excuse me for asking this question. but what is "health insurance"? do you contribute to this health insurance?
i'm from south africa and we have what we call "medical aids". each month we contribute to it and we are allocated a certain amount for doctors, hospital, meds, dentists etc. well unless you're in hospital for 2 years, there's really no limit on hospitals. it's fully covered by the medical aid. as for meds, we have to pay a levy of 10% of the meds. so if the meds are R100, then we pay R10. doctor's are paid by the medical aids as well as other specialists etc. i've never once had a problem with getting any meds for myself. whatever is prescribed by the doctor or whoever is given to the patient.
was just wondering about it.

hi Duchess,
In the USA, and some other countries, there are Medical/Health Insurance companies. Many employers will pay for the ins fees as a employment benefit and we many also pay a portion of the fee also or if additional family coverage is wanted.
There is also many other types too - Medicare, Medicaid,
Workers Compensation{for work related injuries}, Disability Insurance

Anna,
Best of luck on your paper!

Send it to the presidential candidates too!!!
It might give them a new subject to debate about.

well, as my husband lost his job in the winter, my family went on IPA (illinois public aid). he has since been employed with the option for blue cross/blue shield insurance. however, IPA paid for my surgery, therapy, my pain doc, the shots, my meds... the copays are like $2 for the pain doc and most of my meds are free except the occasional $2 or $3 one. the only thing it doesn't pay is for a psychiatrist (i go to a private clinic) and psychotherapy (doesn't accept IPA).

as my husband's job does not pay well - we opted for more time with the family over pay - i don't think we will be buying health insurance only to pay for the premium, co-pays and deductables. i have been extremely lucky to be poor. isn't that amazing?

shalom,
ang

duchess,
Here in the US we have to help pay for our insurance needs. Everything we do has to be approved by the insurance companies, and if denied we either have to do without or pay for it out of our pockets. Having been lucky enough to have lived in Asia for 10 years in and 9 in Europe, I can tell you we have the worse insurance programs in the land. I know in Germany, that they pay almost 50% of their income in taxes, but you never have to do with medical, dental or any drugs the docs say you need. I was not a german citizen but I needed to spend over 2 weeks in a Kidney clinic. didn't have to pay for anything, including all the many test and exams I needed. It was nice knowing that they were not going to toss me on the street and let me suffer. Also, europe has some of the best and most advance doctors in the world. They take great pride in what they do and and as they all get paid from the gov.,they care for you and not what your pocketbook can do for them.
Hope that helps
Mary