I love going to the chiropractor in Japan. He usually starts me off with about five minutes on a massage bed. Then, he briefly massages my upper body to help me relax before finally "adjusting" my neck and back. And if I'm in need of extra care, I can also have other treatments such as acupuncture and electrotherapy. All for a whopping 500 yen! You gotta love Japan.
Jeremy Berg
Miyazaki-ken
California
Showing posts with label health care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health care. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Punitive system of no Medicare coverage for citizens abroad bad economic policy
As US citizens who have worked and lived many years abroad, our greatest problem related to health care is the total lack of any overseas Medicare coverage following our retirement.
Even though we paid for Medicare coverage all the years of our employment, there is no coverage provided for those living outside the US. This puts us at a great disadvantage as well as in danger of not being able to afford necessary treatment, especially in the case of health emergencies. There is also the additional cost of returning to the US for treatment or going without adequate coverage for health care while abroad.
In order to have coverage for Medicare Part B, etc,.there are mandatory reductions from our Social Security. And even though we are paying these amounts on top of what was deducted from our salaries over the years, no coverage is provided unless we are able to return to the US for such treatment.
In most, if not all cases, the costs of equivalent health services are less overseas than in the US. This is another reason why the punitive system of not providing Medicare coverage for US citizens abroad is a poor choice in terms of economic policy.
Please put this issue at the forefront in seeking improvement to the health care of US citizens residing abroad.
Sincerely,
George W. Gish, Jr.
Tokyo, Japan
Illinois
Even though we paid for Medicare coverage all the years of our employment, there is no coverage provided for those living outside the US. This puts us at a great disadvantage as well as in danger of not being able to afford necessary treatment, especially in the case of health emergencies. There is also the additional cost of returning to the US for treatment or going without adequate coverage for health care while abroad.
In order to have coverage for Medicare Part B, etc,.there are mandatory reductions from our Social Security. And even though we are paying these amounts on top of what was deducted from our salaries over the years, no coverage is provided unless we are able to return to the US for such treatment.
In most, if not all cases, the costs of equivalent health services are less overseas than in the US. This is another reason why the punitive system of not providing Medicare coverage for US citizens abroad is a poor choice in terms of economic policy.
Please put this issue at the forefront in seeking improvement to the health care of US citizens residing abroad.
Sincerely,
George W. Gish, Jr.
Tokyo, Japan
Illinois
I can go to any dentist of my choice
I currently live in Tokyo, Japan. I am a citizen born abroad--born in Japan. I lived in the States for 15 years, but my family stayed in Japan.
When I was in nursing school about 7 years ago, my tooth started hurting.
I had dental insurance, but when I called to make an appointment, not one dentist in the area would accept my insurance. They all said that my insurance "never paid" so they stopped accepting it.
After calling over 20 dentists, I finally gave up and got seen, self-pay. I was told that I needed to see a specialist to get a root canal. However, again, no one would take my insurance, and I could not afford the $1000 + that the procedure would cost. If I need a crown placed, I would have to pay much more.
The dentist told me that the only other option I had was to go to the Emergency Room where my tooth would be pulled.
I was in my 20s! I REFUSED to get my tooth pulled! All I needed was a root canal!
So what did I do?
I saved up my student loan money, waited for 4 months until Christmas break and flew back to Japan where my family lived--and where I still was covered under the National Health Insurance.
The morning after I arrived in Japan, I went to a dentist and got a root canal. Just like that. I think it cost me, mmm, like $30.
My tooth was in such bad shape--my face was swollen, I couldn't chew because my gums were so swollen that it lifted up my infected tooth, and I was in so much pain. My dentist told me that if I had waited just a little longer, the infection would have spread to my bone--a very dangerous situation. He couldn't believe or understand why I was unable to get care.
The airfare cost about $800. The root canal cost about $30. So, it was CHEAPER for me to fly for 17 hours over the Pacific to the other side of the planet, than to walk down the street to a dentist in my neighborhood in the US, to get a simple root canal.
Plus, I got to see my family and friends and enjoy good sushi as well. What a bargain ;)
Oh, and now that I LIVE in Japan and don't have to take a plane to see a dentist, I only have to pay $30. And, I can go to any dentist of my choice. Whenever I want.
Mina
Tokyo
Arizona
When I was in nursing school about 7 years ago, my tooth started hurting.
I had dental insurance, but when I called to make an appointment, not one dentist in the area would accept my insurance. They all said that my insurance "never paid" so they stopped accepting it.
After calling over 20 dentists, I finally gave up and got seen, self-pay. I was told that I needed to see a specialist to get a root canal. However, again, no one would take my insurance, and I could not afford the $1000 + that the procedure would cost. If I need a crown placed, I would have to pay much more.
The dentist told me that the only other option I had was to go to the Emergency Room where my tooth would be pulled.
I was in my 20s! I REFUSED to get my tooth pulled! All I needed was a root canal!
So what did I do?
I saved up my student loan money, waited for 4 months until Christmas break and flew back to Japan where my family lived--and where I still was covered under the National Health Insurance.
The morning after I arrived in Japan, I went to a dentist and got a root canal. Just like that. I think it cost me, mmm, like $30.
My tooth was in such bad shape--my face was swollen, I couldn't chew because my gums were so swollen that it lifted up my infected tooth, and I was in so much pain. My dentist told me that if I had waited just a little longer, the infection would have spread to my bone--a very dangerous situation. He couldn't believe or understand why I was unable to get care.
The airfare cost about $800. The root canal cost about $30. So, it was CHEAPER for me to fly for 17 hours over the Pacific to the other side of the planet, than to walk down the street to a dentist in my neighborhood in the US, to get a simple root canal.
Plus, I got to see my family and friends and enjoy good sushi as well. What a bargain ;)
Oh, and now that I LIVE in Japan and don't have to take a plane to see a dentist, I only have to pay $30. And, I can go to any dentist of my choice. Whenever I want.
Mina
Tokyo
Arizona
Saturday, March 14, 2009
I am thankful to live in a place with national single-payer health insurance
On Saturday I noticed that my husband's face looked strange - one side was droopy. Since he had been injured in a car accident at the end of the year and has been suffering from whiplash, we thought it was related.
He had lost feeling by Monday morning, so he went to the general practioner who serves as our family doctor at 9:30 a.m.
No appointment necessary, waiting time 15 minutes, cost out of pocket (30% of total) $11
The doctor told him to get to a general hospital immediately and wrote a letter of introduction.
I accompanied my husband to the osteopathic doctor who is treating him for the whiplash.
No appointment necessary, waiting time 25 minutes, cost out of pocket would have been $5.70 (cost was charged to insurance company of person who caused car accident.)
This doctor concurred with the other doctor and told my husband to go to the nearby university hospital.
The university hospital is a 5-minute drive from our home. The lobby was overflowing with people waiting for outpatient care. It was my husband's first visit to that hospital, so he had to register.
Wait time to register: 20 minutes
We were sent upstairs to the dermatology department. Here the wait was longer, about 40 minutes to see a nurse who took down the medical report. We were told that it would be quite a long wait to see the doctor. However, we overheard another nurse who had picked up a phone to say that there would be a patient for immediate admission and guessed that it was my husband. I left to handle matters at the business we run together.
My husband was seen by a doctor at 1:45 p.m. The doctor diagnosed facial paralysis (probably Bell's palsy) and ordered immediate admittance for treatment. When I returned at 2:30 p.m., my husband had completed paperwork for admission and was being pushed in a wheelchair by a nurse to the dermatology ward.
Because he had requested a private room, he was asked to leave a deposit of $3000. This would not be necessary for a bed in the 6-8 person rooms. We have a private insurance policy which will cover the cost of the private room.
Because the treatment of facial paralysis involves the aggressive use of steriods which lower the immune system, my husband was told to expect a hospital stay of two to three weeks. He is on an IV drip 3 to 6 hours a day. He is not allowed out of the hospital ward because of the danger of infection from the lowered immunity.
In the meantime, he is being examined for underlying causes. A heart problem has been detected. At the moment he is being examined by four different departments at the hospital: the orthopedic department for the whiplash, the otolaryngology department for the facial paralysis, the cardiology department for the heart problem, and the internal medicine department for a weight problem. All test results and explanations are given by the doctor in the otolaryngology department whom he sees at least once a day. A nurse checks his vital signs several times a day. All his exams are scheduled ahead of time so he never waits more than 10 minutes for a test or consultation.
So far, tests include CTscan, MRI, full set of spine X-rays, several blood and urine tests, stress tests for heart, various ear and eye tests for causes of facial paralysis - just about every test possible for his condition. The main doctor usually disusses the results the same day as the exam.
We are on the national health insurance plan (kokumin kenko hoken) as a family. We pay the top rate for the premiums for our family of 5, approximately $6000 a year. We pay 30% of medical and prescription costs up to about $750 total in a month. Other than the cost for the private room, we will not pay more than approximately $750 plus a small charge for the hospital food for the calendar month. Also, we will be able to deduct medical costs over about $1500 from our total income for income tax purposes.
Of course, we have both checked medical information on the Internet in both Japanese and English about the various conditions and concerning the diagnoses and advice we have received so far. All information we have gathered matches up with the treatment my husband has received so far. My sister has also checked on information available in Thailand. The biggest difference in treatment that we can detect is that the US relies on oral medication more while most of Asia relies on IV drip to adminster medication. Also, as far as I can tell, my husband would be treated as an outpatient in the US (and with the exhorbitant cost of hospital care in the US, that would be preferable.)
However, we are very glad that my husband is hospitalized because the amount of running around and time that would be required if he were an outpatient (not to mention the risk of exposure to infection) would play havoc with my work schedule as well. As it is, my college-age son has come home to help out during spring break.
Right now, our biggest concern is my husband's condition. We wonder how his health condition will affect our work and our family. The one major concern we don't have right now is how we will pay for the excellent care we are receiving.
If, God fobid, my husband is unable to continue work and has to close the business, I can enroll him and the children on the insurance plan that I will be on from April when I take a full-time job as a university professor. I will be enrolled in the private university and school plan, which, of course, is tied to the other government schemes.
The biggest drawback that I can see to the various national health insurance schemes here is that, without a private plan to pay for a private room, my husband would be in the 6 to 8-person ward. Those wards do look crowded. Otherwise, the treatment for the patients is all the same.
At times like this, I am particularly thankful to live in a place where national single-payer health insurance is available. I hope that, sometime in the near future, all my fellow Americans too are able to have access to medical care.
M. P. O.
Japan
California
He had lost feeling by Monday morning, so he went to the general practioner who serves as our family doctor at 9:30 a.m.
No appointment necessary, waiting time 15 minutes, cost out of pocket (30% of total) $11
The doctor told him to get to a general hospital immediately and wrote a letter of introduction.
I accompanied my husband to the osteopathic doctor who is treating him for the whiplash.
No appointment necessary, waiting time 25 minutes, cost out of pocket would have been $5.70 (cost was charged to insurance company of person who caused car accident.)
This doctor concurred with the other doctor and told my husband to go to the nearby university hospital.
The university hospital is a 5-minute drive from our home. The lobby was overflowing with people waiting for outpatient care. It was my husband's first visit to that hospital, so he had to register.
Wait time to register: 20 minutes
We were sent upstairs to the dermatology department. Here the wait was longer, about 40 minutes to see a nurse who took down the medical report. We were told that it would be quite a long wait to see the doctor. However, we overheard another nurse who had picked up a phone to say that there would be a patient for immediate admission and guessed that it was my husband. I left to handle matters at the business we run together.
My husband was seen by a doctor at 1:45 p.m. The doctor diagnosed facial paralysis (probably Bell's palsy) and ordered immediate admittance for treatment. When I returned at 2:30 p.m., my husband had completed paperwork for admission and was being pushed in a wheelchair by a nurse to the dermatology ward.
Because he had requested a private room, he was asked to leave a deposit of $3000. This would not be necessary for a bed in the 6-8 person rooms. We have a private insurance policy which will cover the cost of the private room.
Because the treatment of facial paralysis involves the aggressive use of steriods which lower the immune system, my husband was told to expect a hospital stay of two to three weeks. He is on an IV drip 3 to 6 hours a day. He is not allowed out of the hospital ward because of the danger of infection from the lowered immunity.
In the meantime, he is being examined for underlying causes. A heart problem has been detected. At the moment he is being examined by four different departments at the hospital: the orthopedic department for the whiplash, the otolaryngology department for the facial paralysis, the cardiology department for the heart problem, and the internal medicine department for a weight problem. All test results and explanations are given by the doctor in the otolaryngology department whom he sees at least once a day. A nurse checks his vital signs several times a day. All his exams are scheduled ahead of time so he never waits more than 10 minutes for a test or consultation.
So far, tests include CTscan, MRI, full set of spine X-rays, several blood and urine tests, stress tests for heart, various ear and eye tests for causes of facial paralysis - just about every test possible for his condition. The main doctor usually disusses the results the same day as the exam.
We are on the national health insurance plan (kokumin kenko hoken) as a family. We pay the top rate for the premiums for our family of 5, approximately $6000 a year. We pay 30% of medical and prescription costs up to about $750 total in a month. Other than the cost for the private room, we will not pay more than approximately $750 plus a small charge for the hospital food for the calendar month. Also, we will be able to deduct medical costs over about $1500 from our total income for income tax purposes.
Of course, we have both checked medical information on the Internet in both Japanese and English about the various conditions and concerning the diagnoses and advice we have received so far. All information we have gathered matches up with the treatment my husband has received so far. My sister has also checked on information available in Thailand. The biggest difference in treatment that we can detect is that the US relies on oral medication more while most of Asia relies on IV drip to adminster medication. Also, as far as I can tell, my husband would be treated as an outpatient in the US (and with the exhorbitant cost of hospital care in the US, that would be preferable.)
However, we are very glad that my husband is hospitalized because the amount of running around and time that would be required if he were an outpatient (not to mention the risk of exposure to infection) would play havoc with my work schedule as well. As it is, my college-age son has come home to help out during spring break.
Right now, our biggest concern is my husband's condition. We wonder how his health condition will affect our work and our family. The one major concern we don't have right now is how we will pay for the excellent care we are receiving.
If, God fobid, my husband is unable to continue work and has to close the business, I can enroll him and the children on the insurance plan that I will be on from April when I take a full-time job as a university professor. I will be enrolled in the private university and school plan, which, of course, is tied to the other government schemes.
The biggest drawback that I can see to the various national health insurance schemes here is that, without a private plan to pay for a private room, my husband would be in the 6 to 8-person ward. Those wards do look crowded. Otherwise, the treatment for the patients is all the same.
At times like this, I am particularly thankful to live in a place where national single-payer health insurance is available. I hope that, sometime in the near future, all my fellow Americans too are able to have access to medical care.
M. P. O.
Japan
California
It isn't perfect, but I recommend the Japanese system of health care
I have lived in Japan for nearly 20 years and have enjoyed the health system that they have for most people here. When I first started, it had a 10% deductible and that began changing about 10 years ago. It was increased to 20% and then to 30% and it has remained at this point for at least 5 years. As long it doesn't go above this, it should be OK. I believe that my Japanese Mother and Father-in-law have a 10% deductible.
This system works for most medical attention, including optometry as well as dentistry. It does not cover the cost of making glasses, and I have no experiences with dentures... However, it covers most medication that I have had to utilize.
Also something interesting is that some cities subsidize medication as well as doctor visits for children under certain ages. I know my daughter received certain vaccinations for free by the city of Sapporo. Also there are free checkups for children in Elementary schools which are contracted out to a physician who's practice is located near the school.
Hospitalization is also covered. I have had a couple of instances in which I needed tests to be run and was hospitalized. One time in a room with six other patients and another time in a private room. The private rooms in 2000 were only 8,000 yen a day (a little more than $80). Less than the price of a hotel room, so I opted for the private room rather than the six patient room. I do not know what the price was for that room, but the difference was so small than I could not fathom staying in the group room.
The good (or bad side) depending on how you look at it, is that here in Japan people go to many different doctors, perhaps a different one each time. I have always tried to pick my doctors and stay with them, however, many people do not do this. Up to now, this has probably allowed people to get multiple prescriptions for the same ailment unnecessarily. However, with the new electronic medical record system which will be mandatory soon here in Japan, this may be more easily controlled.
For the most part, I can say that the Japanese medical system has been very good. I hear other ex-pats here who claim that this is a very bad place to receive medical treatment. I agree that the Hygiene at some hospitals here in Japan is severely lacking. However, if one takes the time to carefully pick their hospitals and get referrals from medical care workers that they trust, then this system is quite a good one. I highly recommend the Japanese Medical System as long as it is properly managed "by the people, for the people".
I am not sure if this was of any help as I and my family are healthy for the most part, but I do endorse the Japanese model.
If you have specific questions, feel free to contact me.
Very Sincerely Yours,
Brian Dishman
Japan
This system works for most medical attention, including optometry as well as dentistry. It does not cover the cost of making glasses, and I have no experiences with dentures... However, it covers most medication that I have had to utilize.
Also something interesting is that some cities subsidize medication as well as doctor visits for children under certain ages. I know my daughter received certain vaccinations for free by the city of Sapporo. Also there are free checkups for children in Elementary schools which are contracted out to a physician who's practice is located near the school.
Hospitalization is also covered. I have had a couple of instances in which I needed tests to be run and was hospitalized. One time in a room with six other patients and another time in a private room. The private rooms in 2000 were only 8,000 yen a day (a little more than $80). Less than the price of a hotel room, so I opted for the private room rather than the six patient room. I do not know what the price was for that room, but the difference was so small than I could not fathom staying in the group room.
The good (or bad side) depending on how you look at it, is that here in Japan people go to many different doctors, perhaps a different one each time. I have always tried to pick my doctors and stay with them, however, many people do not do this. Up to now, this has probably allowed people to get multiple prescriptions for the same ailment unnecessarily. However, with the new electronic medical record system which will be mandatory soon here in Japan, this may be more easily controlled.
For the most part, I can say that the Japanese medical system has been very good. I hear other ex-pats here who claim that this is a very bad place to receive medical treatment. I agree that the Hygiene at some hospitals here in Japan is severely lacking. However, if one takes the time to carefully pick their hospitals and get referrals from medical care workers that they trust, then this system is quite a good one. I highly recommend the Japanese Medical System as long as it is properly managed "by the people, for the people".
I am not sure if this was of any help as I and my family are healthy for the most part, but I do endorse the Japanese model.
If you have specific questions, feel free to contact me.
Very Sincerely Yours,
Brian Dishman
Japan
Thursday, March 12, 2009
The Japanese system is easy to use and transparent
Eye infection
I was on vacation last summer and left my contact lense in a little bit too long. My eye became red and stayed pretty red even after the lense had been removed for a couple of days.
When I returned to Japan, the redness persisted so I decided to visit an eye specialist. Japan's Universal Health Care system allows participants to go to any doctor at any clinic/hospital, many of which are private; there are no 'health care networks' here like there are in the US. You simply go where ever you'd like to go (freedom!). In my case, it was an eye clinic 2 minutes' walk from my office.
I presented my health care card (monthly premiums are deducted directly from my pay in the same manner as social security in the US) to the receptionist and was seen by the doctor after a 20 minute wait.
The doctor gave me an eye exam and two different types of eyedrop medication. The cost for the visit & medication was $20. The entire ordeal took less than an hour and my eye returned to normal about 4 days later.
I like the Japanese system a lot. It's easy-to-use and transparent. As both a user & business person, I find it highly affordable and hassle-free. I would recommend a similar system to anyone.
Mike Stensrud
Tokyo (via Oregon)
I was on vacation last summer and left my contact lense in a little bit too long. My eye became red and stayed pretty red even after the lense had been removed for a couple of days.
When I returned to Japan, the redness persisted so I decided to visit an eye specialist. Japan's Universal Health Care system allows participants to go to any doctor at any clinic/hospital, many of which are private; there are no 'health care networks' here like there are in the US. You simply go where ever you'd like to go (freedom!). In my case, it was an eye clinic 2 minutes' walk from my office.
I presented my health care card (monthly premiums are deducted directly from my pay in the same manner as social security in the US) to the receptionist and was seen by the doctor after a 20 minute wait.
The doctor gave me an eye exam and two different types of eyedrop medication. The cost for the visit & medication was $20. The entire ordeal took less than an hour and my eye returned to normal about 4 days later.
I like the Japanese system a lot. It's easy-to-use and transparent. As both a user & business person, I find it highly affordable and hassle-free. I would recommend a similar system to anyone.
Mike Stensrud
Tokyo (via Oregon)
Many countries, many health care systems
I think it is an unfortunate situation that there are many people in
the United States who do not have adequate health care coverage, and I
think many other countries I have lived in do much better in this
regard...
In Austria, for more than 3 decades, I was covered by state health
insurance, which was quite complete coverage, and the system seems to
work well. You could have supplementary health insurance in
addition, but it did not really seem necessary. When I had
appendicitis in Austria in 1981, the hospital dealt with it well, and
I didn't have to pay anything at all - it was covered by state health
insurance, and almost nothing in the way of paperwork either..
In Japan the state health insurance provides basic health care
whenever I have a visa to stay in Japan for a year or more. But,
there may be some "loopholes" - it may be better to have some
supplementary - and I have not always found a solution that I am
really satisfied with. Short-term OK, but long-term still not really solved for me.
In the Netherlands, where I lived for 3 years, I didn't understand the
situation very well really, but I think it was better than in the US,
even now. Since they thought I was "well-paid", my employer said I
should buy into "private health insurance", required, which was
considered "adequate", I suppose.
Jimmy Macnaughton
Dates: I have not resided in the US since 1971.
Netherlands: 1971-1974
Austria: since 1974 except for time living in Japan
Japan:
1981
1990-1992
2001-2004 1/2 time in Japan
up to end of 2004, no problem with state health insurance in Austria
2005- present 9 months a year in Japan...
the United States who do not have adequate health care coverage, and I
think many other countries I have lived in do much better in this
regard...
In Austria, for more than 3 decades, I was covered by state health
insurance, which was quite complete coverage, and the system seems to
work well. You could have supplementary health insurance in
addition, but it did not really seem necessary. When I had
appendicitis in Austria in 1981, the hospital dealt with it well, and
I didn't have to pay anything at all - it was covered by state health
insurance, and almost nothing in the way of paperwork either..
In Japan the state health insurance provides basic health care
whenever I have a visa to stay in Japan for a year or more. But,
there may be some "loopholes" - it may be better to have some
supplementary - and I have not always found a solution that I am
really satisfied with. Short-term OK, but long-term still not really solved for me.
In the Netherlands, where I lived for 3 years, I didn't understand the
situation very well really, but I think it was better than in the US,
even now. Since they thought I was "well-paid", my employer said I
should buy into "private health insurance", required, which was
considered "adequate", I suppose.
Jimmy Macnaughton
Dates: I have not resided in the US since 1971.
Netherlands: 1971-1974
Austria: since 1974 except for time living in Japan
Japan:
1981
1990-1992
2001-2004 1/2 time in Japan
up to end of 2004, no problem with state health insurance in Austria
2005- present 9 months a year in Japan...
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Long-term Hospital Stay in Spain
I had gotten a call from the daughter "M" of a fellow teacher, who I was helping while she was going to school, "K" is her apartment mate in this true story.
I got a phone call,"I don't know what to do, "K" is unconscious." "M" went to a neighbor and they called for an ambulance.
The next call from "M" was, "I am in the ambulance and we are on our way to Val D'Hebron Hospital." (In Barcelona) I left Sitges and was at the hospital within an hour and worked my way to the emergency room. There was "M" in utter shock and "K" was unconscious and being prepped to be moved to intensive care........
The doctors and nurses wheeled her up to intensive care and "M" and I waited about two hours before a doctor called us in to an office. She asked if we were relatives. We said no.....Fortunately "M" had grabbed "K's" purse. The doctor told us that "K" had suffered a sodium depletion and had aspirated her vomit and that her lungs had become totally infected......"You have to call "K's" mother immediately and get her here, we do not know if she will make it."
"M" and I phoned the mother from the hospital and explained the emergency, but did not mention the possibility that "K" might not make it. (To emphasize the emergency I told "Ks" mother, "I don't care how much you have to spend on the ticket, you have to get here.") I met "K's" mother at the airport the next morning and took her right to the hospital. "K" was on tubes and unconscious.
"K" was unconscious for at least three weeks and remained in intensive care for five weeks. She was then transferred to the General Hospital for a week when she suffered a pulmonary embulism and was put back into intensive care for a week and back to the general hospital for two more weeks.
When she was released, she was ambulanced back to the hospital several times for therapy.....
I was at the hospital every day of the first five weeks to help the mother and to translate with friends of "K"......
"K" Suffered from a sodium depletion, ARDS (Acute Respiratory Disorder Syndrome), Pulmonary Embulism........The only reason she survived was because she was a cross country runner and ran almost every day, she never smoked, and she never did drugs. She was well educated and is working on her PHD today.
She is a U.S. Citizen and was attending a university and working part time..........Tecnically she should not have been covered by the social security system here, but the University got that adjusted.
She was taking extensive amounts of drugs for a long time (Antibiotics, Anticoagulants etc.) She was monitored for about six months and eventually was released from hospital care with her "Alta". Once, after a trip to the U.S., she discovered a blood clot in her leg and learned that she had to inject herself with an anticoagulant prior to any flight...........
What was her bill at the end of all that ? "0" I believe the most she had to pay for any prescriptions after release from the hospital was 2 euros.........
In seven years of living in Spain, I have paid "0" towards my healthcare......I can join the social security system for 48 euros a month , approximately $68. However, even if I am not in the system and in an emergency, they will take care of me and worry about billing later......
Doctors are paid 42,000 to 46,000 Euros, about $54,000 to $59,000 a year (And probably work 20 hours a week for Spain) ........I have a friend who is a doctor. Since he is a capitalist, he has his own private clinic in two separate cities and makes about $125,000 a year total.
If I were President: I would make all licensed doctors participate in an annual national licensing program that they must serve 20 hours of service at a Nationalized Hospital......They would all receive $100,000 for that service.
What hospitals should be nationalized? County and state hospitals and private hospitals that are going out of business or not making it........Remember, Religious Hospitals get wicked tax breaks that private hospitals can not compete with.
Unless the United States takes the burden of healthcare off the American Businesses, Governmental bodies, school districts, wages can not be competitive with the rest of the world?
President Obama claims that, "We must impove the system we have." I disagree you must remove the system we have and build a new one......Yes, "We can rebuild America without greediness and corruption!"
Herbert Chersonsky
Spain
I got a phone call,"I don't know what to do, "K" is unconscious." "M" went to a neighbor and they called for an ambulance.
The next call from "M" was, "I am in the ambulance and we are on our way to Val D'Hebron Hospital." (In Barcelona) I left Sitges and was at the hospital within an hour and worked my way to the emergency room. There was "M" in utter shock and "K" was unconscious and being prepped to be moved to intensive care........
The doctors and nurses wheeled her up to intensive care and "M" and I waited about two hours before a doctor called us in to an office. She asked if we were relatives. We said no.....Fortunately "M" had grabbed "K's" purse. The doctor told us that "K" had suffered a sodium depletion and had aspirated her vomit and that her lungs had become totally infected......"You have to call "K's" mother immediately and get her here, we do not know if she will make it."
"M" and I phoned the mother from the hospital and explained the emergency, but did not mention the possibility that "K" might not make it. (To emphasize the emergency I told "Ks" mother, "I don't care how much you have to spend on the ticket, you have to get here.") I met "K's" mother at the airport the next morning and took her right to the hospital. "K" was on tubes and unconscious.
"K" was unconscious for at least three weeks and remained in intensive care for five weeks. She was then transferred to the General Hospital for a week when she suffered a pulmonary embulism and was put back into intensive care for a week and back to the general hospital for two more weeks.
When she was released, she was ambulanced back to the hospital several times for therapy.....
I was at the hospital every day of the first five weeks to help the mother and to translate with friends of "K"......
"K" Suffered from a sodium depletion, ARDS (Acute Respiratory Disorder Syndrome), Pulmonary Embulism........The only reason she survived was because she was a cross country runner and ran almost every day, she never smoked, and she never did drugs. She was well educated and is working on her PHD today.
She is a U.S. Citizen and was attending a university and working part time..........Tecnically she should not have been covered by the social security system here, but the University got that adjusted.
She was taking extensive amounts of drugs for a long time (Antibiotics, Anticoagulants etc.) She was monitored for about six months and eventually was released from hospital care with her "Alta". Once, after a trip to the U.S., she discovered a blood clot in her leg and learned that she had to inject herself with an anticoagulant prior to any flight...........
What was her bill at the end of all that ? "0" I believe the most she had to pay for any prescriptions after release from the hospital was 2 euros.........
In seven years of living in Spain, I have paid "0" towards my healthcare......I can join the social security system for 48 euros a month , approximately $68. However, even if I am not in the system and in an emergency, they will take care of me and worry about billing later......
Doctors are paid 42,000 to 46,000 Euros, about $54,000 to $59,000 a year (And probably work 20 hours a week for Spain) ........I have a friend who is a doctor. Since he is a capitalist, he has his own private clinic in two separate cities and makes about $125,000 a year total.
If I were President: I would make all licensed doctors participate in an annual national licensing program that they must serve 20 hours of service at a Nationalized Hospital......They would all receive $100,000 for that service.
What hospitals should be nationalized? County and state hospitals and private hospitals that are going out of business or not making it........Remember, Religious Hospitals get wicked tax breaks that private hospitals can not compete with.
Unless the United States takes the burden of healthcare off the American Businesses, Governmental bodies, school districts, wages can not be competitive with the rest of the world?
President Obama claims that, "We must impove the system we have." I disagree you must remove the system we have and build a new one......Yes, "We can rebuild America without greediness and corruption!"
Herbert Chersonsky
Spain
Thursday, February 5, 2009
I have No medical horror stories
I've been living in Japan for 33 years
3 of my four children were born here (the eldest child was born in Denmark -- that cost me $26.00)
Last year I had a 3-hour surgery and stayed in the hospital for 3 weeks.
I/my family have never had difficulty paying any medical bills.
I have NO medical horror stories to tell.
Karen
Japan
California
3 of my four children were born here (the eldest child was born in Denmark -- that cost me $26.00)
Last year I had a 3-hour surgery and stayed in the hospital for 3 weeks.
I/my family have never had difficulty paying any medical bills.
I have NO medical horror stories to tell.
Karen
Japan
California
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Socialized Medicine is Exciting!
In honor of Michael Moore's movie SICKO that's getting tremendous attention everywhere, I thought I'd share a personal experience of my own. I just got home from the most amazing experience, it's called..... (drumroll)... SOCIALIZED MEDICINE!!! It was so exciting.
About 2 weeks ago I slammed my knee running for the train (late as usual). The concrete step crashed into the middle of my kneecap, and I could barely bend it for 2 days. Although it improved, I was worried cuz it was still hurting sometimes. I didn't want it to heal weird, and start throbbing every time there was a rainstorm, or something like that. So I asked the lady at my foreign-students dormitory where I could get it checked out. She gave me a list of doctors in our neighborhood (about 15, all covering different specialties). We agreed I should go to the orthopedic surgeon; "no appointment is necessary, just show up" she said. I went at about 5 p.m. today on my bike.
Oh my goodness!!!!!! It was about the most divine customer-service experience of my LIFE! Dr. Maeda's office was a little drab, but functional and clean. Not luxurious-looking like hospitals in the U.S., with lots of fake plants and plaques with donors names. Just wood-panel walls and old magazines. I gave a written description of my problem to ease the language barrier, and after filling out one short form (basically contact info only) and handing over my government health insurance card, I took a seat.
SIDENOTE: Did you catch that part? GOVERNMENT HEALTH INSURANCE CARD!!! It is a cute blue affair that comes with a free plastic cover. I got it the week I arrived in Japan. Fresh off the boat, new immigrant, terrible Japanese. Still, I qualified for inclusion and was so happy to finally be fully insured I hugged and kissed the dude in the City Office, jumping up and down and yelling as he sweated in his polyester shirt. It was the best experience of my first month in Japan. But I hadn't had a chance to use the card until today...
So Dr. Maeda called for me from behind a door. Only wack thing about the office: the walls don't touch the ceiling! So I guess they don't care about patient privacy. Everyone can hear everything, so if you have something embarrassing I guess you write it down and slip the paper across the table, like a bank robber.
Anyways, I sat down and put my purse in the basket conveniently provided for this purpose. Dr. Maeda is a cheerful, tanned Japanese Santa Claus type. I wish I took a picture of him. He was laughing and practicing his English on me: "You run for train! Haha! Is dangerous! Don't you listen to warning in station? Haha!" After a few minutes of poking and prodding my knee, he said "We do x-ray now."
He took 2 x-rays and I waited another 5 minutes. Then he called me back into his office. "No break! Just contusion! Haha!! No jogging please!" He thoughtfully looked the word "contusion" up in his ancient dictionary while I was waiting. There was no interpreter but we got along ok with my so-so Japanese and his enthusiastic English.
He called the nurse to put a medicated stretchy patch thing over my whole knee, and cover it with a short white netting thing. Wrote a prescription for more of the disposable patches and sent me on my way with a laugh, saying in Japanese "If you were younger it would have healed faster! Haha, just kidding! Stop running for the train, ok? Haha!" I was glad to provide him with a source of hilarity for the afternoon, and stepped out of the office smiling. I sat back down on the bench to wait for the bill. I had been reassured "it won't be too much!" but I had no idea what to expect.
Soon the secretary called me up. "Forenbaum-san?" She returned my health insurance card, and gave me a new laminated one to use if I return to Dr. Maeda's. Then the bill: $13.24 (JY 1,610). That's it!! I'm on the "30% plan," which means the government pays the other 70% of the office visit. That includes 2 x-rays, meeting with the doctor, and getting one patch applied. No appointment, no waiting, excellent service, an immediate diagnosis, everyone's friendly. The whole affair took 30 minutes, out the door.
As for the prescription for the patches, those of us in from the medical hinterlands called the United States know that getting a prescription filled can be the most painful part of being sick. I remember as a kid waiting for hours in the Kaiser pharmacy, in a packed waiting room with screaming kids, dope fiends in rehab, people with rashes, and lots of coughing. As I started to leave Dr. Maeda's, I was grateful I could put off filling the non-emergency prescription for the knee patches. But the secretary told me: "There's a pharmacy just around the corner. Across from the 7-11. Take this there." I hopped on my bike. "Feel better!" she waved as I pulled away.
At said pharmacy, I walked in and handed the paper to dude. He took it in the back. 4 minutes later, emerged with my stuff. Grand total? $2.80 (JY 340). 2 weeks of treatment, silver plastic bag, my receipt. I'm dumbfounded, but the pharmacist is looking at me like I stole something. "Uhh, do you need anything else?" "Uh, I guess not..." Nutrition posters and bottles of Shiseido shampoo line the walls as I walk out.
Riding my bike home, I felt re-energized. Enthusiastic!! Healthy!! When did I last feel that way leaving the doctor's office... Maybe it was the warm reception I received (despite being a grammar-mangling foreigner) or maybe it was the unknown drugs in the stretchy patch thing. Or maybe it was the fact that my life wasn't interrupted by this minor injury, and society seems to agree that pro-active care for my knee is a pretty good idea. That's calming. I pedalled down the hill to do some grocery shopping. I'm not worried about my knee, or any other part of my health, and can focus on my work and life.
Nina Fallenbaum
Kanagawa, Japan
California
About 2 weeks ago I slammed my knee running for the train (late as usual). The concrete step crashed into the middle of my kneecap, and I could barely bend it for 2 days. Although it improved, I was worried cuz it was still hurting sometimes. I didn't want it to heal weird, and start throbbing every time there was a rainstorm, or something like that. So I asked the lady at my foreign-students dormitory where I could get it checked out. She gave me a list of doctors in our neighborhood (about 15, all covering different specialties). We agreed I should go to the orthopedic surgeon; "no appointment is necessary, just show up" she said. I went at about 5 p.m. today on my bike.
Oh my goodness!!!!!! It was about the most divine customer-service experience of my LIFE! Dr. Maeda's office was a little drab, but functional and clean. Not luxurious-looking like hospitals in the U.S., with lots of fake plants and plaques with donors names. Just wood-panel walls and old magazines. I gave a written description of my problem to ease the language barrier, and after filling out one short form (basically contact info only) and handing over my government health insurance card, I took a seat.
SIDENOTE: Did you catch that part? GOVERNMENT HEALTH INSURANCE CARD!!! It is a cute blue affair that comes with a free plastic cover. I got it the week I arrived in Japan. Fresh off the boat, new immigrant, terrible Japanese. Still, I qualified for inclusion and was so happy to finally be fully insured I hugged and kissed the dude in the City Office, jumping up and down and yelling as he sweated in his polyester shirt. It was the best experience of my first month in Japan. But I hadn't had a chance to use the card until today...
So Dr. Maeda called for me from behind a door. Only wack thing about the office: the walls don't touch the ceiling! So I guess they don't care about patient privacy. Everyone can hear everything, so if you have something embarrassing I guess you write it down and slip the paper across the table, like a bank robber.
Anyways, I sat down and put my purse in the basket conveniently provided for this purpose. Dr. Maeda is a cheerful, tanned Japanese Santa Claus type. I wish I took a picture of him. He was laughing and practicing his English on me: "You run for train! Haha! Is dangerous! Don't you listen to warning in station? Haha!" After a few minutes of poking and prodding my knee, he said "We do x-ray now."
He took 2 x-rays and I waited another 5 minutes. Then he called me back into his office. "No break! Just contusion! Haha!! No jogging please!" He thoughtfully looked the word "contusion" up in his ancient dictionary while I was waiting. There was no interpreter but we got along ok with my so-so Japanese and his enthusiastic English.
He called the nurse to put a medicated stretchy patch thing over my whole knee, and cover it with a short white netting thing. Wrote a prescription for more of the disposable patches and sent me on my way with a laugh, saying in Japanese "If you were younger it would have healed faster! Haha, just kidding! Stop running for the train, ok? Haha!" I was glad to provide him with a source of hilarity for the afternoon, and stepped out of the office smiling. I sat back down on the bench to wait for the bill. I had been reassured "it won't be too much!" but I had no idea what to expect.
Soon the secretary called me up. "Forenbaum-san?" She returned my health insurance card, and gave me a new laminated one to use if I return to Dr. Maeda's. Then the bill: $13.24 (JY 1,610). That's it!! I'm on the "30% plan," which means the government pays the other 70% of the office visit. That includes 2 x-rays, meeting with the doctor, and getting one patch applied. No appointment, no waiting, excellent service, an immediate diagnosis, everyone's friendly. The whole affair took 30 minutes, out the door.
As for the prescription for the patches, those of us in from the medical hinterlands called the United States know that getting a prescription filled can be the most painful part of being sick. I remember as a kid waiting for hours in the Kaiser pharmacy, in a packed waiting room with screaming kids, dope fiends in rehab, people with rashes, and lots of coughing. As I started to leave Dr. Maeda's, I was grateful I could put off filling the non-emergency prescription for the knee patches. But the secretary told me: "There's a pharmacy just around the corner. Across from the 7-11. Take this there." I hopped on my bike. "Feel better!" she waved as I pulled away.
At said pharmacy, I walked in and handed the paper to dude. He took it in the back. 4 minutes later, emerged with my stuff. Grand total? $2.80 (JY 340). 2 weeks of treatment, silver plastic bag, my receipt. I'm dumbfounded, but the pharmacist is looking at me like I stole something. "Uhh, do you need anything else?" "Uh, I guess not..." Nutrition posters and bottles of Shiseido shampoo line the walls as I walk out.
Riding my bike home, I felt re-energized. Enthusiastic!! Healthy!! When did I last feel that way leaving the doctor's office... Maybe it was the warm reception I received (despite being a grammar-mangling foreigner) or maybe it was the unknown drugs in the stretchy patch thing. Or maybe it was the fact that my life wasn't interrupted by this minor injury, and society seems to agree that pro-active care for my knee is a pretty good idea. That's calming. I pedalled down the hill to do some grocery shopping. I'm not worried about my knee, or any other part of my health, and can focus on my work and life.
Nina Fallenbaum
Kanagawa, Japan
California
Monday, July 21, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Autoimmune Disorder and German health care system
My parents who are from California and Tennessee came to live in Germany in 1971 to pursue their academic careers. Thus, my older sister and I were born and raised in Germany, but have only U.S. citizenship. At the time of my parents’ immigration my mother was already very ill with juvenile diabetes, slowly losing her eyesight. During my childhood she had almost a dozen eye surgeries which were all paid for by the universal health care system of Germany and helped maintain her eyesight a little longer. Sadly, also other aspects of my mother’s health declined over the years and she became dependent on nursing staff to come to her apartment several times a day to check her blood sugar levels for her. Although we had fights with our health insurance over the amount of care they would pay for, we were glad that we lived in Germany and were able to afford the care that was needed. When my mother was diagnosed with end-stage ovarian cancer in May 2003, she was so ill that she died in hospital within three weeks after diagnosis. As hard as it was for us to deal with losing our mother and making funeral arrangements etc. we can be grateful that she received excellent care at the university hospital and that we did not have to pay any bills related to her hospital stay.
Not only our mother was highly dependent on the German universal healthcare system, at the age of 20 I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder and spent several weeks in the university hospital in the city where I was attending university. A myriad of diagnostic tests was performed, and no one ever said that certain tests could not be done due to high cost, and I never had to pay more than the normal amount of health insurance and prescription fees. Unfortunately, due to this pre-existing condition even in Germany I could no longer buy life-insurance. Already at that time I realized that I would probably never be able to afford life in the U.S. given my health issues. No one expected what happened less than five years later. At the age of 25, I suffered a stroke to the brainstem and cerebellum which left me in intensive care and then in a wheelchair for weeks. My health insurance paid for 8 days on the stroke unit, 5 weeks in a university hospital neurology unit, transfer to and 9 weeks in a highly specialized neurology rehabilitation facility, another 7 weeks in an outpatient rehabilitation facility in my hometown, and finally 2 more years of physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. They never put a limit as to how long they would pay for it as long as the doctors said that the therapy was required. I was highly motivated and practised a lot, otherwise my rehabilitation would have taken much longer I’m sure.
In the year after my stroke I required major abdominal surgery and have had health problems ever since. However, due to the great rehabilitation program I went through after my stroke and the high-quality diagnostics and therapy I am getting for my continued health problems, I have been able to go back to working full-time, although in a different line of work. I am able to continue (and afford) my hobbies of riding horses and travelling and consider myself to have a high quality of life. From what I hear from friends and relatives who live in the U.S., I am quite certain that I would not be able to maintain this life standard there regarding the cost of doctor’s visits, medications etc. that I need every year.
Natalie
Germany
Kern County, California
Not only our mother was highly dependent on the German universal healthcare system, at the age of 20 I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder and spent several weeks in the university hospital in the city where I was attending university. A myriad of diagnostic tests was performed, and no one ever said that certain tests could not be done due to high cost, and I never had to pay more than the normal amount of health insurance and prescription fees. Unfortunately, due to this pre-existing condition even in Germany I could no longer buy life-insurance. Already at that time I realized that I would probably never be able to afford life in the U.S. given my health issues. No one expected what happened less than five years later. At the age of 25, I suffered a stroke to the brainstem and cerebellum which left me in intensive care and then in a wheelchair for weeks. My health insurance paid for 8 days on the stroke unit, 5 weeks in a university hospital neurology unit, transfer to and 9 weeks in a highly specialized neurology rehabilitation facility, another 7 weeks in an outpatient rehabilitation facility in my hometown, and finally 2 more years of physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. They never put a limit as to how long they would pay for it as long as the doctors said that the therapy was required. I was highly motivated and practised a lot, otherwise my rehabilitation would have taken much longer I’m sure.
In the year after my stroke I required major abdominal surgery and have had health problems ever since. However, due to the great rehabilitation program I went through after my stroke and the high-quality diagnostics and therapy I am getting for my continued health problems, I have been able to go back to working full-time, although in a different line of work. I am able to continue (and afford) my hobbies of riding horses and travelling and consider myself to have a high quality of life. From what I hear from friends and relatives who live in the U.S., I am quite certain that I would not be able to maintain this life standard there regarding the cost of doctor’s visits, medications etc. that I need every year.
Natalie
Germany
Kern County, California
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
National Health Care Paid for Premature twins
In 1999, my twins were born in a hospital in Japan, 14 weeks premature. My first thought, after I found out that they had been stabilized in the NICU, where basic costs were 80,000 yen per day, was that my husband and I would have to sell our house and that we would probably be forever in debt. As a native of a country without universal healthcare, this was the only outcome I could imagine.
Happily, national and supplemental insurance covered my twins' four and five month hospital stays. Japanese national insurance also covered my daughter's subsequent hospital stays (she was hospitalized at least ten times after she got out of the USA due to hermias, and respiratory infections which required stays in the very expensive ICU, HCU and CCU.)
Although I love my country, I believe that my family can not afford to live there. Without the Japanese national healthcare system, my family would have been rendered impoverished.
Suzanne Kamata
Japan
South Carolina
Happily, national and supplemental insurance covered my twins' four and five month hospital stays. Japanese national insurance also covered my daughter's subsequent hospital stays (she was hospitalized at least ten times after she got out of the USA due to hermias, and respiratory infections which required stays in the very expensive ICU, HCU and CCU.)
Although I love my country, I believe that my family can not afford to live there. Without the Japanese national healthcare system, my family would have been rendered impoverished.
Suzanne Kamata
Japan
South Carolina
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
National Health Care--No wait, easy sign up, cheap
In praise of universal coverage
The issue of health care is front and center these days due in large part to Michael Moore's new film. His documentary, "Sicko" shines a light on a dysfunctional health care system that does more to serve the interests of for-profit insurers than it does for the average American citizen. One of the most absurd features of the US for-profit health care system is denying someone access to treatment or a procedure based on a pre-existing condition.I recall trying to explain the concept of pre-existing condition to a friend from another country. This person could not fully grasp the concept as applied to health care because in his reality it did not exist - a reality where every citizen has access to high quality and affordable medical and dental care and would never be denied treatment based on past treatment, or a present medical condition - isn't that when people would most need care - to treat a present medical condition? Of course it is.
I am privileged to be able to share a view on this issue as a resident of a country that has an excellent universal heath care system, and thankfully NO pre-exisiting condition exclusions. In Japan, where I work and live, I am fully covered under a comprehensive universal coverage scheme through my city office. The process of enrolling was straightforward and painless. I presented myself at the city office, answered a few questions regarding visa status (I hold a work visa), last year's income in Japan (I had none as I had been in the US) and then I waited for a few minutes. The clerk came back with a new health insurance certificate for my family and informed me that I would receive my insurance premium invoice in a few weeks.
Sure enough, in a few weeks I received my insurance premium invoice in the mail. The annual premium was approximately $300.00 US dollars. I had to look again and confirm this with a Japanese friend - there was no mistake. I had the option of paying in ten installments or in a lump sum. At that premium I opted to take care of it all at once and viola, our health insurance was paid up for a year. Of course, our premiums were nominal due to not having any income to report in Japan for the previous year; this year they are higher but still much lower (around $230.00 per month for two people) than what I would pay for a private policy for my family in the US - another excellent feature of this plan is that the premium also includes long-term care insurance for adults over the age of 40.
There is nothing like the feeling of security that comes from knowing that when necessary, you and your family have access to affordable medical and dental treatment. Having been without such coverage in the US and having experienced the accompanying anxiety, I feel fortunate to be able to participate in a system that is, unfortunately, and sadly, out of reach for 47 million Americans, many of whom are children.
Gregory
Japan
Seattle, Washington
See the original post here
http://broaderview.blogspot.com/2007/07/in-praise-of-universal-coverage.html
Sunday, March 16, 2008
I'm over 70, so my costs are 10% of the total...
As a long-term American resident of Japan, I cannot praise the national health care system too highly. Though I have had the usual experiences of long waits and inexperienced young doctors at a large public hospital in Tokyo, the quality of care and inexpensive medicine and services I now receive is exemplary. At 71, I have the expected range of geriatric problems—osteo-arthritis in feet and hands, cranky knees, cataracts, prostate hyperplasia— plus Hepatitis C. Only the latter can be life threatening. The local public hospital in the small rural own where I live was limited in its ability (read unable) to treat the Hep C. After a nasty fall that injured a shoulder rotator cuff for which the local hospital rehab person was not able to cope, I was recommended to a private clinic in the next prefecture. The doctor there practices both Western and Oriental medicine, and he cured a friend's chronic lung condition almost overnight. His clinic is covered by the national health care. His intelligent and careful regimen for the Hep C has brought the viral count down almost to the point of defeating it, and that may still happen. Acupuncture is also available there under the health care system; this helps the arthritic pain greatly and probably slows the progress of the disease. The acupuncture also treated the pain and helped effect the use of the injured shoulder.
The rambling, anecdotal comment is to illustrate that one is able choose one's doctor in Japan and that the quality of medical treatment, if carefully chosen, can be excellent. Also, since I am over 70, my medical and medicine costs are only 10 percent, repeat 10 percent, of the total cost. For example, recently a CT scan cost me only ¥2,000 (roughly US$18). This quality of medical treatment and the low cost under the national health care system is one of the major reasons why I feel that a return to the US would be a disaster for me medically. I could not expect to find a doctor with the same intelligent application of two medical traditions and certainly could not afford the increasing cost of treatment, etc. as my body ages.
Kim Schuefftan
Gumma, Japan
The rambling, anecdotal comment is to illustrate that one is able choose one's doctor in Japan and that the quality of medical treatment, if carefully chosen, can be excellent. Also, since I am over 70, my medical and medicine costs are only 10 percent, repeat 10 percent, of the total cost. For example, recently a CT scan cost me only ¥2,000 (roughly US$18). This quality of medical treatment and the low cost under the national health care system is one of the major reasons why I feel that a return to the US would be a disaster for me medically. I could not expect to find a doctor with the same intelligent application of two medical traditions and certainly could not afford the increasing cost of treatment, etc. as my body ages.
Kim Schuefftan
Gumma, Japan
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Saturday, March 1, 2008
National Health Care--no reservations required
My experiences here in Japan are the same. Dental care is also included, which is an issue that also needs to be addressed in the U.S., where dental care is separate for some reason.
There are no reservations needed - just walk into any clinic near you. They are almost all private - not run by the government. So you have complete choice.
When I had bronchitis recently, I just asked a neighbor which doctor she recommended and walked right over.
Doug Lerner
Tokyo
There are no reservations needed - just walk into any clinic near you. They are almost all private - not run by the government. So you have complete choice.
When I had bronchitis recently, I just asked a neighbor which doctor she recommended and walked right over.
Doug Lerner
Tokyo
My coverage is more comprehensive and more transparent...
I also use the Japanese Universal Health Care system and love it. It's easy to use, I can go to any hospital/clinic I want (most are private), and it actually costs me less than what my friends pay in the US. Yet my coverage is more comprehensive, more transparent, and for the most part stress free. I also put my employees on it. It takes about 30 minutes to enroll them and then I never worry about it again. All I need to do is make sure there's enough $ to pay each month. It's dead easy.
Posted on YouTube by mikestky1
Posted on YouTube by mikestky1
The costs of health care are a fraction of what one pays in the US...
Even for those not on the Japanese National Health Care plan, the costs of health care in Japan are a fraction of what one pays in the US. One has to wonder why.
Costs for universal healthcare will, no doubt, rise here in Japan as the population rapidly ages. However, the system is still fair, equitable, and efficient.
I do hope things get straightened out in the US!
Posted on YouTube by Tokyopairodice
Costs for universal healthcare will, no doubt, rise here in Japan as the population rapidly ages. However, the system is still fair, equitable, and efficient.
I do hope things get straightened out in the US!
Posted on YouTube by Tokyopairodice
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