"Norwegian hospitals are free though. I was just surprised the first time I learned Norwegians pay at all to visit the doctor because I assumed we had the same system."
"Norwegian hospitals are free though. I was just surprised the first time I learned Norwegians pay at all to visit the doctor because I assumed we had the same system."
70 Comments
unmagical@lemmy.ml · 68 pts · 116d
$17 USD
Skullgrid@lemmy.world · 40 pts · 116d
seems a bit steep, but I assume it's to keep it affordable but not used willy nilly
Dojan@pawb.social · 50 pts · 116d
We have a system like that in Sweden too. The patient fee differs from region to region and it’s generally quite small. You’re still required to pay it if you book a visit and don’t show up.
I think it is essentially to deter unnecessary visits.
Youth do not pay at all. There’s also a high cost protection so if you end up paying a certain sum, then you’re given a free card and any subsequent costs for that year are nulled. That includes most anything, including medication, but not dental care.
Currently that sum is 1450 crowns, about $150USD.
There is some push to have dental care fall under the same rules.
mushroommunk@lemmy.today · 32 pts · 116d
Just to complete the comic. I'm in the US. I spend about $90 on a regular yearly checkup. Spent $218 to get seen to get something prescribed for a three week cough I had that was getting worse (plus another $68 or so for the meds themselves).
Several of my friends are jealous of my health insurance because I've got the good one that covers more. Please shoot me.
thessnake03@lemmy.world · 24 pts · 116d
And how much a month is your health insurance?
variablenine@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 15 pts · 116d
The real hidden cost
mushroommunk@lemmy.today · 14 pts · 116d
I want to say $300? I haven't looked in forever since it gets auto deducted from my check. Not like I can reduce it much. That does also include my wife too at least.
vrek@programming.dev · 24 pts · 116d
I called 911 and went to hospital, unable to stand and uncontrollable vomiting black sludge with white specs in it, imagine over-used engine oil with seaseme seeds mixed in. Turns out my liver was leaking into my gi track. 43k bill from hospital, 1200 from ambulance to drive 1 mile, combined 3k from various doctors, 8k for all the tests they ran. Yes all separate bills. I was there for 3 days. That's about a total of 55k in bills for 3 days...
Even if the 25 dollar an hour minimum wage bill passed, and I worked full time for minimum wage with no other expenses(no food, no rent, no gas, no nothing) I still couldn't pay it in a year(yearly pay at 25 an hour is 52k a year).
hereiamagain@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 115d
I was gonna complain about my $4k bill for a heart checkup, but uh.. you win.
vrek@programming.dev · 2 pts · 115d
Good news is the hospital bill included free meals and once I was cleared for normal diet it was decent food...
Dojan@pawb.social · 5 pts · 115d
We don’t do regular yearly checkups in Sweden.
At a certain point when you reach a particular age or if you are at risk for something, that may change, but the average person doesn’t do yearly checkups.
Bilaketari@reddthat.com · 4 pts · 115d
You should though. Most ages would benefit even if only from a quick opportunity to ask about anything that might have come up plus the chance for some bloodwork to verify nothing obvious is abnormal. Prevention is way better than getting to a problem when it's already serious, and preventative checks can spot a lot of things (liver issues, some cancers, metabolic problems, etc.).
Dojan@pawb.social · 6 pts · 115d
As far as I understand, yearly general health checkups aren't that effective at catching things. That at least seems to be the basis for why we don't have them. One meta-analysis I found referenced was this one published in the BMJ.
That isn't to say that people don't get regular checkups here. Depending on your medical history, your age, and your potential for particular problems, there will be regular specific health checks. If a particular group of people are more likely to be affected with a particular condition, then said group will be called for checks.
You can absolutely do regular yearly health checkups, but that's generally done by private clinics, and you pay for that yourself.
--
I have very mixed feelings about our healthcare system. On one hand it works well for the most part, but there are obviously some horror stories making the rounds. There are also some really questionable practices, for example you can get a referral to a chiropractor. Everyone knows that's bunk science. At best chiropractors are con artists and at worst they're butchers.
Bilaketari@reddthat.com · 3 pts · 115d
Yeah, we really need to remove chiropractors and osteopathic practitioners from public systems.
VibeSurgeon@piefed.social · 2 pts · 114d
Preventative checks are used in Sweden where there's evidence for their efficacy - for example, mammograms for all women over 40, screening for colorectal cancer for everyone over 60, etc.
It's just that evidence for efficacy is the bar that each screening has to clear, and general yearly health checkups did not clear that bar.
Whats_your_reasoning@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 115d
Can we shoot those in charge of the absurd prices instead? All you did was luck out, but you’re still one of us.
Drigo@sopuli.xyz · 14 pts · 115d
As a Dane, I beg to differ. I think its essential that it's free to visit the doctor, to not deter necessary visits.
Dojan@pawb.social · 10 pts · 115d
I concur. I grew up in poverty and even though the sum isn’t particularly large for me today, thinking of the economic situation I grew up in every little bit counts.
Sure kids don’t pay, but having a sick parent in poverty is not great.
ricecake@sh.itjust.works · 0 pts · 115d
There's a line, and I don't know where it is. I'd very much rather someone go who didn't need it than the other way, but medical care is to some extent a finite resource that can be over utilized.
Maybe the answer is to incentivise using it correctly instead of penalizing using it incorrectly. Get a check for showing up to or giving proper cancellation notice for all appointments, getting your regular checkups and stuff like that. Appropriate use of whatever we're calling non-emergency walk in clinics. (At least where I am, your doctor has a lead time before appointments, and the emergency room is more geared towards immediate specialized care. The clinics are designed for "let's give that sprained ankle a double check and pop a stich in that gouge". Routine care that shouldn't wait)
LwL@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 115d
We tried something like that in germany for a while, then it was deemed ineffective and got reverted. Any flat fee also has the usual issue of disproportionately affecting poor people - 150€ a year (ik you used usd but close enough) isn't a lot for me, but for some people it can be more than they can afford.
Zoot@reddthat.com · 3 pts · 115d
I hate it here so much
tigeruppercut@lemmy.zip · 11 pts · 116d
Japan could use that. Ambulances are free and so they sometimes get overused because old people call them at the drop of a hat. But I got a tooth filled for ¥1700 (less than 20 USD) so they're doing something right.
ji59@hilariouschaos.com · 7 pts · 115d
We have free doctor visits and everyone I know still doesn't want to go there, unless the pain is getting really bad. I would say everyone hates doctor visits.
Bilaketari@reddthat.com · 4 pts · 115d
No, I definitely know of some people that go often only to be told that it's just a cold or similar and that they just need to rest a few days. Not most people, but a few do overuse regular consultations, so it does make sense to have some system in place to reduce that problem (nominal charges are a valid approach here).
Whats_your_reasoning@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 115d
If I’m talking to a doctor over a cold, it’s solely because work is requiring a doctor’s note.
At least my current workplace has a contract with a free telehealth service, so I can use that instead of clogging up an in-person doctors’ office just to get a stupid piece of paper that means, “Your employee isn’t lying.”
Bilaketari@reddthat.com · 3 pts · 115d
Which is fine. It's just some people do clog up the normal system with minor things. I especially see this with people for whom going to an appointment is no inconvenience (no work, so the retired anf nervous mothers, etc.). The minor charge helps avoid a situation in which they have an outsized effect on health care expenditures for the state.
Honytawk@discuss.tchncs.de · 5 pts · 115d
That is about 3x what we pay in Belgium. So much!
InFerNo@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 115d
4 euro remgeld, life is good
Griffus@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 115d
It is the only thing we pay for healthcare wise, unless it's teeth or eyes, that is privatised. We have started a decline that should be more warning than inspiration.
Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world · 63 pts · 116d
Plot twist, the American didn't even hear the conversation. He just showed up violent and obnoxious.
desiccated_event@piefed.blahaj.zone · 44 pts · 116d
Health is a commodity. Think about that. Fucking Americans. I live in the US. We have commodified health.
Washedupcynic@lemmy.ca · 5 pts · 115d
Everything has been commodified; housing, food. The line must go up.
Call me when that line is the number of 1%-ers being dragged into the streets and beaten.
desiccated_event@piefed.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 115d
Hear, Hear!
Skankhunt420@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 115d
It was done long before me or you had any say in it.
Hut yeah its fucked up.
BygoneNeutrino@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 114d
vga@sopuli.xyz · 0 pts · 115d
Also in the most communist country, healthcare would be subject to some market forces. Namely: how many sick people you have versus how many doctors you have. You can affect these with central planning somewhat, but not a lot. Unless you kill all the sick people of course.
Free market could fix that if properly applied. Also public health care could fix that if properly applied (i.e. decorrupted, modernized and funded so much that taxes would be amazing).
Melusine@tarte.nuage-libre.fr · 33 pts · 115d
In France, we used to be at the top, now I need to wait 6 months to see a lung specialist because we lack of doctor (yeah teaching 3000 doctors per year in the 90's was a brilliant idea), we pay ~30€ and get 19€ refunded for a basic general consultation. If you want more, you need a fucking insurance. I remember spending a night in children ER waiting more than 4 hours to have an asthma attack handled because the hospital was empty. Privatization is the way to speed run turning anything into a fucking disaster.
Griffus@lemmy.zip · 6 pts · 115d
Some parties want more privatised healthcare here in Norway as well, so that we could all enjoy more individual agony.
cerement@slrpnk.net · 29 pts · 116d
Davel23@fedia.io · 15 pts · 116d
$17.14 USD at the time I checked.
Griffus@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 115d
Has been less than 16 USD for the last 15 years until Iran. So sad way to cut inflation, but yay.
brown567@sh.itjust.works · 11 pts · 115d
By American standards, I have extremely good health insurance through my wife's workplace. We still have to pay $25 per doctor visit on top of paying every month for the insurance.
Griffus@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 115d
Ignorant Norwegian here, but that sounds extremely good for US standards, happy for you for that. Out of curiosity, how much is paid monthly for that? And what would a broken leg and an ambulance to the hospital cost?
ProbablyBaysean@lemmy.ca · 5 pts · 115d
Ambulance rides cost a minimum of 1k USD. If you are not admitted to the hospital then it is not covered. If you are admitted then all costs ambulance and care normally has a 500$ copay and then you pay 20% or less depending on the insurance.
A broken leg that requires immediate surgery is something to admit. Just a cast is urgent care only, so you probably are S.O.L.
This is based on my experience with multiple insurances, there are tonnes of options, so I'm sure someone else would say it is different for them.
xav@programming.dev · 2 pts · 115d
Wow.
ryathal@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 115d
For a family of 4 insurance is about 3k/month split between employer and employee. The amount that would cost is largely unknowable. My insurance has a $500 deductible, so I would definitely pay at least that much, probably more. After that insurance would cover 80-90% of the cost until an out of pocket maximum, which is 3k/person or 6k/family for me. A final cost around 1k would probably be a good deal, and up to 4-5k could happen depending on out of network fuckery.
Twipped@l.twipped.social · 2 pts · 115d
For my family of four I was paying half of $2400 per month (my employer paid the other half) for a very good PPO plan (meaning I could choose my own doctors) that had a $25 copay for doctor visits and no copay for medications after I met the $500 per person pharmacy deductible. That was up until I was laid off, then I had to pay for all of it until my COBRA coverage ended.
teegus@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 114d
That is more than I pay in taxes (in Norway). And I have a pretty decent income.
Griffus@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 113d
I have an average pay, and the monthly $2400 is almost double my taxes alone.
Hypnotoad_@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 111d
Me too! Only costs 20k a year in premiums for the privilege of paying $30 copays and a $6k deductible! We're the fuckin greatest!
Nomorereddit@lemmy.today · 8 pts · 115d
This is ridiculous, usa kid wouldnt even acknowledge the other kids exist.
trackball_fetish@lemmy.wtf · 5 pts · 115d
More like no usa kid at all due to drinking raw milk and skipping the measles vax
k0e3@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 115d
The joke has been done to death, but I love the art style!
NeatNit@discuss.tchncs.de · 7 pts · 115d
SATW is a classic, and excellent. https://satwcomic.com/
trd@feddit.nu · 3 pts · 115d
Do they not practice "free card" in Norway? if you spend more than 230 American zlotty, the rest is free?
fatalicus@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 114d
Yes, something like that.
Things that are counted as emergency is also free.
teegus@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 114d
Kids up to 16 also go for free
captainlezbian@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 115d
As an American, I think the Dane has a point. Beating us is a really low bar
WizardofFrobozz@lemmy.ca · 0 pts · 115d
Get off your ass and do something.
PerogiBoi@lemmy.ca · -1 pts · 115d
That's too much to ask an American.
WizardofFrobozz@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 115d
Correct. Absolute cowards.
ThatWeirdGuy1001@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 114d
Is this the new pol balls?
perry@lemy.lol · 2 pts · 115d
₹5 in Kerala. Although you have to pay for meds yourself
Tja@programming.dev · 2 pts · 115d
Doesn't processing 5 rupees cost more than the fee itself?
perry@lemy.lol · 1 pts · 112d
sorry didn't understand. processing what?
Tja@programming.dev · 2 pts · 112d
Processing the payment. Fees, etc.
perry@lemy.lol · 1 pts · 112d
The 5 rupees is inclusive of taxes and stuff. Also there are no payment processing fees in India AFAIK. At the counter you can give a 5 rupee coin or pay 5 rupees via UPI or card, and you get a receipt and token number. But paying for the medicines and public transport would cost extra, so you would be spending almost ₹100 (or even ₹200 if expensive antibiotics are involved) by the time you reach home.
Edit: this is only for regular illness such as the flu or COVID, and most people wouldn't use life/health insurance for that. Doing surgeries or therapy (which is still hard to find here) will cost a lot more, and insurance and stuff will likely complicate things.
libre_warrior@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 114d
160 kronars is a lot, its not fair.
teegus@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 114d
About the price of a baguette at Gardermoen?
Hansae@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 114d
Its about £14, honestly not bad compared to most of the world.