Many Americans are known for rejecting the concept of universal healthcare. Still, the following 25 healthcare horror stories that happened in America will make you question precisely what Americans are attempting to protect.
1. I got pregnant @ 19 – I was at a decent job but unfortunately had no health insurance. At my 1st doctor appointment, they sat me down for “financial counseling” on how I was going to afford the hospital bill to pay them. I couldn’t afford the projected 20K hospital bill on my own, so they suggested I apply for Medicaid. Called the Medicaid office and was denied because I made FIFTY DOLLARS over the income limit per year. They told me that I should quit my job so that I would qualify for public assistance – otherwise, the bill would be entirely on me.
Luckily, I had a boss that I could really confide in. She cut back my pay by like ten cents an hour, something ridiculously insignificant like that, and wrote a letter to my caseworker letting her know that it was due to “company budgetary restraints.” Voila, I got the help I needed.
Not many people are nearly as lucky as I was. The fact that I was actually TOLD to quit my job in order to be able to ‘afford’ having my son still makes my stomach churn. (submitted by user magdaleena)
2. “A few years ago, I had surgery on my hand because I had a mallet break of my index finger and the bone fragment twisted with the tendon attached. The corrective surgery involved twisting the fragment back into place with pins and then leaving those in for a few weeks so ossification could happen. Understandably, the surgery was in the $15,000 range, give or take, and insurance covered around 65% of it. But what astounded me most was that when we removed the pins from my ring finger, it cost $6,500. Really? It was five minutes with a doctor (not even the surgeon) and a set of pliers! Also, insurance claimed it was “cosmetic,” so they wouldn’t pay for the removal of the pins. Lost my faith in our system that day.” (schrodingersqueer)
3. “How about when your wife works for the insurance company that is also her provider, and after our baby was born, they refused to pay the bill because her pregnancy was a pre-existing condition? Their excuse was that because the child was born two days prior to the due date, she must have lied about the date she became pregnant. Now her employer is the same company that is suing us for the bill, ironic?” (tripmas)
The healthcare system in the United States is a complex amalgamation of public and private healthcare providers, insurance companies, government programs, and individual out-of-pocket payments. It primarily relies on private health insurance, while the government offers healthcare coverage to specific populations through programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
A significant portion of Americans below the age of 65 acquire health insurance through their employers. Employer-sponsored health insurance plays a crucial role in the private health insurance system of the country. Individuals without coverage from their employers can purchase private health insurance directly from insurance companies or through the Health Insurance Marketplace, which was established by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Despite its positive aspects, the American healthcare system encounters various challenges and criticisms. These include concerns regarding access to care, escalating healthcare costs, disparities in health outcomes among different demographic groups, administrative complexities within the system, and debates surrounding the government's role in healthcare provision.
The healthcare system in the United States is known for being one of the most costly in the world. There are various reasons for this, such as administrative expenses, expensive medical services, medications, and devices, as well as the fee-for-service model. Moreover, the absence of clear pricing, inefficiencies in healthcare delivery, and the number of uninsured individuals also contribute to the increasing healthcare expenses.
The high cost of healthcare in the USA is largely due to the expensive administrative expenses. The American healthcare system is complex, with many payers and providers, which results in a greater administrative burden.
The lack of price transparency is a major factor in the high healthcare costs in the US. Patients often have limited knowledge about the cost of medical services, which makes it challenging for them to find the best price. Moreover, the complexity of the healthcare system and the absence of standardized pricing further hinder patients from comparing prices and making well-informed decisions about their healthcare.
Under the fee-for-service system, providers receive payment based on the services they provide. This can lead to an overuse of services and higher costs. Furthermore, the FFS model incentivizes providers to request unnecessary tests and procedures in order to increase their income.
Another major factor contributing to high healthcare costs in the US is the high prices for medical services, pharmaceuticals, and devices. Market forces usually determine the prices for these services, as well as other factors such as supply and demand, competition, and government regulations.
