French here. when sick, I use an app to book a appointment to a medical center I have that’s like 5 minutes away by foot ( not typical for all french residents but I am quite lucky with where I live). I usually have an appointment in the next 2 to 4 hours tops. Depending on what it is, I walk away with a prescription and certificate for work stating how many sicks days I have. This costs me nothing, appart from the occasional optional medication that is not reimbursed.
Like, just name all the shit that is wrong with the US and flip it joke.
Comparison, my wife wasn’t feeling well and insisted on going to the Dr. The closest appointment was over a week away, and the Dr. told her to go to the ER instead. Took a 25 minute drive to the nearest ER in the city, got her vitals in a few minutes and then waited hours to see a Dr who basically gave her 2 cups of coffee and some Tylenol and then had us go home. We won’t get the bill for months, but it’s usually in the 800 dollar range, and that is with insurance.
My general rule of thumb, if there isn’t a significant risk to life, limb, or senses in the next 24 hrs, I’m not going to the ER.
I don’t go to a GP ever. They stole my blood and piss, and then told me to come back in 6 months and did it again. The headache of setting up the appointments, rescheduling work, travel, and copays means it just isn’t worth it.
Finally, if I have an injury, and it’s still affecting my daily life 3 days later, then I go to urgent care, and sometimes that even feels like a waste of money. Cost 180 bucks for me to get a pinched nerve in my shoulder diagnosed (couldn’t sleep for 3 days) and they prescribed me maximum strength acetaminophen and some steroids which blew my heart rate up to unsafe levels so I stopped taking them. Pain finally went away about 4 days later on its own.
French here. when sick, I use an app to book a appointment to a medical center I have that’s like 5 minutes away by foot ( not typical for all french residents but I am quite lucky with where I live). I usually have an appointment in the next 2 to 4 hours tops. Depending on what it is, I walk away with a prescription and certificate for work stating how many sicks days I have. This costs me nothing, appart from the occasional optional medication that is not reimbursed.
This feels like a joke.
Like, just name all the shit that is wrong with the US and flip it joke.
Comparison, my wife wasn’t feeling well and insisted on going to the Dr. The closest appointment was over a week away, and the Dr. told her to go to the ER instead. Took a 25 minute drive to the nearest ER in the city, got her vitals in a few minutes and then waited hours to see a Dr who basically gave her 2 cups of coffee and some Tylenol and then had us go home. We won’t get the bill for months, but it’s usually in the 800 dollar range, and that is with insurance.
I’m in the US if that wasn’t obvious.
That’s depressing, I can only imagine what it’s like to ponder wether or not to get checked because you can’t afford it…
My general rule of thumb, if there isn’t a significant risk to life, limb, or senses in the next 24 hrs, I’m not going to the ER.
I don’t go to a GP ever. They stole my blood and piss, and then told me to come back in 6 months and did it again. The headache of setting up the appointments, rescheduling work, travel, and copays means it just isn’t worth it.
Finally, if I have an injury, and it’s still affecting my daily life 3 days later, then I go to urgent care, and sometimes that even feels like a waste of money. Cost 180 bucks for me to get a pinched nerve in my shoulder diagnosed (couldn’t sleep for 3 days) and they prescribed me maximum strength acetaminophen and some steroids which blew my heart rate up to unsafe levels so I stopped taking them. Pain finally went away about 4 days later on its own.