Anonymous wrote:I just had to reschedule a dentist appointment because I'd reached my max benefits for the year provided by my insurance - I had a filling a few months ago on top of the routine biannual exam and cleaning, and that put me over their $500 annual cap. One filling.

By my top-of-the-head estimate, I contribute at least $3000 p/year for health insurance, and I have to pay out of pocket for going over $500? That is not a good return on my investment - not even close. In fact, I would call it a scam.

I can't wait for the United States to grow the f*ck up and join the rest of the civilized world in providing publicly-funded health care for all of its citizens.

What happens if, as a visitor, you need a doctor in the UK?

Can you get free medical care under the National Health Service (NHS)?

The answer to this straightforward question is maybe, but probably not. It's complicated.

Residents of the UK and certain others, defined by complicated rules, have free access to some levels of medical services delivered by the NHS. The National Health List of those countries outside the EU with reciprocal healthcare agreements - and the limits of those agreements - is a short one. You may also need to pay an Immigration Health Service Surcharge (IHS) Certificate if you are applying to stay in the UK for more than six months. Check the exemptions from this surcharge here.

If you are a short term visitor, from outside the EU, just in the UK on vacation, you may have access to some of these services too. But rules put in place to prevent health tourism - arriving in the UK for free medical treatment - mean you'll still need travel health insurance and will usually have to pay for most non-emergency medical and dental services.

New Healthcare Surcharges for Students and Employees

At one time, students on long term courses - such as university courses - and employees of foreign companies working in the UK were covered by free NHS services. But new rules went into effect in April 2015 requiring the payment of a healthcare surcharge of £200 per year (£150 per year for students).
The surcharge is imposed when you apply for a student or work visa and must be paid in advance (to cover every year of your stay) with your application.
If you are student attending a 3-year university course, or an employee of a company on a multi-year assignment, the surcharge costs less than travel health insurance for the same period. Once the surcharge is paid, you'll be covered by the free NHS services in the same way as British subjects and permanent residents.

Emergency treatment is free

If you have an accident or need emergency medical treatment, you will receive that treatment free of charge, regardless of your nationality or place of residence as long as that emergency treatment is delivered at:
- a primary care facility or General Practitioner's office, known as a GP's Surgery
- a hospital emergency room, called Accident and Emergency (A&E) or Casualty in UK hospitals
- A walk-in center providing services similar to an emergency room.

That service only extends to the immediate emergency. Once you are admitted to a hospital - even for emergency surgery or further emergency treatment - you have to pay for your treatment and medicines. If you are asked to return for a clinic visit to follow up your emergency treatment, you will also have to pay for that. If the doctor prescribes medication, you'll have to pay the full retail price rather than the subsidized price paid by UK residents. And, if you run up charges of £1,000 and you or your insurance company fail to pay within the specified time, you could be denied a visa in the future.

https://www.tripsavvy.com/visitors-using-free-uk-medical-services-1662372

In Germany, it is a legal requirement to have some form of health coverage, whether public or private, and it is even a requirement when starting a job in Germany. …

•Does Germany have free public healthcare?

Yes, all Germans and legal residents of Germany are entitled to free “medically necessary” public healthcare, which is funded by social security contributions. However, citizens must still have either state or private health insurance, covering at least hospital and outpatient medical treatment and pregnancy.
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If you need a visa to come to Germany, or a residence permit to stay in the country, you usually have to show proof of healthcare coverage as well. Only if you have some sort of special status (e.g. when transferred to Germany for a limited period) is it sometimes possible to avoid signing up for health insurance in Germany.
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What if You Don’t Have Health Insurance?

Having no German health insurance means having to pay upfront for everything – unless it’s a serious emergency and if you’re an EU citizen. Most EU citizens will get reimbursed for such emergency treatments by reciprocal insurance coverage between Germany and their home countries. However, for nationals of other countries, it will depend on the insurance plan they have in their country of origin.
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Please consider that small private hospitals in Germany might not have an emergency room. When you arrive at a clinic for an emergency, you’ll normally receive treatment even if you do not carry proof of health insurance with you. However, if you do not have any health insurance at all, the treatment is going to be very expensive. If you decide against a German health insurance plan, check with your insurance company at home whether they will reimburse you for medical treatment at hospitals in Germany.
https://www.internations.org/go/moving-to-germany/healthcare

From the Rockies to the Red River, it’s springtime in Canada, and that means an influx of visitors from around the world. According to the Canadian Tourism Commission, Canada received over 17 million visitors in 2014, and each one was vulnerable to the costs of the Canadian health care system.

“Health care in Canada is expensive,” says Robin Ingle, Chairman of travel and health insurance group Ingle International. “There are common misconceptions about the Canadian health care system and what it will and won’t cover—a non-resident visitor can expect to pay up to $5,000 per day in a hospital and double that for the intensive care unit,” explains Ingle.

Ingle defines a visitor as anyone visiting from another country, new immigrants, and returning Canadians. All visitors within these categories require travel and health insurance while in Canada, and it is up to them to make appropriate arrangements prior to their departure.

Visitors need to know that foreign national insurance plans may not cover Canadian medical costs and most government health insurance plans in countries around the world will not cover accidents or medical emergencies incurred by their residents while travelling in Canada. Canadian provincial health insurance does not cover non-resident visitors, even if they are visiting family—uninsured visitors are expected to pay in full for medical bills incurred in Canada.

Just because you have provincial health care in Canada, does not mean it will never lapse. If you’ve been out of the country for a long period, you have to reapply for coverage when you return. The same process applies for new immigrants and international students studying in Canada. These groups are vulnerable to the high costs of Canadian health care during this wait period, which depending on the province, is at least 3 months.
https://blog.ingleinternational.com/canada-welcomes-visitors-but-not-their-health-bills-what-you-need-to-know-to-make-sure-your-visitors-are-insured/

Paying for healthcare services

You may be eligible for New Zealand's public healthcare system, for which the government pays most of the costs. If you are not eligible, make sure you have travel insurance that includes health cover.

If you are eligible, you could get free or subsidised health and disability services in New Zealand which include:
-subsidised primary healthcare services, eg doctor’s visits
-subsidies on prescribed medicines
-free public hospital services
-support services if you have disabilities.

If you are not eligible for government-funded healthcare, you can still use these services. However, you will usually need to pay for them. The government strongly recommends you get comprehensive travel insurance with health cover if you are not eligible for subsidised healthcare.

If you are injured while you are in New Zealand, the Accident Compensation Scheme (ACC) usually covers most costs for treatment and rehabilitation for residents as well as visitors. The ACC website has details on what is covered.
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Who is eligible for subsidised healthcare

You may be eligible for subsidised healthcare if you are:
-a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident or resident (exceptions apply if you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident - check the Ministry of Health website)
-a work visa holder who is allowed to work here for 2 years or more
-the holder of a work visa that allows you to work here 2 years or more when combined with time you have spent in New Zealand just before getting your current work visa.

For example, you qualify if you had a visa that allowed you to be in New Zealand for one year, and you now have a work visa that allows you to stay another year.

-under 17 and your parent or guardian is eligible
an interim visa holder who was eligible immediately before you got the interim visa
-a refugee or protected person.
https://www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/living-in-nz/healthcare/paying-for-healthcare-services

Individual providers may chose to waive their fees (I did occasionally, for Americans when I worked in Canada), but that's at provider discretion. It's also not because you are covered by the universal coverage system. New Zealand is a little different, but you are paying into it if you are working there, and it is for emergency accident coverage-- and as I said previously, "generally."