Would this work in the States? (Health Care)

[dulcemariamar]

Spain is going through a major economic crisis and the conservative government has just introduced a new measure that will require illegal immigrants to pay for health care. (Before it was free even if you were not paying SS)

They want them to pay 59 euros a months (those over 65 will have to pay 155 euros)

Illegal immigrants will still receive free prenatal health care and will be treated at the ER if there is a health emergency.

Could this plan even work?

1.) What illegal immigrant would just come out and say that they are here illegally?

2.) How many of them have over 700 euros to pay for this plan?

3.) How do they define health emergency? A broken bone? Strep throat?

[Deleted]

Its an interesting question, because I'm trying to think of what would happen in Aust or NZ. In Aust a permanent resident can get access to the public system (low or no cost), if you are a temporary resident or on a student visa you get private insurance through an Australian company that then covers a chunk of your bills. But a tourist that is injured etc. would get a bill, similar to Canada I think, so wouldn't an illegal fit in this category? I would guess they would say they are a tourist?

[dulcemariamar]

The measure was also created to stop health care tourism. It seems that a lot of Europeans come to Spain to use the public health care system. I don't understand that though because if you are a member of the EU, I thought that the country where you receive care would just send the bill to your home country to pay for it.

[basilosaurus]

I don't know about the OP, but it always amused me when I was flying back to the States from Japan how they literally had kiosks for Japanese to purchase travel insurance b/c they knew that going to the States meant they'd be screwed.

Ok, amused isn't the right word. Sad is more like it. It was the same way I felt when Japanese told me the DC was scary and dirty. From their perspective, it was entirely true. No trash cans in Tokyo, yet no trash! And no guns!!! And then there's DC.

If I was a tourist from a country with insurance, I sure as shit would cover myself if going to the US.

[dulcemariamar]

Sibil:
This is true. I am so scared to go home. Of course, I buy travel insurance when I go home to visit my family from my private health insurance provider. However, I never had to use it so far but I am so scared that if something did happen, I would be stuck paying out of pocket.

My brother works in a hospital in the States and he said that a Norwegian couple had to pay over $80,000 after visiting the ER while they were doing a road trip through the States.

I really cant understand people who dont travel with insurance to the States. Just thinking about it makes me so nervous.

[Deleted]

We always buy a sgitload if insurance before we visit the US. It greatly concerns us the number of loopholes in the insurance policy, though that's a Canadian problem there.

I highly doubt you would see illegals admit they are illegal to receive cheap health care.

[frlcb]

Aug 9, 2012 7:22:30 GMT -5 @publius said:

$80K for an ER visit? Holy cow that's high. Was someone admitted? I had to go to the ER in the US a couple weeks ago. They sent the bill last week and IIRC, it was under $5k.

Yeah, that sounds really high for an ER visit. Every European I know buys travel insurance when they come to the US for this very reason.

[dulcemariamar]

They had a car accident so I am sure about the extent of the injuries.

Publius: I think the measure is to target people from UK. I am not sure why they come to Spain when they have NHS.

[aMrsin09]

Aug 9, 2012 7:38:03 GMT -5 dulcemariamar said:

They had a car accident so I am sure about the extent of the injuries.

Publius: I think the measure is to target people from UK. I am not sure why they come to Spain when they have NHS.

Is there a waiting list in the UK? Is there one in Spain?

[dulcemariamar]

Aug 9, 2012 7:40:28 GMT -5 aMrsin09 said:

Aug 9, 2012 7:38:03 GMT -5 dulcemariamar said:

They had a car accident so I am sure about the extent of the injuries.

Publius: I think the measure is to target people from UK. I am not sure why they come to Spain when they have NHS.

Is there a waiting list in the UK? Is there one in Spain?

I dont know about the UK. In Spain, I guess it depends on the person. I never had to wait and I have seen my DHs` grandmothers receive excellent care.

However, my DH is supposed to get test done and he didnt get an appointment until November. He is supposed to call again to see if they can change the date because even his doctor was surprised that they are going to make him wait that long but I guess it really depends.

[basilosaurus]

Aug 9, 2012 7:22:30 GMT -5 @publius said:

$80K for an ER visit? Holy cow that's high. Was someone admitted? I had to go to the ER in the US a couple weeks ago. They sent the bill last week and IIRC, it was under $5k.

I was admitted to the ED with full on socialized medicine (hello, tricare) for all of 5 hours, and it was about $7k. I didn't pay a dime, but that was the charge. All for a liter of fluids and 1 cxray. Oh, plus a cbc. That's it.