Question for non-US residents: do you have insurance in addition to your national health system?
If you do, why, and what does it cover?
Good Answers (8)
The health system is administered provincially. Extended health insurance is necessary as the Provincial plan covers, or partially covers, a limited selection of services (such as visiting a doctor for pain/illness/a few visits to a physio therapist). Coverage is not free as it is either paid for through income tax or billed to you up front by the health authority.
The provincial plan does not cover dental or vision, however there are exceptions for seniors and children.
Clarification added 2 months ago:
Reference Alberta
Arie V
Interim Manager, Owner, Arivé Management Services.
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Hi Joan,
The dutch healthcare insurance offers what you might call Universal Health. It offers worldwide coverage (to a maximum of the dutch tarifs).
There is no coverage for
- alternative medicine like acupuncture, chiropractitioner
- glasses and contactlenses
- plastic surgery when there is no medical necessity
- dental care for everybody older than 22 years
- some other less important care.
Extended healthcare insurance is offered for these, mainly in packages of coverage.
The only additonal coverage I have is one which covers
- vaccinations when traveling abroad
- ugrade the cost medical care abroad to the real cost.
Arie
Krishnaswami C
Ex banker, Financial advisor, education delivery and management
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There is no state sponsored health system, excepting to the fact that there are Government Sponsored hospitals which provide the medical care at reasonable cost or even at free of cost to underprivileged sector of the economy. Thus in india there is a good demand for health insurance , even though the system is in nascent stage.
Jane E
Personal Assistant
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yes, I have a general health policy for my family which covers private care should I wish to use structures not covered by public health policy. I also have invalidity / accident insurance in case of accidents that cause long term invalidity. Under the Italian system, these policies are not really necessary but i want the possibility of getting the best when I say so and not after a long waiting list.
My experience has been that a cut tendon in my left hand thumb brought me 15000 euros in invalidity payment (one time payment), the possibility of choosing the best obstetrician for the birth of my children, no waiting lists for non-urgent operations, exams.
I repeat, it is a plus and not a necessary expense. Overall cost for three approx 4000 euro/year.
Hi! In Portugal health insurances are not very popular basically because people are very suspicious of insurances in general. Besides, the health system is quite good and there some local associations that, for a very small fee per month you can go to private doctors for half the price.
Brian F
Owner, Rocky Point Software Inc.; Principal at Macrospect.com
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I'm in Canada, and yes, I have additional insurance, provided by my (and my wife's) employers. They cover dentistry, prescription medications, physiotherapy, a bunch of things like that. I would say that in general they are 'nice to have's, as opposed to being 'really important'; the chances of going broke over dentistry or prescriptions are very low (compared to hospitalization, for instance).
Yes, I have additional incurance provided by my company. However it is useless for me, because this incurance program covers only specified clinics.
While I am used to my own, and I am not going to change it, so I am paying for doctors on my own.
In the UK we have a fairly comprehensive health system but I also have private cover. The reason is that for emergency situations, the National Health Service is excellent but for non-emergency situations waiting lists ca be a bit lengthy or you dont get given sufficient time to recover in a hospital bed.
A Classic example in the UK is the hip repalcements. You can wait for months and months to get this done via the NHS or a few weeks if done privately.
Private cover tends ot cover most things and typically has a financial limit on the value of the care you receive, eg surgeons fees, drugs etc.
More Answers (1)
Hello Joan, I represent several short term international health plans. my clients keep their current country's insurance but will purchase a short term plan to cover while they are here or are traveling. I also provide policies to those people that travel overseas on business, vacations and student exchange programs.
