Boston at a Glance
Health Care and Transportation in Boston
The Boston subway, colloquially referred to as T, is among the city's most important transportation methods.
Health Care
Unfortunately for many citizens and expat residents in Boston, the USA has the questionable distinction of being the only country of the so-called “first world” still lacking a comprehensive national health-care plan. The country is among the leading forces in medical research, offering every modern treatment method and specialized staff. But obviously, it all comes at a price, and hospital bills can easily ruin most people if they have to pay everything from their own pocket.
Boston is one of the larger centers of medical research, owing largely to the excellent universities in the city and its metro area. There are well over two dozen medical institutions, hospitals, and specialized clinics located in Boston, many of which are affiliated with a university or college. There is virtually no ailment that could not be taken care of in one of the fine institutions in the city, most of which are among the best in all of New England. All health matters and 911 emergency calls in Boston are overseen by the Boston Emergency Medical Services.
A list of many of the city’s medical institutions can be seen on the website of the Boston online directory, SearchBoston.
Health Insurance
When negotiating your employment contract with the company you are going to sign with, make sure to include a company group insurance plan. Your employer will typically cover up to 85% of your fees. Be aware, though, that no health insurance plan offers 100% coverage of all expenses. Oftentimes, your family and dependants will also be covered by your insurance.
There is, of course, also the possibility of directly purchasing health insurance without the financial aid of your employer. Needless to say, this method will ultimately be more expensive, without actually offering a wider range of services or products.
Public Transportation
For a city of its population and repute, you will find that Boston is comparatively compact in size. In fact, it is only bested by San Francisco in this regard. The positive side effect of such an urban geography is a city that is great both for walking and cycling. In Boston, you will rarely be absolutely reliant on your car for transportation.
Even if you are not much of an outdoorsy person, you can easily avoid using automobiles: A network of 162 bus routes services every part of the city. The Boston subway, commonly called T by the local population, is the oldest subway in the entire country, operating on four lines. As you can see, Boston was the first in the country in a lot of respects!
On the website of the Massachusetts Bay Transport Authority, the service provider for the Boston area, you can find info on all options and modes of public transportation in your new home. Everything from fares and routes to nearby services and terms of use is covered there. The site also offers useful tools such as a trip planner.
Apart from the two abovementioned means of transportation, Boston is also very well connected to its metro region, with various suburban and intercity train lines servicing the rest of Massachusetts, New England, and the American East Coast. If you’d like to escape the incredibly high rental prices of the city proper and move to the outskirts, you’ll still be in downtown or your workplace in a reasonable stretch of time.
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