Health Pay Private People Specialist Company Care Doctor

Most Americans have private health insurance; that is, they or their employers pay for a private company to take care of their doctor and hospital expenses. Unlike many other countries, the United States does not have a national, free health system. The national or "federal" government does pay for the medical care of certain people who are very poor or who are old, but there are many people in the U.S. with no health insurance at all. Most people are part of a "group health" plan called a Health Maintenance Organization, or HMO. These HMOs are private companies that organize and administer clinics and hospitals for their members. You become a member of an HMO by paying a certain amount of money, or by having your company pay for you.

When you first get sick, you usually have to see a GP before being able to talk to a medical specialist. The GP will examine you and, if he or she thinks you need to see someone who is an expert, you will get a "referral" - permission to talk to another doctor who specializes in the problem you have. If you don't agree with your doctor, you can also get a second opinion, usually without having to pay any extra money.