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MoogleWizard

Member
Oct 27, 2017
2,678
If you live in a state that expands Medicaid. Texas, for example, doesn't. As a single low income man, I don't qualify in my state. I would be stuck with giant bills.
Don't be fooled. Sure, they exist, but state programs are extremely prohibitive and locked behind ridiculous standards in many cases, especially in Republican leaning states. At one point my mother applied for Medicaid and they said she was making too much for a single person -- she was working at minimum wage. Part time.
Basically the process is this:
-American goes to doctor
-American usually pays out of pocket copay at time of visit (something like $20)
-Doctor sends bill to insurance company (Medicare/Medicaid/insurance from their job/family)
-Insurance decides what parts of the bill they're gonna cover and how much
-Insurance company sends rest of the bill to American
-American says "wtf" and spends a bunch of time dealing with paperwork and arguing with their insurance company

This is further complicated with all the ER examples people are posting because each insurance company only covers specific doctors and hospitals ("in network") so if you end up getting taken to a hospital that's not covered, you get the full bill.
OK, that sounds a lot worse and seems like an awful system that punishes the poor and less fortunate most of all. I don't really know what else to say. It gives me some perspective for the next time I want to complain about having to pay a standardized 5 or 10 € fee for medicine.
 

Puroresu_kid

Banned
Oct 28, 2017
9,465
So you get attacked in the street. Need an ambulance to take you to hospital and they charge you for the privilege.

That's some serious BS
 
Oct 29, 2017
13,472
To be fair you can ask most Americans in the streets and we would not know either until we see the bill. Sometimes it feels like they made up the number.
 

Rosebud

Two Pieces
Member
Apr 16, 2018
43,477
What's the justification of $40 to hold your baby (on top of 10k-30k)???
 
Oct 26, 2017
3,896
Seriously though why are people in the US accepting this as their reality, aren't you guys supposed to be the greatest nation on earth or some shit.
 

Acidote

Member
Oct 26, 2017
4,960
I think that status on medical costs would make my mental health go down the drain. How do you cope with that? I'd live in fear.
 

HyperFerret

Member
Oct 25, 2017
2,140
Worth mentioning most people who work pay a National insurance tax in their wages, it is just it goes into general taxation, so yes it is free at the point of care, but we technically pay for it
America could transfer money out of the military branch of government to pay for healthcare services instead of increasing taxes on the citizens. But that's never gonna happen in the near future.
 

Vormund

Member
Oct 27, 2017
1,499
My wife had twins via c-section, so that would have cost me $60 grand? Get the fuck out of here. Probably more since they were premature and in special care for over 2 weeks.
Cost me nothing here in Australia.
 
Oct 27, 2017
16,544
On the bright side, guns are widely available here. And relatively inexpensive- an AR-15 assault rifle can be had for $500 or less.

What does this have to do with the state of health care here in the US?

Well, when you're diagnosed with a serious illness and can't afford treatment, you can afford to end your own life.
Or you know innocent people since there aren't any damn background checks worth a shit. This country is fuck and will stay that way sadly. You got people saying we shouldn't overhaul the damn system cause then a much of people will lose their jobs in insurance, fuck that noise. If the price is their jobs so everyone can have healthcare it's worth it. There's too many people in on this scheme, hospitals, doctors, insurance, billionaires, politicians.
 
Oct 27, 2017
3,483
My wife had twins via c-section, so that would have cost me $60 grand? Get the fuck out of here. Probably more since they were premature and in special care for over 2 weeks.
Cost me nothing here in Australia.
You might get a discount on the second baby.

There's probably some costs that are fixed e.g. hospital bed/room, drugs, stitches, that don't necessarily double with twins. Might still be $40 each to hold them...
 
Oct 27, 2017
3,483
Or you know innocent people since there aren't any damn background checks worth a shit. This country is fuck and will stay that way sadly. You got people saying we shouldn't overhaul the damn system cause then a much of people will lose their jobs in insurance, fuck that noise. If the price is their jobs so everyone can have healthcare it's worth it. There's too many people in on this scheme, hospitals, doctors, insurance, billionaires, politicians.
When there's a mass shooting, I wonder if the survivors still get saddled with the medical bills.
 

SeeingeyeDug

Member
Oct 28, 2017
2,999
What does Trump have to do with NHS?

Nothing. He doesn't really have much to do with the U.S. healthcare either except attempting to repeal Obamacare which would be on every Republican president's agenda. Fact is that there's no political will on either side of Congress to truly push for a radical change to how shit is now, Trump or not. You can elect the most socialist president you want and he will talk about some great things that truly do need to be accomplished, but it will get stonewalled in Congress as badly as Obamacare was, and any proposed change will be gutted until it barely moves the needle towards the way shit should be.
 

Deleted member 1659

User requested account closure
Banned
Oct 25, 2017
1,191
Dude, I should move to America and start an Uber-esque ambulance service.

We take old Uhaul vans and repurpose them into "health trucks". Then you have two randos who are paid minimum wage and given First Aid training. I'd only charge people 1/3rd of the ambulance fees.
 

Wolfapo

Member
Dec 27, 2017
536
I am just happy to be in Germany. Paying health care through taxes is the way it should be. This is something that should be shared between everyone.
Currently I am undergoing cancer treatment. Was rarely sick or needed to use the health care system. But now I need it.
Cancer is a monster and it just appeared and I have to deal with it. It's already a mental burden, but imagining to also worry about costs would just make me miserable. My insurance is currently also paying my salary for another few months. Until then I should be treated though and back to work, but still it's just great to just continue living (as much as it's possible with chemotherapy every 3 weeks).
 

Soul Skater

Member
Oct 25, 2017
10,201
What does Trump have to do with NHS?
Because after Brexit the UK looking to improve their negotiation stances with the EU after all this will turn to the US with little leverage for a free trade deal

we are a certainly going to try and force Johnson to allow us to sell insurance and drugs to the UK, especially if there are shortages like predications say there will be, and basically destroy the NHS in the process.
 

Fiction

Fanthropologist
Member
Oct 25, 2017
6,724
Elf Tower, New Mexico
not even we know exactly how much healthcare costs. all we know is, it's a lot
Yep that's the shit bit people don't get: I have no clue how much something is going to cost until it's been done. Have an emergency? That's at least 50 grand likely higher. Get a quote of 10 grand on a needed surgery? Better hope there's nothing else to be done cause itll go up for each tool they use.

My mom was just in the hospital for a week. We had to call an ambulance to take her three blocks. I fully expect this to hit close to 100 grand. I'm not going to be shocked if its higher
 
Oct 27, 2017
3,483

FluxWaveZ

Persona Central
Verified
Oct 25, 2017
10,887
Dude, I should move to America and start an Uber-esque ambulance service.

We take old Uhaul vans and repurpose them into "health trucks". Then you have two randos who are paid minimum wage and given First Aid training. I'd only charge people 1/3rd of the ambulance fees.
🤔
 
Feb 10, 2018
17,534
I British and I guess healthcare in America cost about $150 a month, or its free with a job, however if the healthcost costs more then $10k u have to pay.
 

DJ_Lae

Member
Oct 27, 2017
6,857
Edmonton
My wife had twins via c-section, so that would have cost me $60 grand? Get the fuck out of here. Probably more since they were premature and in special care for over 2 weeks.
Cost me nothing here in Australia.

What's even more interesting is how much more expensive the US is even when you look at the actual costs borne by the taxpayer. You aren't getting more by paying everything yourself.

A quick peek shows the average cost of a c-section in Australia is about $9500 US. It's about $6000 here in Canada.

And paying more than three times as much in the US nets you higher maternal and infant mortality rates.
 

lowmelody

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
2,101
What the f??

The victim must PAY ambulance calls?

childbirth cant cost, right?

is this a joke?

neither of these cost anything in scandinavia... in fact no doctor call cost more than 20$ regardless if it is an operation or a meeting..

This is simply another universe to me. I will almost certainly die because of lack of treatment that others can take for granted.
 

collige

Member
Oct 31, 2017
12,772
Dude, I should move to America and start an Uber-esque ambulance service.

We take old Uhaul vans and repurpose them into "health trucks". Then you have two randos who are paid minimum wage and given First Aid training. I'd only charge people 1/3rd of the ambulance fees.
I think you're too late for this idea, people just call Uber to go the hospital nowadays
 

djplaeskool

Member
Oct 26, 2017
19,731
That sucks, I've heard that jobs provide healthcare insurance in America. Is it just discounted insurance or limited insurance?

Having a job typically means that your employer will cover a part of the cost of insurance for you, but you are still responsible for paying your share every paycheck. It's not even a guarantee, however. You can have a job with no insurance benefit, or garbage insurance rates or bad non-comprehensive/catastrophic coverage, which is why the ACA marketplaces are accessible to anybody.
 
Feb 10, 2018
17,534
Not that the NHS is perfect but I hope America gets a healthcare system like the Uk's, after watching that American homeless documentary someone posted on here, its really barbaric that getting sick in America can lead to homelessness and even death.
 

collige

Member
Oct 31, 2017
12,772
That sucks, I've heard that jobs provide healthcare insurance in America. Is it just discounted insurance or limited insurance?
It's generally discounted (as in the cost that comes out of your paycheck) compared to just buying a plan outright since the employer is signing people up in a group. That said, it could still be shitty in terms of coverage, so you'll have out of pocket costs on top of that like copays and deductible.
 

SvennusDemonicus

alt account
Banned
Jun 22, 2019
501
Absolute backbone of the country. We're so fortunate to have it.

That's interesting to know, thanks for the ballpark. ~£4k I'm definitely thankful to still have, but also not having to consider finances during that time other than the time off work as well. That's worth its weight in gold.

It's nuts that I see £4k in the US and think that's surprisingly low-cost, when we're talking about four grand lol.
Yeah I had spine surgery when living in states. Had good insurance still had to pay 3,000. Live elsewhere now and 0 cost above like $300 per year
 

Moff

Member
Oct 26, 2017
4,776
is that really true? getting a child costs 10k or up to tree times that?? I am just surprised I have never seen or heard about this in an american movie or tv show. I would imagine this would be a reason to never have children for tons of people. hell it would be in my rich ass country.
 

Hella

Member
Oct 27, 2017
23,394
$40 to hold your baby

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It's so "little" and yet it's emblematic of everything about America's health care scheme.
 

Lundren

Member
Oct 27, 2017
1,745
That sucks, I've heard that jobs provide healthcare insurance in America. Is it just discounted insurance or limited insurance?

You pay out of every every check to have insurance. You then pay to use the insurance.

I currently have insurance, but never go in because I don't want to pay to be seen. The only thing I have done that didn't cost me anything was getting the flu shot. Did I mention that if you don't have insurance you have to pay to get a flu shot?
 

TheMango55

Banned
Nov 1, 2017
5,788
is that really true? getting a child costs 10k or up to tree times that?? I am just surprised I have never seen or heard about this in an american movie or tv show. I would imagine this would be a reason to never have children for tons of people. hell it would be in my rich ass country.

that's how much the bill is. Most people won't pay that much.

If they are middle class or up they will likely have insurance that will cover most of it, if they are poor they will likely be able to get Medicaid to cover it.