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I think the key difference here is that you are ultimately at the behest of your insurance company. I don’t like the idea of insurers making decisions over my h

I think the key difference here is that you are ultimately at the behest of your insurance company. I don’t like the idea of insurers making decisions over my health. I’d take the British NHS over US system any day as I know ultimately if I’m sick I can rely on it. You don’t have a plan B in US - or am I mistaken?

kmonsen 6y ago
You are mistaken, in the good plans all they do is serve as a middleman that pays most of the bills, and all the bills after a certain number. Having lived in London, NYC and SF and broken bones in all locations I can say if I could choose to have a big issue I would probably do it in SF but they all gave good treatment and I am thankful and think the healthcare is good enough in all places that I would not even take that into account when choosing where to live of those places.
- deanclatworthy 6y ago
  I’m genuinely surprised you trust the intentions of an insurance company over a nationalised health system. Insurance companies are famous for weasling their way out of claims. Maybe you can elaborate a bit more on this.
  - kmonsen 6y ago
    There is a yearly out of pocket maximum in the best insurances. It doesn't matter what happens, I will pay max something like $10k for me and family no matter what happens. This is true for all of Google and Amazon (note that this is all Amazon workers including those that work in delivery centers). On a country wide look we are super privileged, and of course if I could choose I would pay a bit more tax and cover everyone. But that is not an option. I am just saying if you are software engineer, you will most likely be fine. Edit: Also these big companies don't really have insurance, but insure themselves and just use the network and negotiating capabilities from the insurance companies.
    - dukeyukey 6y ago
      > I will pay max something like $10k for me and family no matter what happens. Does that usually apply for out-of-network treatment? Or long-term medication/care?
      - kmonsen 6y ago
        Yes, there is a different amount for out of network yearly max, but it’s still less than $10k. It applies to anything. I’ve had several surgeries, one was over $100k just for the surgery (a broken arm that was healing wrong and had to be reset, all the tendons were turn off from the bone) and insurance paid without any questions. A stated many times it is not my preferred system, but as a software engineer you and your family will be taken care of and healthcare is not a worry.
- Xcelerate 6y ago
  San Francisco’s only level 1 trauma center does not take private insurance, so if you are taken there, expect an absolutely massive bill despite how good your employer-provided health insurance is.
  - kmonsen 6y ago
    It really doesn't work that way. My insurance covers out of network as well with a yearly maximum. My wife has gone to ER by ambulance a few times (she gets really strong periods and sometimes faints in strange places). It has always been covered.

kmonsen 6y ago

You are mistaken, in the good plans all they do is serve as a middleman that pays most of the bills, and all the bills after a certain number. Having lived in London, NYC and SF and broken bones in all locations I can say if I could choose to have a big issue I would probably do it in SF but they all gave good treatment and I am thankful and think the healthcare is good enough in all places that I would not even take that into account when choosing where to live of those places.

deanclatworthy 6y ago
I’m genuinely surprised you trust the intentions of an insurance company over a nationalised health system. Insurance companies are famous for weasling their way out of claims. Maybe you can elaborate a bit more on this.
- kmonsen 6y ago
  There is a yearly out of pocket maximum in the best insurances. It doesn't matter what happens, I will pay max something like $10k for me and family no matter what happens. This is true for all of Google and Amazon (note that this is all Amazon workers including those that work in delivery centers). On a country wide look we are super privileged, and of course if I could choose I would pay a bit more tax and cover everyone. But that is not an option. I am just saying if you are software engineer, you will most likely be fine. Edit: Also these big companies don't really have insurance, but insure themselves and just use the network and negotiating capabilities from the insurance companies.
  - dukeyukey 6y ago
    > I will pay max something like $10k for me and family no matter what happens. Does that usually apply for out-of-network treatment? Or long-term medication/care?
    - kmonsen 6y ago
      Yes, there is a different amount for out of network yearly max, but it’s still less than $10k. It applies to anything. I’ve had several surgeries, one was over $100k just for the surgery (a broken arm that was healing wrong and had to be reset, all the tendons were turn off from the bone) and insurance paid without any questions. A stated many times it is not my preferred system, but as a software engineer you and your family will be taken care of and healthcare is not a worry.
Xcelerate 6y ago
San Francisco’s only level 1 trauma center does not take private insurance, so if you are taken there, expect an absolutely massive bill despite how good your employer-provided health insurance is.
- kmonsen 6y ago
  It really doesn't work that way. My insurance covers out of network as well with a yearly maximum. My wife has gone to ER by ambulance a few times (she gets really strong periods and sometimes faints in strange places). It has always been covered.