I recently had surgery here in Estonia and thought I'd share a bit about my experience. The reason is NOT to start any kind of political [-]arguments[/-] discussion about health care systems (though my post clearly shows my preference in systems) but simply because I think some on the forums would find it interesting and also, because I often hear the concern, that you can live and travel abroad and not be in fear if health problems do arise. I must preface by saying that although Estonia has a medical tourism market, this was not medical tourism as I am also a citizen of Estonia and live here full time. I was just an "average Joe" that needed an operation. I originally wrote this article on a blog I started about my experiences living here. I'm not publishing my blog address just yet as I'm new to the whole blog thing and not ready to "go public." Any questions and comments are welcome.
"I recently had my first personal experience with the Estonian Health Care System. Turns out I was in need of urgent surgery that required the removal of a body part. All I can say is thank goodness this happened to me here in Estonia and not back in the U.S.
When I lived back in the States, I was self-employed and carried private health insurance to the tune of several thousand dollars per year (with annual increases) and that only covered 80% of my bills after I paid the first $500. I was responsible for paying the other 20%. There was also a co-pay for each doctor visit, around $20 I think it was. Prescription medicine I had to pay 100% upfront, but could send in forms after the fact and try to recover up to 60% of that cost. But, considering how many millions of Americans can't afford health insurance at all, I considered myself lucky to be able to afford that plan.
Here in Estonia, health care is basically "free." Regular employees, children up to 19 years old, pregnant women, students, the unemployed, retirees (63+) and a few other categories need not pay into the system for health care. Emergency care is free for everyone. Where does the money come from? Employers. Every employer pays a mandatory fee into the Estonian Health Insurance Fund for each person they employ. The only people that don't fall into the "free" category are the self-employed who pay their own social insurance into the system. Those who simply choose not to be employed, or foreigners receiving a pension from abroad are able to make their own social payments into the fund and receive the same services and coverage as everyone else. I make quarterly social payments into the Estonian Health Insurance Fund (but just a fraction of what I paid annually in the US) which gives me 100% coverage and the only payments I ever have to make outside that are 50 EEK ($4.73 USD) for appointments with a specialist. No bills ever come to me for any reason.
Some people still assume (even 16 years after independence) that Estonia must have some antiquated Soviet health care system. This couldn't be further from the truth. Estonia was quick to model the Swedish system and I have been pleasantly surprised by the quality of care I've received here. And not just me, the doctors and midwives tending to my pregnant wife have been first rate. They even have a state of the art 4D ultrasound machine at the womens clinic in Tallinn that gives you a view of your child as if it was already outside the womb.
I, however, had my operation in Estonia's second largest city Tartu, which also hosts Estonia's largest university including the medical college. So I was picked apart at the University Medical Hospital. My doctor was a young guy, probably my age or likely even less and spoke fluent English. This was helpful as my current level of Estonian doesn't include complex medical terms and procedures. He was a nice personable guy, who took his time while examining me and explaining what was about to transpire.
When I came out of surgery there were several nurses there who did a great job looking after me. Anything I needed I got right away. Even the surgeon came to check on me no less than 3 times before he left for the night. The only difference I noticed from a US hospital was you don't get a private room (though they can be arranged for a fee if space is available). It was three to a room (all with TV's), though no one was understandably in a chatty mood, so it was very quiet nonetheless. When I did leave the hospital I left with nothing more than an appointment card for a post surgical follow-up and a brochure telling me what I should and shouldn't do for the next several weeks. No bills, no waivers, no discharge papers.
I've since been to my follow-up appointment and received a clean bill of health. I feel great and knowing that I wasn't going to have to deal with medical bills coming in for the next few months, likely with mistakes (as happened following a procedure I had done in the US), I was able to concentrate solely on my recovery.
I'm sure people have had varying degrees of satisfaction with the health care system in Estonia as people would in any system around the world, but I for one have had no complaints at all."
"I recently had my first personal experience with the Estonian Health Care System. Turns out I was in need of urgent surgery that required the removal of a body part. All I can say is thank goodness this happened to me here in Estonia and not back in the U.S.
When I lived back in the States, I was self-employed and carried private health insurance to the tune of several thousand dollars per year (with annual increases) and that only covered 80% of my bills after I paid the first $500. I was responsible for paying the other 20%. There was also a co-pay for each doctor visit, around $20 I think it was. Prescription medicine I had to pay 100% upfront, but could send in forms after the fact and try to recover up to 60% of that cost. But, considering how many millions of Americans can't afford health insurance at all, I considered myself lucky to be able to afford that plan.
Here in Estonia, health care is basically "free." Regular employees, children up to 19 years old, pregnant women, students, the unemployed, retirees (63+) and a few other categories need not pay into the system for health care. Emergency care is free for everyone. Where does the money come from? Employers. Every employer pays a mandatory fee into the Estonian Health Insurance Fund for each person they employ. The only people that don't fall into the "free" category are the self-employed who pay their own social insurance into the system. Those who simply choose not to be employed, or foreigners receiving a pension from abroad are able to make their own social payments into the fund and receive the same services and coverage as everyone else. I make quarterly social payments into the Estonian Health Insurance Fund (but just a fraction of what I paid annually in the US) which gives me 100% coverage and the only payments I ever have to make outside that are 50 EEK ($4.73 USD) for appointments with a specialist. No bills ever come to me for any reason.
Some people still assume (even 16 years after independence) that Estonia must have some antiquated Soviet health care system. This couldn't be further from the truth. Estonia was quick to model the Swedish system and I have been pleasantly surprised by the quality of care I've received here. And not just me, the doctors and midwives tending to my pregnant wife have been first rate. They even have a state of the art 4D ultrasound machine at the womens clinic in Tallinn that gives you a view of your child as if it was already outside the womb.
I, however, had my operation in Estonia's second largest city Tartu, which also hosts Estonia's largest university including the medical college. So I was picked apart at the University Medical Hospital. My doctor was a young guy, probably my age or likely even less and spoke fluent English. This was helpful as my current level of Estonian doesn't include complex medical terms and procedures. He was a nice personable guy, who took his time while examining me and explaining what was about to transpire.
When I came out of surgery there were several nurses there who did a great job looking after me. Anything I needed I got right away. Even the surgeon came to check on me no less than 3 times before he left for the night. The only difference I noticed from a US hospital was you don't get a private room (though they can be arranged for a fee if space is available). It was three to a room (all with TV's), though no one was understandably in a chatty mood, so it was very quiet nonetheless. When I did leave the hospital I left with nothing more than an appointment card for a post surgical follow-up and a brochure telling me what I should and shouldn't do for the next several weeks. No bills, no waivers, no discharge papers.
I've since been to my follow-up appointment and received a clean bill of health. I feel great and knowing that I wasn't going to have to deal with medical bills coming in for the next few months, likely with mistakes (as happened following a procedure I had done in the US), I was able to concentrate solely on my recovery.
I'm sure people have had varying degrees of satisfaction with the health care system in Estonia as people would in any system around the world, but I for one have had no complaints at all."
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