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South African expat in Norway here. In South Africa health care is technically provided by state but if you don't want to die or lose a limb when you go in for
by ailideex 7y ago
South African expat in Norway here. In South Africa health care is technically provided by state but if you don't want to die or lose a limb when you go in for something minor you need private insurance which is normally provided by employer.
In Norway my employer also providers supplemental insurance that provides lower wait times.
So no, not unique to US really. What countries have you lived in?
- PeterisP 7y agoMany countries have some sort of premium health insurance as a benefit from the employer, but that's generally a benefit in 'good jobs' that's not relevant for low-paid factory or call center workers - I mean, if someone's getting paid the legal minimum wage or close to that, they're also getting the legal minimum of benefits, not extras.
- C1sc0cat 7y agoI had BUPA in the UK at a previous employer - its not actually worth it as you have to pay tax on the benefit, and if you do have a serious problem you don't get anything for it.
- oarsinsync 7y agoSounds like you had a low end plan. The BUPA plan my employer provides covers everything, from GP visits and dental care, to major surgery in private hospitals (tried and tested this range between myself and various colleagues). Significantly better than dealing with the NHS these days, as I'm able to get a GP appointment with a few hours notice, and I've witnessed someone go in with a slip disk in their back and be in surgery 30 days later (minimum period of time required to be eligible for surgery to give the disk a chance to slip back in on its own). They even give you a menu with a choice of meals during surgical recovery. The contrast is stark. Oh, and zero deductible. Everything was free, completely covered. Effectively getting the policy at a significant discount (by only paying income tax on the cost of the plan), and corporate policies are significantly better value than individual policies anyway, as the likelihood of claims (on aggregate across the entire corporation) are lower.
- C1sc0cat 7y agoWhat does it cost you on your tax coding though, its not free
- KptMarchewa 7y agoIn Poland it's not for major problems like cancer - which are decently covered by normal healthcare, but for regular specialist doctor visits. If I want to visit allergist, dentist or psychiatrist I can wait few months or a year for national healthcare or go next week private.
- ailideex 7y ago> they're also getting the legal minimum of benefits, not extras. Yes... In US that is "no care" (not actually the case as there is Medicare and Medicaid and emergency treatment) while in South Africa it is care with low efficiency and high likelihood of secondary infections and complications.