2,5 CM/< – $1547.56. This was the cost for the three stitches.
CT CERVICAL SPINE – $8,818.18. This was a cat scan.
CT HEAD/BRAIN – $8,496.32. Another cat scan.
CT MAXILLOFACIAL – $9,591.92. A third cat scan.
TRAUMA LEVEL II. – $36,516.80. This was essentially admission to the hospital.
There were 18 other line items.
Bottom line:
I was not out of pocket as I had travel insurance. The bill to the insurance company was discounted to $42,660.31 USD and my insurance company settled for $42,660.31 CAN which at the time was the equivalent of about$29,435 USD.
I am glad that you enjoy your system. You may even get to experience it first hand one day! Good luck.
So there you a prime example of the US health care system at work. What a scam!
