4 ms·

Is it really? I come from a country with universal healthcare, and while public healthcare suffers from the same wait times we see in the US, private healthcar

Is it really? I come from a country with universal healthcare, and while public healthcare suffers from the same wait times we see in the US, private healthcare is on an entirely different league. For instance, with a good private health insurance plan, on a whim, without a referral, one could get an appointment at a decent specialist, and possibly the specialist of their choice within the week. My experience in the US is that you wait 3 months to see any specialist at all.

jakearmitage 3y ago
What was the last time that you tried to get an appointment at a decent specialist at your home country?
- han-tyumi 3y ago
  To give you some context, my home country is Brazil. Last time I used my private health insurance was in July 2021 and the wait time to see a top specialist was one week. However, I have been there again (without health insurance) and was able to get a same week appointment at the end of March this year, which cost $200.
TylerE 3y ago
Not really been my experience in a midsized US town. Don’t think I’ve ever waited more than a month or so… and generally same week if it’s something urgent. I do have Blue Cross though, which is I guess pretty good as us insurance goes.
- han-tyumi 3y ago
  Right now I live in Cambridge, MA. The wait time to see a dermatologist was 3 months when I needed one. My health plan is also Blue Cross, hired through MIT Medical.
  - TylerE 3y ago
    Isn't Cambridge part of Boston? By mid sized I mean approx 100k people, and it's an hour+ drive to anywhere bigger.
Domenic_S 3y ago
The US equivalent would be concierge medicine, which performs as well as you're saying private medicine does in your country.
nine_k 3y ago
With a good private insurance (a PPO plan), I had a similar experience in the US. Well, in NYC which is not representative of the US, of course. Many things in the US basically repeat the population density map.

jakearmitage 3y ago

What was the last time that you tried to get an appointment at a decent specialist at your home country?

han-tyumi 3y ago
To give you some context, my home country is Brazil. Last time I used my private health insurance was in July 2021 and the wait time to see a top specialist was one week. However, I have been there again (without health insurance) and was able to get a same week appointment at the end of March this year, which cost $200.

TylerE 3y ago

Not really been my experience in a midsized US town. Don’t think I’ve ever waited more than a month or so… and generally same week if it’s something urgent. I do have Blue Cross though, which is I guess pretty good as us insurance goes.

han-tyumi 3y ago
Right now I live in Cambridge, MA. The wait time to see a dermatologist was 3 months when I needed one. My health plan is also Blue Cross, hired through MIT Medical.
- TylerE 3y ago
  Isn't Cambridge part of Boston? By mid sized I mean approx 100k people, and it's an hour+ drive to anywhere bigger.

Domenic_S 3y ago

The US equivalent would be concierge medicine, which performs as well as you're saying private medicine does in your country.

nine_k 3y ago

With a good private insurance (a PPO plan), I had a similar experience in the US. Well, in NYC which is not representative of the US, of course. Many things in the US basically repeat the population density map.