Health insurances in different countries

[germangirl]

Reading along here I noticed many differences referring to the health insurances in different countries.

I was shocked about what I read about the USA.
Is it right that your employer insurances you in a health insurance he has chosen? It depends up to him if you get a good or a less good insurance? If you earn  only little money and your employer doesn`t insurance you you don`t get insured and don`t fit to free public medcare?

Why are there so many people without insurance or even medcare?

If you have an insurance does it cover all costs, your bloodwork, your meds, stays in hospitals....?

If you are HIV positive does every insurance accommodate you?

Let me tell you how it works in Germany:

If you are employed and earn until 48.150€ annual you have to be insured in a compulsory health insurance. If you have earned more than that amount for at least 3 years you can change to a private health insurance (but only if you haven`t any hard disease like diabetes, cancer, HIV, hepatitis or other grave things). The private insurances offers better medical help, but the compulsory also pays everything necessary.

If you are out of work you get benefit payment and you are insured in a compulsory insurance by the social welfare.

So normally everyone has an insurance here.

I am interested in hearing how it works in other countries as here are members from England, France, Portugal, USA, Zimbabwe, South Africa.....

Greetings germangirl

[Dachshund]

Unlike most of the industrialised nations of the world the United States does not have universal healthcare. Presently there are over 45 million Americans that are uninsured. I couldn't even began to try an explain our system of healthcare to you.

[BT65]

Germangirl, our health system is, as Hal referenced, way to screwed up to explain.  There is kind of a 'social welfare' program called Medicaid in (most) states (not in AZ) that is supposed to cover healthcare for the poor.  But, here in the state where I live (Indiana) there are 7 different kinds of Medicaid, which no one can figure out. 

But, not everyone gets healthcare coverage.  There are the working-class poor, who make just a little too much to qualify for state help, but of course cannot afford healthcare.  Sometimes one can find a good clinic, where they provide healthcare at a reduced cost.  And most people who are slipping into the 'poor'category come from working families.  It's just a horrible economy here right now. Hopefully something will happen in our next presidential election that will at least improve things a little.