A few years ago I was in London with my wife. I had broken my toe before we left the U.S., but I didn’t realize it. After walking enough and the toe really hurting I ended up going to urgent care one morning. After X-rays, a detailed consult, and instructions about how to care for said toe, I was ready to check out, and I asked where I needed to pay. They laughed and sent me on my way.
I do have people in my family who only have major medical insurance and pay for the little things like doctor visits and the occasional test out of pocket. It’s amazing how “affordable” some services are when the facility doesn’t have to deal with an insurance company.
The U.S. spends more per-capita on healthcare and have fewer positive outcomes. That being said, U.S. healthcare is built around maximizing the doctor’s time, not the comfort and outcome of the patient. I imagine part of that was born of necessity. Expanding cities, especially during the postwar period, needed doctors and they had to see as many people they could in a day.
I don’t think the problem is about maximizing the doctors time, it’s much simpler than that, insurance companies are profit driven and it’s all all about making money.
Actually no. Initial treatment at an NHS Accident & Emergency (A&E) or Urgent Care is free for everyone, regardless of your residency or nationality.
If you are treated in A&E and then admitted to the hospital as an inpatient or referred for further scheduled outpatient care, those subsequent services are chargeable to non-residents who do not qualify for an exemption.
Uninsured or non-exempt overseas visitors are charged 150% of the standard NHS national rate for hospital care. And daily inpatient costs and specific procedures can add up quickly.
There are a few NHS services that are free to tourists, including A&E, treatment for most infectious diseases, and family planning services. I'm guessing this was handled in A&E.
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u/wanderlustzepa 3h ago
Affordable healthcare without insurance