It's fantastic here too. I had a scare recently and called the ambulance, was at the hospital pretty quickly, got an x-ray, stayed overnight, turned out not to be a serious thing but finally figured out what was causing it. No drama and no crazy $100,000 bills. Just healthcare of an acceptable quality when you need it.
There is just no way that any perceived marginal improvement in the quality of care on an individual basis warrants an off chance of maybe being bankrupted. I can't say I've ever found the quality of care of be poor or unacceptable. It's always been available and served me well.
I kind of liken it to being forced to drive an $80,000 BMW as opposed to being provided with a reasonable Toyota that does the job.
The economic experiment has been tried and the US is on the wrong side of it.
I've sadly been to hospital via ambulance quite a lot for seizure activity and that kinda carrying on. The biggest bill was when I received my $54 bill for the ambulance! Oh no. (St John is a volunteer ambulance service). So, I went and paid it and then paid them $80 for an annual househould membership - meaning if anyone in my house ever needs an ambulance, it's free!
I'm aware however, with the rescue helicopters there can sometimes be complications because at the end of the day, someone needs to pay - but as an accident, everything's covered under ACC anyways. (and: http://www.police.govt.nz/faq/if-i-get-lost-and-need-search-...)
Wow, the more i read, the more difficult it is for me to believe. At this point i feel that the US healthcare industry is the biggest rent extraction industry in the world and they try to get away with it to the extent they can with every stakeholder blaming someone else.
I have lived here for 9 years and although have paid my insurance diligently i always get anxiety at going to the doctor's office.
Pretty much the same as Aus and UK, though I think some level of subsidised healthcare for visitors though surgery, etc. will be charged in full, and full coverage for permanent residents, where as Aus tends to charge full price for everything, I believe (still cheap compared to the states though).
Doctors (GP) visit typically costs me around $40-50NZD, thats likely on the high side, Children are free / fully subsidised.
A&E visit would be $50-100NZD
Most all injury related medical costs are covered or subsidised by ACC.
Specialists Appts typically cost ~$200 per visit
Private health insurance, while in no way "required", is still offered by the bigger employers and will see better outcomes for elective and non-urgent surgery and is priced in the hundreds of dollars per year for "basic" coverage if you wish to purchase as an individual.
