The United States Congress voted in new health care. The bill will essentially offer an inexpensive health care option geared towards everyone, but especially the millions of uninsured living in the United States. The bill is capable of covering up to 95% of the United States population, with the remaining 5% people that are eligible for Medicaid and those with extremely low incomes. The reasons it finally passed was that public money will not be used to fund abortions and the bill came in at lower costs $940 billion than previous estimates (fiscally conservative public leaders liked this)
Other important goals of the health care bill are:
http://www.investmentnews.com/article/20100322/FREE/100329992
Lower income, middle class and small businesses will thrive with this new health care reform bill, but people will still be paying for health care in the United States. There is debate about whether or not people will actually pay a higher deductible or not, but the main truths are - health care will overall be less expensive. But is it free? Not by a long shot. In Panama, we still trust some of the free clinics for some procedures and check ups. For major ones (birth of a child) we paid around $1500 total. That is about a 5th of what we would have paid in the states.
Now, even though states will challenge the health care reform bill, let's explore what this may mean for expats living in Panama. Previously, we wrote about health care facilities in Panama (please see 3/11/2010 for the entire text), but here is a summation of what Panama offers:
1. Go to the start-of-the-art facilities such as Johns Hopkins in Panama City
2. Go to one of the local facilities that provide services of all kinds
3. Go to one of the free clinics for services
Health Insurance is not a required item in Panama and you do not need it due to the inexpensive nature of Panamanian health care. If you want health care insurance in Panama, your average is going to be around $35 a month due. In the majority of the state of the art facilities, your insurance will cover your entire stay as well. This is quite helpful.
So, basically health care is still less expensive here and will be for the near and long future barring some catastrophe.
Other important goals of the health care bill are:
- Reduce long-term growth of health care costs for businesses and government
- Protect families from bankruptcy or debt because of health care costs
- Guarantee choice of doctors and health plans
- Invest in prevention and wellness
- Improve patient safety and quality of care
- Assure affordable, quality health coverage for all Americans
- Maintain coverage when you change or lose your job
- End barriers to coverage for people with pre-existing medical conditions
http://www.investmentnews.com/article/20100322/FREE/100329992
Lower income, middle class and small businesses will thrive with this new health care reform bill, but people will still be paying for health care in the United States. There is debate about whether or not people will actually pay a higher deductible or not, but the main truths are - health care will overall be less expensive. But is it free? Not by a long shot. In Panama, we still trust some of the free clinics for some procedures and check ups. For major ones (birth of a child) we paid around $1500 total. That is about a 5th of what we would have paid in the states.
Now, even though states will challenge the health care reform bill, let's explore what this may mean for expats living in Panama. Previously, we wrote about health care facilities in Panama (please see 3/11/2010 for the entire text), but here is a summation of what Panama offers:
1. Go to the start-of-the-art facilities such as Johns Hopkins in Panama City
2. Go to one of the local facilities that provide services of all kinds
3. Go to one of the free clinics for services
Health Insurance is not a required item in Panama and you do not need it due to the inexpensive nature of Panamanian health care. If you want health care insurance in Panama, your average is going to be around $35 a month due. In the majority of the state of the art facilities, your insurance will cover your entire stay as well. This is quite helpful.
So, basically health care is still less expensive here and will be for the near and long future barring some catastrophe.
RSS Feed
