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$72k estimate for a hospital case. That is above the median yearly income, it is absolutely time for the government to nationalize healthcare and provide Medica

$72k estimate for a hospital case. That is above the median yearly income, it is absolutely time for the government to nationalize healthcare and provide Medicare for all. I’m not worried about paying a few hundred for a premium for Medicare per month, it’s the Monopoly money hospital bill that is the problem.

gridlockd 7y ago
It may be premature to evaluate performance of different systems in the current crisis, but I would like to point out that the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland do not have nationalized healthcare. Italy, on the other hand...
- rayhendricks 7y ago
  I fully understand that, but NL/DE/CH do not allow their healthcare providers to pull the shenanigans that we do in the United States. It is incredibly frustrating to need to go to the urgent care for strep throat or something and then not have any idea how much it will cost afterwards, and also have a health plan with a $2000 deductible and $4000 out of pocket max. This is literally the garbage that we in the USA have to deal with all the time.
  - ac29 7y ago
    > It is incredibly frustrating to need to go to the urgent care for strep throat or something and then not have any idea how much it will cost afterwards Isn't that stuff all defined though? I just looked at my insurance, and it clearly states Urgent Care visit is $65 and a Strep Lab test is $28 (both out of pocket, after insurance costs). Granted, getting costs on something more complicated is more difficult, but there's still the defined deductible and out of pocket maximums that can be useful.
    - rayhendricks 7y ago
      Much of it is defined in their policies and imo Kalifesque reality, however if the strep test accidentally goes to an out of network lab, then you will have to pay their imaginary rate or argue with your insurance provider. Another example would be using an out of network anesthesiologist, which one would not be informed of and then receive a surprise bill three moths later. Some states have passed legislation which somewhat protects against this however here is a good example of it https://www.google.com/amp/s/khn.org/news/even-with-insurance-she-faced-227k-in-medical-bills-what-it-took-to-get-answers/amp/ https://www.google.com/amp/s/khn.org/news/even-with-insuranc...
digi59404 7y ago
No, that’s 72k that’s what’s charged. The actual paid price is MUCH lower. Some hospitals have cash based pricing where brain surgery is 15-20k out the door.

gridlockd 7y ago

It may be premature to evaluate performance of different systems in the current crisis, but I would like to point out that the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland do not have nationalized healthcare. Italy, on the other hand...

rayhendricks 7y ago
I fully understand that, but NL/DE/CH do not allow their healthcare providers to pull the shenanigans that we do in the United States. It is incredibly frustrating to need to go to the urgent care for strep throat or something and then not have any idea how much it will cost afterwards, and also have a health plan with a $2000 deductible and $4000 out of pocket max. This is literally the garbage that we in the USA have to deal with all the time.
- ac29 7y ago
  > It is incredibly frustrating to need to go to the urgent care for strep throat or something and then not have any idea how much it will cost afterwards Isn't that stuff all defined though? I just looked at my insurance, and it clearly states Urgent Care visit is $65 and a Strep Lab test is $28 (both out of pocket, after insurance costs). Granted, getting costs on something more complicated is more difficult, but there's still the defined deductible and out of pocket maximums that can be useful.
  - rayhendricks 7y ago
    Much of it is defined in their policies and imo Kalifesque reality, however if the strep test accidentally goes to an out of network lab, then you will have to pay their imaginary rate or argue with your insurance provider. Another example would be using an out of network anesthesiologist, which one would not be informed of and then receive a surprise bill three moths later. Some states have passed legislation which somewhat protects against this however here is a good example of it https://www.google.com/amp/s/khn.org/news/even-with-insurance-she-faced-227k-in-medical-bills-what-it-took-to-get-answers/amp/ https://www.google.com/amp/s/khn.org/news/even-with-insuranc...

digi59404 7y ago

No, that’s 72k that’s what’s charged. The actual paid price is MUCH lower. Some hospitals have cash based pricing where brain surgery is 15-20k out the door.