US System

As an international student you may find that the health care system in the U.S. is quite different from the one in your country. This page attempts to help you understand some general characteristics of the U.S. Health Care System. This basic information may be of help to you as you make health-related decisions.

TYPES OF HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS

World-wide health care systems can be divided into two broad areas: (1) National or government-based health programs, and (2) Private or insurance-based health programs.

NATIONAL OR GOVERNMENT-BASED PROGRAMS

National or government-based health programs are those in which the government of a nation is the primary agent responsible for providing health services. Health care facilities such as health centers and hospitals are part of the governmental structure and are financed and supervised by governmental officials. In this type of health care system it is common that users do not pay, or pay a very small fee for medical services. Primary care services (e.g. immunizations, pap-smears, prenatal care, etc), secondary care services (e.g. hospitalizations, medical treatments, etc), and tertiary care (e.g. rehabilitation, chronic care, etc.) are financed through taxes and other forms of governmental financial systems.

Benefits of this type of system include the provision of care for everyone regardless of his/her ability to pay. Some people argue that a major problem of this system is related to the long waiting lists for receiving non-emergency services (e.g. elective surgery, such as plastic surgery) and the lack of mechanisms for quality control of the services rendered.

Countries such as Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Latin American countries have a national or government-based health program. (As of November 1997.)

PRIVATE OR INSURANCE-BASED HEALTH PROGRAMS

Private or insurance-based health programs are those in which the delivery of health services is based on a fee-for-services plan. In this type of health care system the user pays a monthly premium individually or through an employer, which guarantees the provision of health care when needed. This means that in order to receive medical services you are required to actively pay for the services you receive. Health insurance are plans in which you are required to pay a monthly or periodical fee so that when you need hospitalization or other specific types of care, you won't have to pay the total amount of the bill. The insurance company you have selected will be responsible for paying most of the bill. Often there is a deductible.

Benefits of this type of system include the provision of highly developed and technological medical care. Some researchers indicate that the major disadvantage of this type of system is that it assumes that the user is economically capable of paying for the insurance fee. There are several forms of pre-paid systems of health care; health insurance plans, HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations, PPOs (Preferred Provider Organizations), etc.

Countries such as South Africa and the United States have a private or insurance-based health program.

In some cases, you will find a combination of both, national and private health care systems.

GENERAL COMMENTS

In the U.S. there are various kinds of medical practitioners you can see during your first visit. Most commonly you will be seen by an M.D. (Medical Doctor), D.O. (Doctor in Osteopathy), a nurse practitioner, or a physician assistant.

M.D.s are the medical doctors who are trained in medicine, alleviate illness, and provide treatments. D.O.s are doctors who have a similar training to the M.D.s, but their emphasis is given to the practice of medicine from a holistic perspective. Nurse Practitioners are nurses who have received specialized training to provide preventive and curative services for specific areas of health (e.g. family practice, pediatrics, gynecology, etc.) Physician Assistants are medical personnel trained to provide treatment and care for primary health care ailments. M.D.s, D.O.s, Nurse Practitioners, and Physicians Assistants will be able to refer you to other types of doctors when you need specialized care.

Health care services in the U.S. tend to be expensive (e.g. a private room for hospital care in the City of Denton as of November 14, 1997, cost approximately $325 without insurance.) International students need to make sure to ask in advance for the price of the services received and to check if those services will be covered by the insurance company.

Most universities or colleges in the U.S. have a medical services department which you can access for preventive and curative services. This department may have different names such as "Student Health Center", "Health Services", "Medical Clinic", "Wellness Clinic", etc. Whatever the name is, it is very important that you go to this clinic and check the types of services and the schedules they offer. Usually, the university or college Health Services Department is the first and most available option that you as an international student have to keep yourself healthy or to receive medical services when you feel sick.