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?

My daughter is type one diabetic. Life is hard enough living with this disease as it is; if we had to pay for her insulin this month I honestly don't know how I would be able to afford it.
Just in case people aren't aware - type one diabetes is an autoimmune disease, totally separate from type two. There is no prevention and currently no cure.
I feel terribly for those in the USA. Paying to stay alive, or dying if they cannot pay. All due to having the unfortunate luck of developing an autoimmune disease, which could happen to anyone at any time

We take the NHS for granted over here really dont we?!.I remember a programme about people in USA having to camp out O/N ,just to access health care in the Sports Hall, when Doctors / Nurses/Dentists would give their time freely to those in urgent need .I think most people are able to get health care through their employer for themselves and their families .But something like 66 million dont have any cover terrifying!

I just don't get it. Why would you be prepared to see people dying and having to sell their houses to pay hospital costs, just so you don't have to pay taxes and can afford more stuff. Sorry but I don't want to become more like the US in terms of personal values. It's weird when we're told how much more religious the US is. How does that fit in with Christian charity.

I have type one diabetes, my parents moved to the UK (not from the US) as they couldn’t afford insulin, test strips etc.

Sadly this is the reality for type 1 diabetics without nationalised health care.

DippyAvocado, they think about prosperity in a different way from us. If you're poor, it's because you're lazy or stupid and you don't deserve anyone's concern.

Our NHS and SS system is seen as socialism that is barely a hairsbreadth from evil communism.

I have an American friend whose son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. She told me that they would probably never be able to move back now- too risky.

It probably costs the equivalent of $500 for an ambulance trip in the UK but as we don't pay we don't see the value (and some abuse it)

So shocking - you can have a very decent job in America and still risk medical bankruptcy, or die! How is that a fair society, a meritocracy? Hilarious if they claim to be the greatest nation, when they leave fellow citizens to suffer like this

American with high health needs here. DH and I both had it drilled into our heads from a young age that you take whatever job you have to take to get health insurance. It’s half of why we emphasize the importance of university to our dd. Jobs that require a degree almost always come with health insurance. Sadly, not everyone has that option.

Even with insurance, chronic conditions are incredibly expensive. My dd has asthma. Let’s assume she has absolutely no problems in a year. We have 4 exams a year at $145 each (that is after insurance pays for the bulk of the fee, we never pay more than 20%). Then monthly meds at $65 + 30 + 20 + 10 = 135

So 1454 + 13512 = $2,200 a year.

That assumes she never ends up needing a rescue inhaler or extra visits or hospitalizations which is not realistic.

I have an autoimmune condition. My medication for that condition is $37,000 a year. Insurance is covering close to 95% which is an incredibly generous percentage, but this condition is expensive to manage so they are only doing it in the hopes that this med saves them
Money in the long run. I expected to pay the remaining $out of pocket, but thankfully I was able to enroll in a patient support program that is covering my portion of the fee.

DH is a transplant recipient. His ongoing ability to cover his lifelong anti-rejection meds and follow up testing and exams was a factor in his authorization to receive an organ.

My household is in the 90th percentile for income in the us. We have top of the line health insurance. We still have to think about managing medical expenses every month. It is by far our biggest expense, especially since we have to pay close to a 1000 a month out of pocket for the heath insurance in addition to the portion my company pays.

A friends child broke his arm - and it cost them about $1000 for a plaster. Th doctor was a friend and gave them mates rates apparently.

How many of us would be able to merrily hand over - what, about £900 - out of the blue for a medical emergency?

It is shocking :(
But as others have said, it's kind of an attitude over there that "why should I have to pay for someone else's health?" - i have had an American friend who said those exact words to me.

If anyone is interested though, there was a documentary made years ago now called 'sicko' and it is about the American healthcare and compares it to the UK, French and Canadian healthcare system. It is a very good documentary and gives you an insight into why it is still like this. I believe it is free on youtube.

I had an argument with an American once who said that healthcare is a privilege, not a right. Just couldn't believe what I was hearing, especially as I work for the NHS. He was spouting all sorts of fox news facts about taxation in the UK and how we pay so much income tax. Also lots of bullshit about how the NHS works. Had great fun knocking every one of his made up facts with real evidence.

But really, if an educated, rich, white, 30 year old man thinks that everyone has the same opportunities has he does, then there is no hope. There is very much a belief that people are no working hard enough.

They believe trump when he says he is a self made man. I guess they look at that dummy and think ‘well if he can make money...’?

My dd broke her elbow last year. $4000 out of pocket. We got very lucky and the insurance covered the ambulance.

Yep!! Ppl in the uk have NO IDEA!! I am in Ireland and the other day I went to the doctor because I had quite bad thrush that wasn’t going with over the counter treatment. It cost me €50 for the doctor €10 for the prescription and €15 for my meds!!

Let's thank God wd don't live in the USA and we have the NHS.

One American's opinion:
It's not the NHS we are against. It's the fear of all the other "socialist" stuff that might come with it.
-Health Visitors - we don't want anyone coming to out homes and telling us how to live. We want to choose our own health advisors.
-Schools telling us what we can/can't put in packed lunches and doing weight checks on children and reporting them to SS/HV.
-Closed courts. Parents have children taken and put up for adoption and not allowed legal representation or an avenue for appeal. Worst
that the newspapers/TV stations cannot report on these cases.
The US is certainly not perfect (and we aren't as rich as people think we are) but we are very independent and very conscious of the importance of a free press.

What happens to uninsured emergency victims? Say a car crash, or gunshot wound.

Are they literally left untreated, to die?

Have you seen Sicko? It starts with a story about a man who lost 2 fingers on a circular saw. He had to choose which finger he wanted reattached as he couldn't afford both. Imagine being a surgeon chucking a finger in the bin because the customer didn't have the money to save it. It seems an utterly bizarre concept to us.

@FATEdestiny no they get treated but they also receive a huge bill!!

It's horrifying.
I am in a lot of support groups for mental health. Most of participants are American and some of the stories are shocking.

One friend needs specialised treatment as she is incredible suicidal. There is one hospital which can treat this particular condition and insurance won't pay out. She is desperate.

I could never live in America just based on health insurance. I have a heart condition and recently had emergency bowel surgery I would hate to think how much that would set me back.

Long live the NHS.

What happens if they can't pay?

As my dh is type 1 diabetic I am so grateful for the nhs!

@FATEdestiny...payment plans, court!etc etc...🤷‍♀️

Health Visitors - we don't want anyone coming to out homes and telling us how to live. We want to choose our own health advisors

What??