Imagine going to your local doctors for an appointment about your asthma. After a consultation, your GP prescribes you with medication, advice – oh, and a bill for £690. Or perhaps consider a relative has had a heart attack, and after being treated, they have to pay £2,390. While the concept of paying for basic healthcare might seem crazy for us in the UK, it’s the reality many around the world face. We take a closer look at some of these differences.
America
It’s well known that there is no universal healthcare in the United States and there is a privately run system. Any time you need medical care, someone has to pay for it – usually your insurance company. According to healthcare.gov, if you break your leg in America, you could end up with a bill for $7,500. If you need to stay in the hospital for three days, it would probably cost about $30,000.