Two weeks ago, I had a bowl of duck vermicelli soup at a Vietnamese market in the U.S. Two hours later, I experienced severe stomach pain and had to go to the hospital for emergency treatment. I was asked to fill out a form with 300 questions, but an online interpreter was available in case I did not understand English.
The questions were generally about whether I was allergic to any medications, whether I smoked or drank alcohol or if I were suffering from any serious illnesses. After that, the doctor administered an IV, drew three vials of blood, tested my stool, and finally gave me a CT scan and let me rest for three hours.
The total cost came to $14,385, which included $2,066 for the doctor’s fees, $8,697 for the CT scan, and $2,883 for the three-hour room stay. I was aghast.
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My medical bill came out to $14,385, of which $13,000 was covered by insurance. Photo provided by Nghi My Nguyen |
In the U.S., certain professions require workers to have health insurance, either through their employer or privately, but the plan must meet specific conditions. I purchased a BlueCross BlueShield Family Floater plan, paying $520 per month for myself and my son. My employer also covers part of the cost.
Since I bought a high-tier plan, insurance covered $13,011, leaving me with $1,374 to pay out of pocket. Without insurance, finding a job would be difficult, as accidents are common in the workplace. Americans are quick to sue, and compensation amounts are typically very high.
The steep cost of insurance in the U.S. is driven by extremely high medical expenses. Nurses earn between $50,000 and $80,000 annually, newly graduated pharmacists make over $100,000, and skilled doctors can earn $500,000 or more.
In the U.S., you must have a doctor’s prescription to buy medication, and pharmacies are only allowed to sell drugs with that prescription. If the wrong medication is dispensed, the seller can be sued, losing both their license and their job.
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*This opinion was translated into English with the assistance of AI. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.
