Nearly half of cancer patients have more than $5,000 in medical debt, even though most are insured - eviltoast
  • henfredemars@infosec.pub
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    6 months ago

    Half the time I don’t even understand why I pay for insurance. It doesn’t seem to cover anything.

    Even when it’s supposed to work, there’s always something. Surprise surprise that one doctor was out of network! Should’ve noticed while you were unconscious.

    • unreasonabro@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      the proper response to that is a lawsuit. what, you don’t have half a million dollars on hand to pay lawyers?

    • epyon22@programming.dev
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      6 months ago

      Been on high deductible for 9 years moved to a medium level traditional plan. I feel like I’m spending the same amount of money just less bills to deal with. Only time I can see it being cheaper is if you have something chronic.

      • henfredemars@infosec.pub
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        6 months ago

        I’m not convinced that HD health plans did much more than reduce premiums on paper. It didn’t really address any of the problems with the system.

        You can call more people insured I guess.

        • bobs_monkey@lemm.ee
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          6 months ago

          They didn’t. All they really did was disallow carriers to either drop or deny you for preexisting conditions (which they just charge you up the ass for to make it back), and fine people for not paying for private insurance, all while being able to claim they did something. It’s a fucking joke.

        • AA5B@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          They really only seem worth it when paired with an HSA. I have really expensive coverage now, because: kids. If I instead had my company’s high deductible plan plus funded an HSA to cover the deductible, both my premiums and coverage would be about the same. However for years when I didn’t use the entire HSA, it rolls over for the future. If you can afford this combination and not always sick, you have good coverage and premiums going down over time. With kids, there’s always something, so not worth it for me

          • edric@lemm.ee
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            6 months ago

            Yeah, I’m on a HDP + HSA as well and it works for us at the moment. No plans to have kids and don’t get sick often. If and when the chronic issues start manifesting, then maybe we will consider a traditional plan. Still shocking to see those bills though.

  • friend_of_satan@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    Well no shit. Have you seen these insurance policies?

    It’s like this: anybody who thinks they like their insurance policy isn’t using it.

    Edit: ITT: people describing the problem as if it’s not the problem.

    • pearsaltchocolatebar@discuss.online
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      6 months ago

      There are good plans out there, but most companies won’t offer them, and they’re expensive. I pay $1k a month for my SO to be on mine, but the $250 deductible and $1500 OOP max is pretty nice.

      • RagingRobot@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        That’s not a good deal. A good deal would be you pay for insurance and have no deductible or fees to worry about. Insurance is insanely expensive and it just acts like a horrible discount program once you finally need it. It’s a scam

        • lennybird@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          Unfortunately in our current system, that is a good deal and platinum level insurance. Even working for a hospital that’s the best you tend to get.

          Yes, we need single payer, though.

      • PsychedSy@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        6 months ago

        I pay copays. I’ve never paid coinsurance or really know what my deductible is. I think I have one? Not actually sure. I don’t recall what adding a spouse is, but it’s insanely lower than your 1k. I think a full family plan is less than 400/mo. Might be more now.

        I get 10k infusions every two months for $15.

  • Snot Flickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    6 months ago

    This country just wants to bleed us dry and then let us die because we’re no longer economically viable.

    Hell, I’ve heard from friends that MedicAid (Medicare?) is a debt, and that old people who die while being cared for by it can have their houses taken as collateral after they die. Leave it to your kids? Nope, go fuck yourself if you didn’t plan overly complicated ownership schemes at least five years before they kick the bucket or need to be in a home.

    Source: me, with cancer. Fuck this shithole society.

  • unreasonabro@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    “even though most are insured” Of course they have debt - insurance is a scam, it’s not a solution to a problem, it’s a problem you accept to act as a middleman between you and other possibly bigger problems enabled by the incredibly shitty culture we’ve created which is not worth continuing.

    And the prices of american health care are a direct response to that scam, by the way. as far as they’re concerned every bill is directed at the insurance industry and is aimed at recouping lost costs due to the bullshit insurance companies pull.

    Just because it’s always been this way doesn’t mean it’s not incredibly, incredibly dumb.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    Hey, that’s me and I’m not even a cancer patient!

    And yes, I do have “good” insurance.

  • Son_of_dad@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    Wanna know something? I’m Canadian with universal healthcare and I also have medical debt!

    They’ve cut so many essentials out of healthcare here that we now pay out of pocket for injury rehab, foot issues, and hearing loss, etc.

    • ShunkW@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      This is how they do it. Cut essential services, then point at the socialized system and say how bad it is.

      They’re doing the same to public education in America. Their end goal is to push people into private, read mostly religious, education. Evangelical Christians have had a hold on the GOP since Reagan.

  • LustyArgonianMana@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    If the FDA, FTC, USDA, EPA, Depts of Transportation, and CDC wanted to guarantee and check their work, we’d have universal healthcare. And in fact I think that’s exactly the legal argument for why the government should be FORCED to provide us healthcare - how else would we be able to catch (and class action sue for) large community-wide health hazards such as:

    -asbestos in baby powder

    -lead and heavy metals in vitamins and supplements

    -consistency of dosing in medications

    -Deaths from auto accidents when we should be having trains

    -Deaths from contaminated eggs, meat, milk from bird flu or other pathogens

    -Products that are blatant lies/false

    -Companies leaking chemicals into water supplies

    -Lead in water supply

    -Heavy metals in water supply& in crops, from exhaust from cars and bits of tires

    -imminent looming climate change

    Gee, I wonder why corporations are scared of us getting healthcare?