The first time I went to the hospital I had to register, had no idea what I was doing. The doctor I was supposed to see, came down to the first floor and helped me “speed things up”, that took like 8 hours in total for everything. Which I thought was incredible annoying until I got the bill. This doctor actually studied and worked in the US for 20 years. Obviously she could speak English very well, but she also knew how to talk with me and give me advice as a foriegn patient. To register AND see a doctor AND pay for medicine, my total bill was around $30. It was so cheap that I forgot to give them my insurance card. In the US that could’ve easily been over $1,000, but probably would’ve been in an out within an hour or two. I’d much rather wait several hours, hell, I’d wait all day to reduce the bill by 99%.
After the first visit, you can just make appointments so you don’t need to wait as long. In the past 6 visits or so, I’ve waited an average of 20 minutes, and talked with the doctor for up to 90 minutes.
Just today I went for a visit, but I didn’t make an appointment, I had missed the previous appointment. If you don’t make an appointment you have get their really early and que. I arrived at 8:30 and the que quota was fully booked for the day. I had completely run out of medicine (epiliepsy meds). I just texted the doctor that I can’t make it because it’s full and SHE CALLED ME and told me I can go to a pharmacy down the street and buy all the medicine I need. I can’t believe she gave me Line ID and not only responded, but she called me lol I walked down there and as soon as I walked in “Oh wait. I don’t have a prescription… well I’ll just ask anyway”. No prescription needed, 3 months of medicine (epilipsy AND Blood pressure medicine) was $30. Once again, in and out in 5 minutes.
I’m not sure if Europeans are as suprised by this as me but WOW… this is a huge plus for Americans living here and it still blows my mind.
Edit: this was a government hospital, not a private international hospital.
