Hey all, I’m British so I don’t really know the ins and outs of the US healthcare system. Apologies for asking what is probably a rather simple question.
So like most of you, I see many posts and gofundmes about people having astronomically high medical bills. Most recently, someone having a $27k bill even after his death.
However, I have an American friend who is quick to point out that apparently nobody actually pays those bills. They’re just some elaborate dance between insurance companies and hospitals. If you don’t have insurance, the cost is lower or removed entirely. Supposedly.
So I’m just asking… How accurate is that? Consider someone without insurance, a minor physical ailment, a neurodivergent mind and no interest in fighting off harassing people for the rest of their life.
How much would such a person expect to pay, out of their own pocket, for things like check ups, x rays, meds, counselling and so on?
It is true that nobody pays the cartoonishly high bills that you see posted online. It is also true that we spend way more on healthcare than basically anyone else.
My company offers very good insurance. Anything “in network” is free after the first $3000 every year, and the monthly premium is around ~$330. Note that this is a company that intentionally offers very good health insurance so they can be less competitive when it comes to salary and time off. I’d say in a given year, I spend around $7,000.
But really, one of the biggest practical issues with our healthcare system is its opacity. Most people are unable to figure out what most things will cost them before they consent to care.
Idk if it’s the same for you but free isn’t exactly correct because while yes they pay full cost, but only if they choose to cover it.
Also in network vs out of network isn’t like you may think. I can go to an in network hospital for a pre approved procedure with an in network doctor and get surprised by an out of network anesthesiologist.
Yes, but if they refuse coverage you can appeal, ans if they refuse to honer the details of your policy you can sue or report them to regulators. Not that it isnt a problem regardless.
And the in network facility/out of network doctor loophole was patched recently under the Biden admin :)
Oh good. I’m partly just frustrated because the appeals process is a massive pain in the ass that’s often necessary. And because I just found out I have to go through it over something from three fucking years ago.
Like if private insurance worked like single payer in effectiveness and ease for the end user I’d hate it still but so much less