Health Care

[Gyakuto]

Is all of this true about US health care or is it hyperbole?

 

[drop bear]

Yes. Their healthcare is garbage.

How does health spending in the U.S. compare to other countries? - Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker

In this chart collection, we examine how U.S. health spending compares to health spending in other OECD countries that are similarly large and wealthy, based on median GDP and median GDP per capita. For this analysis, we reviewed the OECD Health Statistics database and the CMS National Health...

www.healthsystemtracker.org

 

[drop bear]

And there is insane stuff as well. I had a pharmacist mate of mine go in to the details of how drug companies incentivise Dr to sell their products with bonuses.

Which is illegal here.

 

[Gyakuto]

And there is insane stuff as well. I had a pharmacist mate of mine go in to the details of how drug companies incentivise Dr to sell their products with bonuses.

Which is illegal here.

They used to do that over here in the U.K. but in typical British fashion the drug reps gave out emblazoned stationery, pens and novelties (my Dad brought home a gizmo once, from a headache pill promotion that you stared at and gave you a headache so you could try out their pill!). In the 80s they’d pay for him to attend swanky conferences…in places like the Seychelles, but then it was all outlawed and we had to buy our own stationery.

Having said that…look what I just found!

 

[Bill Mattocks]

Is all of this true about US health care or is it hyperbole?

This is my Blue Cross total claims for 2022, the year I had my heart ablation for afib. This year I've been relatively healthy and only spent $94,000 to date.

Here's my breakdown.

I have a high deductible plan through my employer. I pay around $12,000 per year for health / dental / vision / term life insurance. The plan pays nothing until I have paid $4,000 out of pocket. Then it pays 90% and I pay 10%, until I reach $6,000 out of pocket. Then it pays 100%.

I have a health savings account. I put $7,000 of my pretax income into it annually and use it to pay my $6,000 deductible. It can only be spent on health care, but it saves me paying income tax on it. What isn't spent each year rolls over.

My dental insurance maxes out at $1,100 per year. Anything above that I pay at 100%.

My vision insurance pays for one eye exam per year and a crappy pair of eyeglass frames which no one buys because they're garbage.

I also must be careful to ensure any care I receive is both in-network and pre-authorized or it may not be covered or I may be stuck with a large copay.

Employee coverage differs among employers. Mine offers several plans, at different coverage and costs. You have to guess and try to estimate which will be best for the following year. You're locked in unless you change employers or get married, divorce, have a child, etc. Pre-existing conditions used to not be covered, which meant if you had a serious medical condition you dare not change employers or you'd be screwed. Obama changed that. My son in laws employer doesn't offer health care at all; they don't have to.

Also, the amounts charged are not the amounts paid. Insurance companies have leverage, so a $1,000 medical bill might be paid by the insurance company with $200. However the uninsured do not get a discount, they must pay it all.

Medical bills are the number one cause of personal bankruptcy in the USA.

As I approach retirement, I've been fighting to get my VA disability claims approved so that I'll be able to get my medical care through the VA. Medicare is what is otherwise available and you can be wiped out financially in old age by what it won't pay. If I'm fortunate enough to get 100% VA disability at some point, my wife will be able to enroll in CHAMPVA, which will cover whatever her Medicare won't pay.

I say retire, but in reality I'll work until I'm unable to or die. Social Security won't be enough to live on, plus it's due to run out of money in 2032.

We do health care and retirement badly in the USA.

 

[HighKick]

And there is insane stuff as well. I had a pharmacist mate of mine go in to the details of how drug companies incentivise Dr to sell their products with bonuses.

Which is illegal here.

Yep. Fully true. The U.S. has a top down problem in health care.

 

[Gyakuto]

It’s in humane! Why don’t you collectively do something about it?

 

[windwalker099]

It’s in humane! Why don’t you collectively do something about it?

Those in the US are not in control of the system, if they ever were.

Taiwan, has a good comprehensive health care system

I should add because of the laws in the US "for the hospitals and Insurance companies "

Your medical Records are considered the property of the hospital. In Taiwan, your records follow you through the medical card that everybody has. When you walk into any clinic or hospital they can access them to see what has been done and what they can do...
Works pretty good....in practice

In the US it's can be very scary having a visit to the hospital because of the way they they charge and how the charges can accumulate by the system... In Taiwan, everything is upfront...with payment system set based on type of service, request by the patient..

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

Is all of this true about US health care or is it hyperbole?

It’s actually much, much worse in some ways that they didn’t even mention. I deal with this directly in my work. It’s a stain on our country. It’s absolutely criminal what insurance companies do to people who are their customers. Pure shame is what I feel when discussing it. I will write an example later, guaranteed to shock you.

 

[Gyakuto]

Isn’t anyone trying to address this inequality?

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

It’s in humane! Why don’t you collectively do something about it?

Well it’s important to remember that the people who make the laws can afford the premium which is subsidized by 72% by the government. They can also vote themselves pay raises. Insurance companies have very powerful lobbyists. Homeowners in several states are having their policies cancelled with no alternatives outside extremely expensive state coverage. Flood insurance can run in the thousands per month in some areas. It’s a completely out of control system. Get sick, can’t work, lose your insurance, go bankrupt, lose everything. It happens all the time…

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

Isn’t anyone trying to address this inequality?

Well this could go political any second so…

 

[Buka]

My wife worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield for twenty five years. She started in the mailroom at twenty years old and worked her way up to writing contracts. Our dining room table was frequently stacked, two feet high, with her take home work.

For the last eighteen years she’s worked as a Research Grants Analyst for the biggest hospitals in Boston. (She works remotely from Hawaii, obviously.)

So I’ve been around this health care stuff for most of my adult life.

Calling health care in the United States garbage, to me, is a compliment.

And an insult to garbage.

 

[Gyakuto]

Well this could go political any second so…

Say no more

 

[Gyakuto]

Well it’s important to remember that the people who make the laws can afford the premium which is subsidized by 72% by the government. They can also vote themselves pay raises. Insurance companies have very powerful lobbyists. Homeowners in several states are having their policies cancelled with no alternatives outside extremely expensive state coverage. Flood insurance can run in the thousands per month in some areas. It’s a completely out of control system. Get sick, can’t work, lose your insurance, go bankrupt, lose everything. It happens all the time…

It’s astonishing. At this stage, in the U.K. there’d be a peasant’s revolt led by a Wat Tyler character!

 

[Gyakuto]

I’d’ve thought good, cheap healthcare would, at least, be a bipartisan policy and all those who aren’t wealthy would vote for it. I’m watching Youtube clips about US citizens waiting until they’re illnesses are almost life threatening before seeking medical advice! This is criminal. Skin-to-skin contact with your new born child is chargeable?

 

[drop bear]

Isn’t anyone trying to address this inequality?

Insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies are very rich.

And they will loose out

 

[drop bear]

I’d’ve thought good, cheap healthcare would, at least, be a bipartisan policy and all those who aren’t wealthy would vote for it. I’m watching Youtube clips about US citizens waiting until they’re illnesses are almost life threatening before seeking medical advice! This is criminal. Skin-to-skin contact with your new born child is chargeable?

Yeah that messes with the economy a bit. As those people can't work. And therefore can't pay tax.

If it's a small business and it closes down. Then the employees can't work and pay tax.

 

[Gyakuto]

Thanks for all your measured responses, they were a real eye opener.

If you’re ever ill, come over here and the NHS will treat you.

 

[Old CJ]

The USA is supposed to be a constitutional republic. So why is our health care system turning toward Socialism? Nowhere in the Constitution does it allow the Federal government to force people to purchase a product (health care) then use the I.R.S. as henchman to enforce.
After this recent shift to Socialism we had doctors leaving the profession due to non profits. New health care providers coming in are scarce. Drug costs are skyrocketing.

Well this could go political any second so…

Is this the first second or the second second?