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How Taiwan transformed its health care system

nytimes.com

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Re: How Taiwan transformed its health care system

#21

Post by pixelbill »

peterburkimsher wrote: post #12

Culture helps - everyone here wants to be a doctor, lawyer, or engineer. Taiwanese doctors don't get paid in money. They get paid "credits" which have to be exchanged for money based on a parallel financial system. Foreigners here sometimes complain that there's a focus on seeing more patients faster, so there might be a misdiagnosis or a less thorough examination. The fact remains though - it's cheaper to fly here t…

I'm planning on visiting to get some dental work done in the coming months. I have a lot of issues and have never been able to afford proper work here in the US. To get the work done I need here would be in excess of $50,000 but my friend in Taiwan said it would cost at most $1,000 there.

Every time in the past I suggested something like that to my current dentist they had the same reaction, basically: "Oh I would never do that! You're going to get an infection and/or they are going to do such bad work that no dentist here in the US will want to touch you afterwards."

Doctors in the US are so arrogant, thinking they are the best in the world because they are the most expensive. I would love to move to Taiwan, but I suffer miserably in the jungle weather (hence why I am going in winter).

Edit: As someone with chronic health issues in the US, I have a laundry list of horror stories about doctors here. They are far, far from the best in the world.

Re: How Taiwan transformed its health care system

#22

Post by diziet »

dustinmoorenet wrote: post #13

While visiting my in-laws in Taiwan (Taichung City), My son slipped on the floor and busted his head just above the eye. We took him to the ER. He got 7 stitches and occupied an ER bed for 4 hours while the drugs they used to put him under wore off. We paid after we were released. It came out to about $200 US total, without insurance. We got back to Austin a week later and had the stitches removed, which cost us $60,…

When I visited Taiwan, I needed to get some urgent dental care done. I went to a small local clinic, where the dentist spoke good enough english, did great work (including x-rays) and my total uninsured bill was less than my co-pay in the US would have been.

It is good AND affordable.

Re: How Taiwan transformed its health care system

#23

Post by wisty »

whatyoucantsay wrote: post #15

Taiwan does indeed have world class health care despite having an exceedingly low tax rate by western standards. But lets not overlook the elephant in the room. Taiwan is an island full of thin people who eat rice or noodles at almost every meal. Millions of people still shop primarily at traditional markets and millions of others follow Buddhist diets that would be mocked by western "diet hackers". Only in the past…

Taiwan has an obesity rate of >20%. Not quite 35% or whatever the USA is, but still kinda high.

Re: How Taiwan transformed its health care system

#24

Post by kevinjcliao »

whatyoucantsay wrote: post #15

Taiwan does indeed have world class health care despite having an exceedingly low tax rate by western standards. But lets not overlook the elephant in the room. Taiwan is an island full of thin people who eat rice or noodles at almost every meal. Millions of people still shop primarily at traditional markets and millions of others follow Buddhist diets that would be mocked by western "diet hackers". Only in the past…

Hi there! Taiwanese here. We invented boba (full of sugar and unhealthy), and our cuisine, while delicious, can be incredibly unhealthy. We are actually struggling to confront one of Asia's largest obesity epidemics. I think the notion that we're an island "full of thin people who eat rice or noodles at almost every meal" is not only a problematic and reductionist characterization, it ignores the problems that we face (an epidemic of obesity and an aging population.)

[1]http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2016/04/...

Re: How Taiwan transformed its health care system

#25

Post by LammyL »

peterburkimsher wrote: post #12

Culture helps - everyone here wants to be a doctor, lawyer, or engineer. Taiwanese doctors don't get paid in money. They get paid "credits" which have to be exchanged for money based on a parallel financial system. Foreigners here sometimes complain that there's a focus on seeing more patients faster, so there might be a misdiagnosis or a less thorough examination. The fact remains though - it's cheaper to fly here t…

How much does it cost to get wisdom teeth removed in the US and in Taiwan? My dentist in Toronto charges around $400 CAD per tooth for extractions, and that’s with full general anesthesia. The price is the same here with private insurance and without.

Re: How Taiwan transformed its health care system

#26

Post by geomark »

cilea wrote: post #3

Taiwan's health care system is quite comprehensive, coverage includes annual eye examination, teeth cleaning, etc. And, I don't remember paying much for it. People usually go straight to the hospital instead of visiting their family doctors. Most checkups (e.g. X-ray, blood check) are done at the hospital; no need to do mulitple trips. I actually prefer Taiwan's system over Canada's. The thing is, Taiwan's system is…

Are these hospitals private or public? The experiences posted in this thread are very similar to my experiences in Thailand at private hospitals which are really nice world class facilities with mostly very good doctors. The public hospitals, however, tend to be way over subscribed and quite poor quality in service and facilities. I'm wondering if there is a private versus public hospital divide in Taiwan.

Re: How Taiwan transformed its health care system

#27

Post by itsZero »

geomark wrote: post #26
cilea wrote: post #3

Taiwan's health care system is quite comprehensive, coverage includes annual eye examination, teeth cleaning, etc. And, I don't remember paying much for it. People usually go straight to the hospital instead of visiting their family doctors. Most checkups (e.g. X-ray, blood check) are done at the hospital; no need to do mulitple trips. I actually prefer Taiwan's system over Canada's. The thing is, Taiwan's system is…

Are these hospitals private or public? The experiences posted in this thread are very similar to my experiences in Thailand at private hospitals which are really nice world class facilities with mostly very good doctors. The public hospitals, however, tend to be way over subscribed and quite poor quality in service and facilities. I'm wondering if there is a private versus public hospital divide in Taiwan.

Both. The best hospital is a public one and tons of smaller or local hospitals run by both private (usually non-profits) or public. I think the smaller public one do suffer from resource shortage but fair service and quality are still expected and available. (but i live mostly in the city, I do imagine remote area would have some problems)

Re: How Taiwan transformed its health care system

#28

Post by Scottieli »

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Re: How Taiwan transformed its health care system

#29

Post by polskibus »

What are the opportunities for Taiwan healthcare workers to emigrate? Sometimes the surprising quality comes from lack of perspectives for the workers (for example strict visas requirements in contrast to EU free labour movement). Many very good doctors from Central and Eastern Europe emigrated and the quality of healthcare dropped.

Re: How Taiwan transformed its health care system

#30

Post by ram_rar »

I had half of my toe nail severed off due to a bathtub mishap. I dint have first aid kit at home and rushed to minute clinic at CVS near my house. They charged my insurance whooping $150 to bandage a wound... I dint have to pay anything, but I felt this was way tooo excessive.
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