curry gurry

Ironic that shortly after the USA passes the ol’ health bill, I get sick and have my first experience with the Indian health care system.

Prior to leaving America, I was slightly concerned with my health insurance, and what kind of coverage I would have in India, as I would be in a totally foreign bacterial climate, and also because I recently had a nasty string of accidents (broken foot, broken pinky, strep throat).

I never came to a resolution before leaving, but I ended up being in enrolled in some traveler’s plan, which I think would help me get life-flighted somewhere if need be. In all likeliness, I will pay that bill for the rest of my life — maybe.

I’m going to do a brief comparison of my experiences with the American health care system, and the Indian health care system.

America

1. I fall sick, and must see a doctor.
2. I search for a doctor who accepts my health insurance.
3. I search within the small pool of doctor’s who accept my health insurance for a doctor with availability.
4. I wait two or three days for my appointment.
5. I go to the doctor’s office thirty minutes early to fill out necessary paperwork.
6. I pay a $25 copay.
7. I wait an additional thirty to sixty minutes before being admitted to the examination room.
8. I wait in the examination room for another fifteen to twenty minutes.
9. The doctor examines me. I am diagnosed. I am told important information regarding my symptoms and treatment, and I am written a prescription.
10. I leave the office and go to a pharmacy.
11. I am told I must way six to twenty four hours for my prescription to be filled.
12. If it is covered by my insurance, I pay a $10 copay. If not, I pay the price in full. My most expensive prescription purchase was over $400.
13. I take my medication as directed. I heal.
14. A month later, I get a mysterious bill in the mail from my physician, saying I owe them more money.
15. All in all, I might pay $50 to $200for treatment in addition to the $70 a month I pay for health insurance.

India

1. I fall sick, and must see a doctor.
2. I go to a doctor’s office, give them my name and phone number, and am immediately admitted to the examination room where the doctor is waiting.
3. The doctor examines me. I am diagnosed. I am told important information regarding my symptoms and treatment, and I am written a prescription.
4. I pay Rs. 375 for my consultation.
5. I take my prescription to a pharmacy and it is filled immediately. I pay Rs. 140 for two different kinds of pills, and a throat wash.

Now, unless I end up dead in a week, this experience will be forever embedded in my mind as the best medical experience I’ve ever had. Sure, the thermometer was in this jar with a weird orange sponge, but it was washed and dried before it was put in my mouth.

I’m not saying I would want to get open-heart surgery in India (however I am considering eye surgery), or would like to test the limitations of their health care system, but for a minor sickness? This is all I needed, and it didn’t cost me an arm and a leg.

After the whole experience (which lasted all of twenty minutes), I got some dinner, and some whisky, and took the picture above, which clearly shows me being sad due to my sickness.

[edited for sloppy penmanship]

WHISKY JUICE BOX.