Most people have a co-pay: a fixed amount to pay at any office visit. Ex. every time I see my gp, pdoc, t, I pay $25 and insurance pays the rest. Dentist is different, that's different insurance, although some people use their medical insurance for the dentist. Same with eye doc. Seeing a specialist often carries a higher co-pay, ex. mine is $40 when I see a specialist. Then there are all sorts of costs for hospitalization, ER visits (A&E for you), medical equipment, etc. The whole system is a lot more complicated than that, but I think I've covered some of the basics about what you've asked.

Dental insurance is really bad. Mine pays for one cavity every 2 years or so. Root canals and caps are covered only every 4 years. It's outrageous. Root canals are now $1000.00. How do you come up w/that money???

I know dobes, it's RIDICULOUS. One of my biggest issues with the health care system is how dental gets left out of everything. It's a medical fact that oral health is directly related to cardiac health, yet our insurance companies want us to pay for most of our dental care. That makes it less of a priority for people bc they just can't pay! And then the medical insurance companies pick up the bill for our heart problems.... it makes no sense. But you know, it's all a business, and if we have too much preventative care, then people will be less sick, pharm companies will make less, hospitals will make less, etc., etc. down the line.

True. But it has got to stop. I can't afford to go to a dentist. What am I supposed to do?

Sometimes, dobie, if you find a dental school they will charge you much less for the same treatment.

Cool! Never thought of that! I'm going to look for one now.
Thank you!!

Yep dental schools are a great alternative.

The University of Michigan has a dental school It's 2 1/2 hours away, it's at lest worth a try. They don't give prices on the web. Drats.
But I will call and see!! This is exciting!

Many are sliding fee or free. They go over financials and such. That is where my sister took her daughter and they did her ortho based on her income.Payments during treatment etc...

You may run into clinic wait times so bring a book and a snack just in case but hopefully they run and schedule it well.

Yeah, they said it's usually a 3 hour wait. Book for sure!! Maybe even 2!

Good luck!

Stewie,
Medical care in the US is complicated !

Some people have private medical coverage through their jobs.
A variety of co-pays will apply, as discussed above.

Some people are on SSDI , Social Security Disability . Their insurance is called Medicare . Most Dr;s will accept Medicare with approx a 20% co-pay. Disability payments to an individual are based upon their lifetime earnings.

To qualify for Medicare, a person has had to work for enough years to qualify.

Retired people also have Medicare and sometimes a supplimental insurance that covers the costs that Medicare doesn't.

Some people who have not worked {usually these are young people who haven't worked the required years to qualify for SSDI, Medicare....those people receive SSI. SSI is a lower monthly payment ,

Then there is also MediCade, for low income people . These people usually receive some SSDI or SI payments.

Medicade usually pays for all medical, hospital costs


OK..... now are you totally confused ?

We are too

Stewie, all I can add is that medical care can really add up and insurance is expensive, depending on what kind of insurance you have. Right now I owe the hospital over $800.00 for care I had in the emergency room and tests I had run for a medical problem.

I went to England in the Spring and my friend got sick and was hospitalized for 6 days. She gave them her insurance info, but they never charged her anything or her insurance.

Ok. I'm going to say it. It may piss many people off but I don't care.
I was finally able to get medical insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Before that I had no insurance and was trying to pay off my $10,000 medical bill.

There's nothing wrong with that dobie. That's what it's there for. I'm glad you were able to get insurance.