To be appalled at people dying in the USA because of the cost of insulin

[WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll]

A 27yo man in Virginia, who had type 1 diabetes, died last month because he couldn't afford to pay for the insulin that he needed to keep him alive and healthy.

Up to the age of 25, he was covered on his step-father's medical insurance, but once he turned 26, he was on his own. He was in a low-paying job which didn't come with adequate health insurance, so he saw no alternative but to buy the much less effective (and much less suitable for his needs) cheap variant over-the-counter at Walmart and then ration it to eke it out as much as he could.

I saw a report today suggesting that this is far from the norm. One family has a child whose insulin costs them £1,200 a month. It's their biggest single family outgoing and they sometimes have to sit in the dark or the mother go without food herself to be able to afford it. Of course, as he grows, he will be needing to eat more food and therefore need more insulin. Whatever would the family do if they had another child who developed T1D?

At best, it seems that ordinary people can find themselves very limited in their job/career choices and will often have to take any job based on what insurance cover it comes with, rather than one based on their skills, abilities, qualifications, experience, interests etc. At worst, the poorest, most vulnerable and/or least educated will not be able to get into any job that comes with the cover they or their families need.

It's much, much cheaper in Canada, so Americans who live anywhere near the northern border travel over and stock up there whenever they're able to; but the USA is a huge country, so this will not be a feasible option for the vast majority.

We see and hear all of the heartbreaking reports and appeals from poor countries in Africa, Asia and eastern Europe, but THE USA?!?!

I know our NHS is far from perfect, but we have an immense amount to be grateful for.

How do American MNers manage to deal with this; or indeed, people from anywhere without an NHS or similar public set-up? Are these the full, true facts? Are people in the richest country on Earth really just tossed into the trash so easily and left to die for getting ill?

Link for the report about the 27yo man:
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/diabetes-josh-wilkerson-death-age-counter-insulin-cost-lost-private-health-insurance-american-doctor-a9039656.html

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/navy-veteran-bernie-sanders-rally-says-hes-going-to-take-his-life/

And it’s $500 for an ambulance ride! It varies from state to state too.

Terrifying, sad and so unfair. So grateful for NHS.

I don't really understand how the health system works in USA.

I heard of a woman in America who developed diabetes related sight problems and needed an urgent operation to save her sight.

On the way to the hospital she got a call from her insurer to say she wasn't covered. She went blind as a result. Horrifying.

There was a thread on here earlier with people complaining about the NHS then adding 'I'd go private if we could but we can't afford it' - that's exactly it. Without the NHS you dont get better private care, you get no care.

I trained in the US as a medic and worked a few years in the UK. The care is no better in the US but you undergo a lot more tests so that we can bill insurance for more. And if you don't have insurance you either pay obscene amounts or don't ever go to the doctor. To be fair even those with insurance also limit going to the doctor because of deductibles in the thousands and copays of $50+. On top of paying hundreds of dollars a month for the 'privilege' of being insured by that company.

That is what really puts me off ever living in the US, the insane cost of medical insurance is more scary than the lack of gun control.
Long live the NHS!

I've got a chronic health condition and I'm in a group that is largely US-based. I'm shocked at just how over-medicalised they are. Massively over-treated for everything and it causes them far more health problems imo.
Well, the insured ones, anyway. The posts from people who can no longer work and have lost their insurance coverage are terrifying and heart-breaking.

The NHS saved mine & my daughter's lives.
I hate to think how much that would have cost in the US.

The burning question is: Why are US citizens so afraid of social health care?

Social(ism) is a dirty word. There is a mentality of ‘I’m alright jack’ and that you have to work for everything you have (no matter if you are not in a position to do so). It’s a weird attitude.

Because the money isnt there to pay for Social Health Care and we Americans do not like to pay higher taxes

Wowzers ☹️ RIP to that poor man. I have epilepsy and couldn’t afford to buy my meds. One of them costs over £600 per month, plus I take three others and an emergency medication. It’s got to be over a grand per month. I’d be in status (continuous seizures) within 24 hours if I stopped taking my meds which could cause stroke, heart attack or death. Thank god for the NHS.

The American healthcare giants are salivating over the opportunity to pick off the NHS post Brexit. I still can’t believe there are British people who think Trump has our interests at heart. How many times does he have to say ‘America First’ before they get it?

@Leaannb the money is there, we just choose to spend it on different things. We actually spend more on healthcare per person than the UK does and that's to cover a small percentage of people.

The truth is private health insurance is the biggest scam the government sells to the American people. You have to pay hundreds of dollars a month (at least) for the privilege of having a health insurance plan which will not even cover your basic medical needs until you have spent thousands of dollars out of your own pocket on top of those premiums. And after that you still must pay copays every time you see your doctor, or fill a prescription. That's of course if your insurance doesnt deny the claim for necessary medical procedures or medications which is exceedingly common.

I'm type 1 and unfortunately, I've heard so many stories like this. I've on quite a few social.media groups and some of the stories I've read are heartbreaking; shocking and beyond belief for a country like the US.

The cost of insulin in the US has increased astronomically too. I have more than once looked at temporarily living in the US as have a v good friend over there. It just isn't an option for a diabetic.
It's not just insulin. I bet insulin pumps, libre sensors etc are all for those in well paid jobs with excellent insurance.

The NHS is brilliant. I try v hard to have good control and I can do this as I have excellent care with all the latest insulins and technology. It certainly will save the NHS (if it's still around) money in the long run.

Why are US citizens so afraid of social health care?

I asked my American friends the same question once and the overwhelming consensus was that there is an attitude in America of "why should I pay for you to have xxx? You should work harder and buy xxx for yourself".

Tis the American dream, baby.

Because the money isnt there to pay for Social Health Care and we Americans do not like to pay higher taxes

The UK have the money to pay for our NHS, the USA is a richer country so could afford it easily.
No one really likes paying taxes but we know it's for the greater good of society. A bit like 'help thy neighbour'
If we do things that benefit society as a whole then ultimately the individual benefits directly or indirectly.

I’m still trying to get me head around property tax in the US. How can anyone afford to retire?

Healthcare for poor people in the US sounds worse than for many other countries around the world. How awful to know that the medication you need is available to the lawyer who lives on the other side of your town but not to you because you work in a shop/restaurant/garage. I can't understand how the world's wealthiest nation can condone such inequality.

The US is barbaric when it comes to health care for poor people and the health insurance and pharmacological industry are an absolute scandal. I've often thought that it explains why so many Americans appear to believe in a god – because the state isn't going to help you when you get into trouble.

We were visiting family and one family member needed to go to US for anafalactic (sp??) shock. He was there for hours and came out with some hypodermics and a rather large bill. We were comparing the us system vs the uk system (half the family are brits) and the care given.

One relative out there has a terminal condition which is costing so much just to keep her going - diagnosis took ages and the care wasn’t brilliant. I know someone in the UK who has the same and he couldn’t praise the NHS highly enough for his diagnosis and ongoing care.

What our NHS did - and still largely does - is cut out the middleman, resulting in huge savings. In the US, the insurance companies and the drug companies too, of course, all have boards and shareholders who cream off a profit. That is how and why it all costs more over there but delivers less.

Trump wants a trade deal that puts the NHS on the table for slicing and dicing for sale to US insurance companies and for the really tough deals the NHS makes with US pharmaceutical companies to be scrapped.

He hates that we get our life-saving drugs at lower prices than US citizens do.

Go to A&E not US!

My Canadian friend pays the best part of $1000 a month for their 7 yr old daughters insulin. It's eye watering. Compounded by the fact the she can't work as school won't administer any medication so she has to be available to go to school at least once if not two or more times a day to test sugars and administer. So they have to find the money from one wage.

We are so so lucky to have the NHS.