‘Don’t get sick. It’s too expensive’: medical debt is putting more Americans in financial crisis
‘Don’t get sick. It’s too expensive’: medical debt is putting more Americans in financial crisis
Although both leading presidential candidates have addressed healthcare costs, neither has tackled the biggest issue – its cost
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It always has. IIRC the biggest reason for bankruptcy in the US has been medical bills, for a while. Our greed driven system is garbage.
Michael Moore made a whole damn documentary about it in 2007, 16 fucking years ago.
Nothing has changed.
They eliminated pre-existing conditions and maximum lifetime payments for health insurance, so that's not nothing.
But they failed to pass a public option which means health insurance companies have a captive audience for their rent-seeking.
And the Democrats still just talk about getting people affordable "coverage" and not affordable "care."
And hospitals are still understaffed and mental health care has six month waiting lists.
Where I live, all care has a six month wait list. I started a new job with new insurance back in April, still haven't been able to get in anywhere to see a new PCP. My dentist canceled an appointment on me last week and rescheduled it for February.
People say socialized medicine leads to long wait times to see doctors. Well, I'm not seeing them now anyway, so at least it's less or of my pocket.
Mental health care is also often just excluded from coverage. My current job is the first time in my life I've had insurance that would cover therapy rather than be like "Look, we gave you one 60 minute session with our free crisis line, what more do you want? If you really need it, it's only $450 a session if it's that important."
I had to call thirteen different therapy offices before I found one that could take me before summer.
Of course, my health insurance website showed them all as "Accepting New Patients"
Maybe there was an asterisk and really tiny font stating "Eventually".
We have a single wait-list if none are available. They email you when there's an opening at a PCP in the area, and you can veto or lemon-law two offers before you have to go around again.
How many mh visits does your policy cover?
I haven't really tested the limits on it, but so far at least one therapy session a week. Haven't needed any inpatient care or anything beyond this, thus far, so I can't comment on that.
That’s wonderful, I’m so glad you’re getting what you need!
And the Democrats still just talk about getting people affordable "coverage" and not affordable "care."
You want to review how the Republicans actually convinced people, especially in the poorest regions who'd benefit the most from a system of improved coverage and reduced cost, that it was a bad thing.
Democrats can't shoot for affordable care; they're trying to get coverage in the door, at least.
And the Democrats still just talk about getting people affordable "coverage" and not affordable "care."
The charitable interpretation is that they're talking about getting the government to pay for healthcare and they don't want to make it sound like medical professionals would all become government employees.
Michael more was FED UP 16 years ago. It's always been broken
Not just the biggest, the biggest by far. Two thirds of bankruptcies are due to medical debt.