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Was healthcare formerly more affordable? Or did people not use it in the past?

by foota 9y ago

ams6110 9y ago
Both. It was more affordable, but it was also a lot simpler. Because it was less likely a doctor could actually help you, many people didn't bother at least for minor ailments. When I was a kid, if I had a sore throat or fever I just endured it, maybe with the help of some aspirin. Parents didn't rush panic-stricken to the doctor for every bump and sneeze.
TuringNYC 9y ago
In the US, I can say anecdotally healthcare was never quite affordable but it has been getting increasing un-affordable each year for at least the past 17 years at least. I know because I see the larger and larger premiums deducted from my salary every year of my professional life, even when not accounting for family-hood. It is the constant talk in October/November when most professionals have to sign up for health plans and get sticker shock.
prostoalex 9y ago
The price was lower, but the overall regulatory environment was much worse. Insurance companies could deny coverage based on a variety of pre-existing conditions, even minor ones. Insurance companies could deny coverage based on the lack of previous coverage, i.e. not having a valid insurance policy for a few months while you were switching employers, etc. The policies had no hard limits on out-of-pocket maximum, which meant that for some prolonged treatments (cancers, complicated surgeries) you could easily get into the debt that would lead to an eventual bankruptcy. The forms that you had to fill in during the application process asked for a quite detailed family history, so for a couple with kids that would include parents, grandmas and grandpas on both sides, and then you add siblings. If you omitted any symptoms or complications, perhaps by mistake, or perhaps grandma's arthritis wasn't really a dinner conversation topic, the insurance companies could claim that you've intentionally falsified your medical history, and deny coverage retroactively.

Was healthcare formerly more affordable? Or did people not use it in the past?

by foota 9y ago

Was healthcare formerly more affordable? Or did people not use it in the past?

Both. It was more affordable, but it was also a lot simpler. Because it was less likely a doctor could actually help you, many people didn't bother at least for minor ailments. When I was a kid, if I had a sore throat or fever I just endured it, maybe with the help of some aspirin. Parents didn't rush panic-stricken to the doctor for every bump and sneeze.

TuringNYC 9y ago

In the US, I can say anecdotally healthcare was never quite affordable but it has been getting increasing un-affordable each year for at least the past 17 years at least. I know because I see the larger and larger premiums deducted from my salary every year of my professional life, even when not accounting for family-hood. It is the constant talk in October/November when most professionals have to sign up for health plans and get sticker shock.

prostoalex 9y ago

The price was lower, but the overall regulatory environment was much worse. Insurance companies could deny coverage based on a variety of pre-existing conditions, even minor ones. Insurance companies could deny coverage based on the lack of previous coverage, i.e. not having a valid insurance policy for a few months while you were switching employers, etc. The policies had no hard limits on out-of-pocket maximum, which meant that for some prolonged treatments (cancers, complicated surgeries) you could easily get into the debt that would lead to an eventual bankruptcy. The forms that you had to fill in during the application process asked for a quite detailed family history, so for a couple with kids that would include parents, grandmas and grandpas on both sides, and then you add siblings. If you omitted any symptoms or complications, perhaps by mistake, or perhaps grandma's arthritis wasn't really a dinner conversation topic, the insurance companies could claim that you've intentionally falsified your medical history, and deny coverage retroactively.