Overview of US Healthcare System

First of all, iCare would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! Whether you are in a foreign country or back home, I hope you can have a successful end of the year with your family and friends. At the same time, please don't forget to pay attention to your health and epidemic prevention and control. In the meantime, on this Christmas day, Victoria and Erika have teamed up to give you an overview of the US healthcare system. In our future articles, we'll be talking more about student insurance, options for additional services, and the process of getting to the doctor, so stay tuned!

Public Healthcare

The U.S. public health care system is made up of two main insurance programs. One is Medicare, which provides health insurance for people 65 and older and some younger people with disabilities. The other is Medicaid, which is funded by the federal government and administered by the states to provide health insurance to low-income individuals and families.

Private Healthcare

Private health insurance is primarily an employer-provided health insurance plan (negotiated between the employer and the insurance company). In addition to this, individuals residing in the United States can also purchase private insurance in the individual market, but there are significant differences between these insurance options for covered services. The more advantageous insurance companies and insurance options will be described in a subsequent article. The best strategy for selecting these options varies depending on individual circumstances.

After introducing the health insurance system, we can take a look at the healthcare providers in the United States. They consist mainly of doctors, hospitals, and clinics that provide medical services to patients. In addition to the private and public systems, there are also a small number of community health centers operated by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and volunteer organizations. For example, in Nashville, Siloam Family Health Center is a family practice that provides medical services to the uninsured at no cost.

Overall, the U.S. healthcare system has made significant advances in medical technology and treatment, but it also faces challenges including high prices and a cumbersome process for accessing care. It is worth noting that while China has universal health care coverage, young people in the U.S. do not automatically have health care or social security coverage. As a result, young people rely on student insurance, family insurance, or employer-provided insurance to cover the cost of medical services. In our next article, we will also begin to introduce you to insurance terminology and an overview of Vanderbilt student insurance.