Health Care in San Francisco
Summary: Explore healthcare options for expatriates and digital nomads in San Francisco: uncover top-rated providers, hospitals, and medical facilities to meet your needs while living abroad in San Francisco.
San Francisco has a comprehensive healthcare system that includes both public and private hospitals and clinics. The public healthcare system in the United States is called Medicare and is available to all citizens and permanent residents. It is not available to foreigners, however, expats and digital nomads may be able to access private health insurance. People generally recommend using public hospitals in San Francisco for serious medical emergencies and major surgery. Public hospitals in San Francisco are well-equipped and staffed with experienced medical professionals. They provide quality care at an affordable cost. Foreigners are allowed to use the public healthcare system in the United States, but they may need to pay out-of-pocket for some services. Expats typically use private hospitals for specialized medical care and major surgeries. Private hospitals in San Francisco are well-equipped and staffed with experienced medical professionals. They provide quality care at a higher cost than public hospitals. People generally recommend using private hospitals for serious medical emergencies and major surgery.
Hospitals and Clinics for Expats in San Francisco
There are several recommended clinics and hospitals in San Francisco for expats. These include: San Francisco General Hospital (public), located in the Mission District; California Pacific Medical Center (private), located in the Castro District; and UCSF Medical Center (private), located in the Mission Bay neighborhood. San Francisco General Hospital specializes in trauma and emergency care, while California Pacific Medical Center specializes in cancer care and UCSF Medical Center specializes in pediatric care. For specialized medical care and surgeries, expats in San Francisco often go to hospitals in Oakland, which is approximately 20 miles away by car.
Emergency Services in San Francisco
San Francisco has an ambulance service that can be called by dialing 911. Ambulances typically arrive quickly, but there can be delays due to high demand.
Health Insurance Companies in San Francisco
The most popular private health insurers in San Francisco are Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, and Health Net. Expats and digital nomads typically use these companies or specialized expat health insurance providers.
About the Author
Joshua Wood, LPC joined Expat Exchange in 2000 and serves as one of its Co-Presidents. He is also one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. Prior to Expat Exchange, Joshua worked for NBC Cable (MSNBC and CNBC Primetime). Joshua has a BA from Syracuse and a Master's in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Mr. Wood is also a licensed counselor and psychotherapist.
Some of Joshua's articles include Pros and Cons of Living in Portugal, 10 Best Places to Live in Ireland and Pros and Cons of Living in Uruguay. Connect with Joshua on LinkedIn.
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