America - health insurance

[Connachtfive]

I’m ever thankful for the NHS after reading this article.
Americans brace to start New Year without healthcare https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c98n8lrj7y6o

I agree but it's hardly news. YouTube is stuffed to the gills with similar stories.

One of the best things about working for an insurance company back in the day was you could get massive US holiday health cover at staff rates!

I think many people are not really aware of the American health system and it’s inequalities and many people think it’s only wasters and scoundrels

I speak from experience when I say that you have no idea how the charges ramp up when you are in an American hospital. Especially if you are seriously ill. Every visit from every nurse, doctor, physio etc is charged. They swipe your wrist band every time they administer anything at all. Their health insurance rarely covers everything. A friend had breast cancer and even though she had the top rated insurance, she still ended up having to pay thousands. We have all seen ER but do not realise that that is the only care anyone is entitled to free of charge. If you need to be admitted etc, then you have to be able to pay. I met people working 3 jobs to pay off medical bills.

I think many people seriously underestimate the amount of cover they will need and that even a "simple" ambulance ride might well cost thousands before hospital treatment has even started.

It’s terrifying. Thinking about this sort of system coming to the UK is terrifying.

i hope we don’t get that here. i would prefer to pay a little more for the nhs services rather than have it sold off to the highest bidder to then charge us all megabucks….

the problem is that people don’t want to pay ANY more so it’ll likely happen…

I think it’s a tragedy that, in general, people in the UK take the NHS for granted. They moan at the price of prescription charges (£9.90 per item) without having any idea of the cost of some medications.