Health Care Troubles for the Insured?

According to a recent New York Times article, America has an estimated 48 million uninsured citizens and this number may soon increase due to the economic downturn being felt across the country right now. Not only is this downturn pushing people out of being insured, but it is also dramatically affecting the insured population.

An increasing reality for many of the 158 million citizens that are insured through their employers is that medical costs are becoming unaffordable. Rising prices for food and gasoline are making many Americans think twice about their spending on health care. From another perspective, rising insurance premiums, narrower coverage, and bigger deductible and co-pay requirements are pushing health care prices through the roof. It follows that many insured Americans are not financially prepared for the costs of emergency room visits and necessary surgeries. They are choosing to pay for food and gasoline over necessary doctor visits.

According to consulting and accounting firm Deloitte, nearly one fifth of the average household’s spending goes to health care. Since 2001, health care premiums for families have risen to $3,300 from $1,800 while incomes have not increased enough to cover this change. Another survey by Deloitte points out that less than 10% of American feel they are financially prepared for their future health care needs.

Employers are also feeling the effects of a soft economy. Expenses for health care are skyrocketing and as a result, many employers are passing on these increased costs to their employees. Many have begun pushing for consumer-driven plans where lower premiums come in the form of higher annual deductibles. According to the New York Times article, nearly 6 million Americans are now enrolled in such plans.

With Presidential Elections coming later this year, it should be very interesting to see what remedies each candidate puts for and how the nation responds.

Hong Kong Department of Health Primary Health Care Services

Family Health

The Family Health Service of the Department of Health provides a comprehensive range of health promotion and disease prevention services for children from birth to five years and women aged 64 or below. The service operates through 50 Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) and three Woman Health Centres (WHCs). Anticipatory guidance on child-care and parenting are provided for parents and care-givers to bring up healthy and well-adjusted children. Immunisation, health assessment and developmental surveillance services are offered to children at MCHCs. Antenatal, postnatal and family planning services are provided for women of child-bearing age. About 44 per cent of expectant mothers and 94 per cent of newborns attended MCHCs in 2003. The Woman Health Service is available in the three WHCs and 10 MCHCs, providing health education, counselling and appropriate screening service to women aged 64 or below.

The government-subvented Family Planning Association of Hong Kong runs eight clinics, three youth health care centres, a mobile clinic, a mobile library, a reference library and seven women's clubs. The services encompass fertility regulation, women's health check-up, pre-marital and pre-pregnancy preparation, menopause service, subfertility service, youth counselling and men's health check-up. A Cervical Disease Clinic was opened in 2003. The association also offers family life education and sexuality education, and organises outreaching activities and publicity campaigns to advocate and promote responsible parenthood, and sexual and reproductive health among individuals, families and the community.

Student Health

The Student Health Service of the Department of Health places emphasis on health promotion, disease prevention and continuity of care. Its 12 student health service centres and three special assessment centres provide health assessment, health education and individual health counselling to all primary and secondary school students. The Adolescent Health Programme was introduced in the 2002-03 school year to promote psychosocial health in secondary schools. School health inspectors visit schools regularly regarding environmental hygiene and sanitation. School health officers and nurses advise on the control of communicable diseases and organise immunisation campaigns.

Elderly Health

The Department of Health provides Elderly Health Services through 18 elderly health centres and 18 visiting health teams to enhance primary health care for the elderly, improve their self-care ability, encourage healthy living and strengthen family support so as to minimise illness and disability. Elderly health centres provide an integrated health service including health assessment, physical check-up, counselling, curative treatment, and health education to people aged 65 and above. Visiting health teams reach into the community and residential care settings to conduct health promotion activities for the elderly and to provide training to carers to enhance their health knowledge and skills in caring for the elderly.

Clinics

The Department of Health operates 20 methadone clinics, 19 tuberculosis and chest clinics, 10 social hygiene clinics, five dermatology clinics, three clinical genetic clinics, seven child assessment centres and other clinic services. About 10 million visits to clinics were recorded in 2003. During the year, 59 general out-patient clinics operated by the department were transferred to the Hospital Authority to enhance integration of primary and specialist care.

Apart from public service facilities, members of the community may seek medical treatment from the private sector, which includes medical practitioners working in private practices and 178 clinics registered under the Medical Clinics Ordinance.

Dental Health

Preventive services are delivered through the School Dental Care Service of the Department of Health which provides annual dental examination and basic dental care to about 436 000 children annually. A 24-hour interactive voice response system at the telephone hotline provides voice and fax information on the service and on oral health. The Department of Health monitors the level of fluoridation in the communal water supply in order to reduce dental decay among the population.

Specialist oral health care services are provided to hospital patients and those with special oral health needs. In addition, there are 11 designated dental clinics which provide emergency dental service to the public.

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Globalsurance is an independent medical and international health insurance advisor. We offer free quotations and advice to clients throughout the World. If you are planning to travel or live abroad, we can offer you advice to match your international health insurance needs.

International Health Insurance Advice

Globalsurance is an independent International medical insurance and international health insurance advisor. We offer free quotations and advice to clients all around the World. As the World's largest Global Health Insurance brokers we have expert knowledge on the full range of medical plans available and can select and advise you on the best plan. We are experts on Global Health Insurance and expatriate health insurance plans and can find the right plan for you.

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