The health system in the US is very complicated. Hopefully the information we give you here will guide you in the right direction and will be relevant for the majority of you.

There is no national health care system in the States. Most Americans have private healthcare provided by their employers. You will have a certain amount deducted from your payslip to cover a percentage of medical and dental costs.

When you or your spouse find out who your medical and dental insurance association is through your company, you can go online or call them to find out which doctors and dentists are covered by them in your locality.

Most families have two, sometimes three doctors, one for the kids, one for the husband and one for the wife (some people prefer same sex doctors). California Concierges can help you choose the most appropriate medical practice and you can select your doctor within that practice if they have room for you.

When you visit your doctor, you will be asked to pay a fee, called a co-payment, usually between $5 and $20, depending on what type of insurance you have. If your doctor prescribes you some medication, he or she will probably send the prescription electronically to a pharmacy of your choice where you will pay a fee, again between $5 and $20 to collect the medication. The insurance company picks up the rest.

For dentists, the same thing applies, except for the co-payment. You will have to go to a dentist chosen from the list given to you by your dental insurance company. The dentist usually bills your insurance directly and any deductible will be billed to you later by the dentist, depending on what treatment you have.

Don't forget, if you're unhappy with your doctor or dentist, you can change! Ask friends and neighbors for recommendations, but always check that you will be covered by your insurance company if you do.

Useful Information:

• List of Health Insurers from the California Department of Insurance
• Health Insurance information from the California Department of Insurance
• The difference between HMO, PPO, and POS Insurance