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Diana Watson
 There are so many reasons why I like living in Taiwan rather than the United States. The people are friendlier, the weather is better, and everything is so convenient. However, the most awesome benefit to living in Taiwan is not the delicious stinky tofu, but the amazing national health care system!
Many know the horrors of the U.S. health care system, but few understand the facts. Well, let me provide you an overview of our severe health insurance problem in the United States. Over 305 million people live in the United States right now, and of those people, less than half have health insurance (U.S. POPClocks, September 2008). According to medHeadlines’ August 2008 edition, 45.7 million Americans still do not have health insurance. Furthermore, over 25 million Americans are underinsured, which means they cannot afford the deductibles, premiums or co-payments, (which can either be very expensive or very affordable depending on your job).
Not having insurance is so common in the U.S. that everyone assumes that young people just finishing university, people with low-paying jobs or even many small business owners have no insurance at all. So why is the health care system in the U.S. so horrible?
Historically, health insurance has always been strongly linked to employment, so employers always provided this benefit to its workers and assumed this responsibility, not the government. Many years ago when American industries were the top in the world, everyone was happy.
Most Americans had jobs, so most had insurance. Health Insurance companies loved the system and even today are one of the most profitable industries in the United States. Now with the globalization of business and tough competition, U.S. companies face cutbacks with expenses, and the most costly benefit is always health insurance.
So many of you must be thinking, so what? So what if you don’t have health care insurance? No big deal. Well, let me share a story with you.
Three years ago, I visited a friend in San Francisco and happened to cut my hand. For the hospital to give me ten stitches and two shots, the cost was US$890! Sure, I had health insurance, but wait. My insurance was not recognized by the hospital; therefore, I was forced to pay US$250.
So just imagine if I had needed surgery! Many Americans get hurt or have surgeries and end up with medical bills that cost them their life savings and homes.
So all of this leads me to why I absolutely love Taiwan’s National Health Care System.
The National Health Care System in Taiwan provides medical coverage for anyone who legally works for a company, or studies at a Taiwanese university after four months. Employers or students only have to pay a nominal fee in order to receive the many benefits, for example: to see doctors, obtain medicine, get examinations, and receive regular dental check-ups.
And for a fair price, most people can afford to have necessary surgeries, receive second or third opinions about possible ailments, or even request x-rays be performed and evaluated within a day! When I mention to my mother the affordability and convenience of Taiwan’s National Health Insurance System, she always says, “You should live their forever!” Well, currently I am a PhD student so I know I will be to enjoy this wonderful benefit for another three to four years, but even if I leave after I finish my studies, I will appreciate the Taiwanese government forever for giving foreigners like me an opportunity to freely participate and receive such amazing and affordable medical care during my stay. |
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