San Francisco City offers every avenue of health care and a revolutionary system for the United States so everyone can afford care. Healthy San Francisco provides a medical home and primary physician to each program participant, allowing a greater focus on preventive care, as well as specialty care, urgent and emergency care, laboratory, inpatient hospitalization, radiology, and pharmaceuticals. This is Mayor Newsom's program and is fulfilling his pledge to provide universal health care access to the city's estimated 73,000 uninsured.
San Francisco's Department of Health is responsible for keeping the city healthy and offers information on tips of staying healthy and how to take care of illness on its website.
To see a doctor you usually need to make an appointment first which may require you to wait for a week, or sometimes a month. Some doctors are already booked up and will not take new patients, but will refer you to another area doctor. When calling the office, the receptionist will find a date for you and usually ask about your insurance. It is expected that you pay a co-pay for your visit when you see the doctor depending on your insurance plan. American doctors tend to run many tests and x-rays to protect themselves from the chance of lawsuits which runs up costs.
Update 2/01/2009
Expatriate health insurance in the United States
With so much to deal with before leaving your home country, (taxes, moving house, paperwork etc.) the careful planning of your expatriation to San Francisco is an essential step. As far as healthcare is concerned, your local social security scheme won’t be accompanying you to your host country and, once abroad, you might be surprised by the care system you find in the United States So, before leaving, make sure you have appropriate cover!
Cigna is one of the world's biggest international insurers with more than 30 years' experience in providing global health insurance across 200 countries and territories. They have access to more than 1.65 million hospitals, physicians, clinics and specialists worldwide.
Cigna Global's flexible plans are specifically designed for expats and globally mobile individuals who move to the United States. All their plans can be tailored to your individual requirements in the United States, always finding the right healthcare solution, whatever the situation and budget.
Getting a health insurance quote
Create your perfect plan with Cigna and combine the reassurance of comprehensive inpatient cover with the flexibility of optional extra benefits.
Click on the button to access the online tool and get a quote in 2 minutes.