San Francisco at a Glance

Health Care in San Francisco

We want you to stay healthy and to enjoy your life in San Francisco.

Many expats dream of living in San Francisco, with its liberal spirit and welcoming atmosphere. Still, life in San Francisco has its ups and downs. Read all about living in San Francisco in our city guide and learn about education, health and the much-dreaded apartment hunt.

Although health care services are of high quality and widely available in the USA, only few people are able to afford these treatments. The Affordable Care Act of the Obama administration aims to make health care accessible for people living in San Francisco or anywhere else in the US.

Unfortunately, the United States is still the only developed nation which does not offer comprehensive national health care to its residents. The only public health insurance options are Medicare for pensioners and Medicaid for people with a very low income and minimum wage earners.

Health Insurance for Expats

You can choose to be covered under the group insurance plans of your company. These policies can often be extended to cover your family. There is usually a choice of different plans available. However, almost no insurance plan provides 100% coverage.

Two different health care organizations are available to you: HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations) and PPOs (Preferred Provider Organizations). Both maintain their own network of doctors. Contact the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality for more advice on health insurance.

Medical Services

There are a lot of public and private hospitals throughout San Francisco and the entire Bay Area. The facilities and services are often more sophisticated at private hospitals. However, they are also a lot more expensive, and your insurance may not cover their services. Try to find a public hospital which is affiliated with a near-by university if you need medical services, as university clinics are usually well-equipped.

The daily cost of a hospital treatment amounts to about $100. Remember, though, that costs for emergency treatments have to be settled right away. For basic care, you can also refer to walk-in clinics. These are a lot cheaper and often a popular alternative to doctors.

HCSO & Healthy San Francisco

The San Francisco Health Care Security Ordinance (HCSO) requires medium-sized and large employers to spend a certain amount on providing health care for their employees. You can refer to the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE) Website for a chart of health care expenditure rates in relation to the size of the company.

Your employer may choose the “City Option” through which you will be provided with a “Healthy San Francisco” account. “Healthy San Francisco” has been established to offer affordable health care to people without health insurance. Although it will provide you with basic care, Healthy San Francisco is not technically a health insurance. Also, you will be limited to a small network of health care providers. You should thus consider taking out health insurance on your own.

Department of Public Health

Expats living in San Francisco can also refer to the San Francisco Department of Public Health for lots of information on health and medical services throughout the city. The department also provides you with lists of different primary health care providers. Here, you will find, for example, information on the services of the San Francisco General Hospital and trauma center.

The Department of Public Health can also refer you to an open clinic or specialist care facilities. However, if you are in need of medical care, you should also talk to your friends and co-workers for recommendations and advice. Also, do not hesitate to contact your insurance provider for more information.