Sick Days and Doctor Visits

My au pair is sick.

It started last Thursday with a virus, basically a head cold, and it's morphed into something more serious. She kept trying to work - she's that kind of girl - but she was wearing herself out, so finally, yesterday morning, I sent her to bed. She's been there ever since, outside of two trips to the doctor.

It's those doctor visits that prompted this post. In my au pair's home country, she can go to any doctor for any problem and pay no more than $25, for everything. The visit, any tests, any medications. Everything is covered. No question.

It doesn't work like that here.

AuPairCare does provide insurance, of course. And if my au pair had been able to go to a doctor in plan, she'd have been out-of-pocket only for the prescription medications. But she needed help quickly, so I took her to an out-of-plan urgent care center (note: I did not take her to the Emergency Room - an ER copay for a non-emergency can be as high as $250). After two visits, my au pair was out of pocket nearly $500. Her insurance will reimburse her for that, of course, and for her prescriptions. But she's lucky she had that much saved. Because most au pairs don't.

Saving money is tough when you get only $195.75 a week in stipend. By the time they catch a few movies with friends, buy a new pair of shoes and hit the local Starbucks for a pumpkin spice latte or two, the money's gone.

And most au pairs don't expect our health care to be so expensive. In their countries, they're covered. But it's important that they put a bit of money aside for days like this. For sick days and doctor visits. Just in case.

And if you or your au pair have any questions at all about the insurance, or who to call, or how to find a doctor, call your Area Director. That's what those AD's are there for!