HEALTHCARE, HONG KONG STYLE

[def_fr0g_42]

Some people have been asking me about the Hong Kong healthcare model. And seeing as how US Republicans love to point our way whenever they want to “prove” that flat taxes and laissez-faire capitalism works a treat and the US should copy it, whilst conveniently ignoring the fact that we have socialized medicine, public housing and govt investment in

Comments

[thelastaerie]

my own and my family's experience with the HK healthcare system is that: for minor illnesses, nearly everyone can afford pretty high standard healthcare - extra comfort and convenience when you pay more and go private.

For more serious health problem though, a private insurance will help a lot - you get treated faster and stay in a better room etc. But still, we aren't talking about the crazy numbers they have in US when you go private and don't have insurance cover.

On thing I'd like to point out is that, when my mom was ill (cancer, stage 1), she first got diagnosed by a private family doctor, then we (her children) all chipped in and sent her go private to have the first surgery done. The after-treatment of radiotherapy though - she was referred back to a government hospital which had been a smooth run and "nearly" free (about HK£200 for each check-up). And the whole private-then-public transition/referral thing was pretty smooth and done without much headaches.

A friend of mine who work in a major government hospital mentioned that in HK, the most advanced hospital equipment are actually in government hospital.

[def_fr0g_42]

Good extra points to make. I'm just glad I got the basics right (though I'm assuming you'd have pointed it out if I got anything wrong).

The other thing too is that, on the whole, people in Hong Kong are generally way better at saving money than Americans. So even where the insurance companies fall short, the majority of people can cover the shortfall somehow - not always painlessly (so to speak), but not to the point of having to declare personal bankruptcy.