Why is medical examination so expensive in London??

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

Wait until you have to see a doctor in America without insurance. We paid about $375 for a one hour consult with a doctor in America in the fall. Although, I paid about $250 for a visit + fees for labs to see a private doctor in Denmark.

We pay about $900/month for health insurance for our family, but also don't pay income taxes, so it all balances out.

[JimyAnita 8]

Here in Argentina ir costs converted to dollars, around $60, the examination, x-ray and blood test. But I guess it's like everything, the earnings here are way lower than in the US too.

(On the other hand, our struggle are the costs of flights :/)

[CowBoE 429]

Check with your local health department. You may be able to get the vaccinations at a more affordable price.

Yes, someone pointed that out before.

Also, I will check with my health insurance...though I doubt they will cover them.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Does anyone know why the exam is so costly?? 245 pounds thats almost $400?? Are other countries that expensive?

I think that is the going rate to see a private physician in London and have an exam, chest x-Ray, and blood testing. Yes there are private physicians not in the National Health Service.

And I think using the exchange rate to US dollars is muddying the concept. I have found that at US Subway sandwich shops a "$5 footlong" as the ad used to say was a £5 footlong in the UK. A Starbucks grande cappuccino is $3.60 in the US and £3.60 in the UK. It's only when you are a tourist you think in terms of "OMG! I just paid over $6.00 for this cappuccino."

[blueniv 5]

In Bellevue, WA it cost me $385, which included blood work, TB skin test, standard physical and tetanus shot. Necessary evil, unfortunately...

[subz 6]

I paid $55 for medical and another 35 for shots in India.. seems rates vary country wise...

[Amanda4964 202]

in Melbourne, Australia it is $440, not including vaccinations.

[Tonester 29]

210$ in Russia - if not including additional stuff. well, nobody said that visa process is cheap

[Elizabeth+Fred 35]

Medical costs in Amsterdam are EUR 145 for the medical itself, plus EUR 50 for the chest X-ray.

Its one of those "oh, well!" things .....

... oh, and this does NOT include any vaccinations...

[sandraperry 34]

In Portugal the medicals are 250€ aprox 336$.

[nobbie 105]

I have a medical every 2 years for work done in the UK it's about £100 but that's without x ray and blood test so £245 is not really expensive.

Once here is the US get ready to be shafted for healthcare, me and the wife pay $1000/ month for insurance and then you still have co pays to see the Dr, co-insurance for other stuff and of course prescription charges.

Then you will likely find other insurance (house, car) is more expensive here, property taxes are outrageous, we just got ours for next year $5,000, so if you think council tax is bad then brace yourself. Oh, and that doesn't include refuse collection, we get a separate bill for that.

[Elizabeth+Fred 35]

I have a medical every 2 years for work done in the UK it's about £100 but that's without x ray and blood test so £245 is not really expensive.

Once here is the US get ready to be shafted for healthcare, me and the wife pay $1000/ month for insurance and then you still have co pays to see the Dr, co-insurance for other stuff and of course prescription charges.

Then you will likely find other insurance (house, car) is more expensive here, property taxes are outrageous, we just got ours for next year $5,000, so if you think council tax is bad then brace yourself. Oh, and that doesn't include refuse collection, we get a separate bill for that.

Ow, I can beat that easily... try moving to Holland

Taxes, insurances and all that fun.... don't get me started.

The medical system, well, OK, like most European healthcare systems, that's reasonably OK, mostly because the governments do keep an eye on what doctors, specialists and hospitals are allowed to charge, and same with capping prices on various drugs. I don't like government meddling with our business, like most, but it IS a good thing that they at least *try* some "suppliers of basic servers" (such as medical) from vastly overcharging their customers (who often don't have a choice..)

Anyway, that's OT here, sorry mods..

Based on the fees people have posted in the thread so far, the cost of the medical does seem to be somewhat based on local income rates.. the higher the local income, the higher the cost of the medical.

[lirpa11 16]

$560 for my husband in perth Western Australia!! It's ridiculous.

[dejaavu 0]

It is about 330$ here in Canada.

[lorella 65]

About $400 for Cuba. Monthly income for a Cuban is ~$20. It's very expensive.