广东省教育厅教研室
IntheU.S.,themedicaltreatmentthatyoureceiveandthedoctororhospitalthatyoucanvisitdependsonthehealthinsurancecoveragethatyouhave.
Thetwokindsofinsurancearefee-for-serviceandmanagedcare.
Fee-for-service:Yougotothedoctorofyourchoice.Yourinsurancecompanyonlypaysforspecificservices,notforeverything.
ManagedCare:Therearethreetypesofmanagedcare.
A.HMO(HealthMaintenanceOrganization):Youcanonlyreceivecarefromonehospital,forexample.
B.PPO(PreferredProviderOrganization):Youcanonlyreceivecarefromspecificdoctors,forexample.
C.POS(Point-of-Service):ThisplanisacombinationofanHMOandPPO.
Toseeadoctor,youshouldcallthedoctor'sofficeorthehospitaltomakeanappointment.Ifitisanemergency,youcanvisittheemergencyroomofahospitalormakeanemergencyappointmentwithadoctor,accordingtoyourinsurancecoverage.
Whenyouseeadoctor,thedoctorwillgiveyouaprescriptionforyourmedication.Youmustgotoapharmacyandgivetheprescriptiontothepharmacistinordertoreceiveyourmedication.Thepharmacistwilloftenexplaintoyouhowtotakethemedication.
Youcanalsopurchasemedication,whichdoesnotrequireaprescription.Suchmedicationisalsoreferredtoasover-the-counter(OTC)drugs.
