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> The biggest cause of bankruptcies is lack of income, which health insurance doesn't affect. Maybe that 4% is correct, but for sure how to deal with paying fo

by fy20 5y ago

> The biggest cause of bankruptcies is lack of income, which health insurance doesn't affect. Maybe that 4% is correct, but for sure how to deal with paying for medical care is a big worry for many people in the US. There was a post a few days ago (or comments at least) discussing how many people working low wage jobs in the US are working 29 hours or fewer specifically so their employer doesn't need to provide health insurance. Are there social programs that cover those people, or do they just not go to the doctor when sick?

Talanes 5y ago
I'm the slightly higher tier of low-wage worker that does get decent hours and benefits, and I still don't go to the doctor. My general experience when not going in to deal with a discrete injury is that I pay 50 bucks to have someone ask me some questions, shrug, and give me the card to someone else who would cost another 50 bucks that I can no longer spare.
TMWNN 5y ago
>There was a post a few days ago (or comments at least) discussing how many people working low wage jobs in the US are working 29 hours or fewer specifically so their employer doesn't need to provide health insurance. Are there social programs that cover those people, or do they just not go to the doctor when sick? Details vary by state, but generally Medicaid, a public insurance program, kicks in for those below a certain income level. Contrary to what Reddit would have you believe, 91% of Americans have medical insurance (<https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2020/demo/p60-271.html https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2020/demo/p60-27...>), whether through their employers, or government programs like Medicare/Medicaid. That's compared to 95-97% in other developed countries because there are always some people who fall through cracks, like (say) a Canadian who doesn't get a new provincial health care card after moving, or a German who neglects to buy into a new sickness fund after changing careers. Two thirds of Americans have private medical insurance. One third have public insurance of some type, including 20% from the aforementioned Medicaid. Some large chunk of the 4-6% differential in the US versus other countries is illegal aliens who don't qualify for public insurance and are working cash jobs that don't provide private insurance. The only such national systems with actual 100% (or as close to it as possible) coverage is something like the UK NHS, which does not have a requirement to show a membership card (because, well, there isn't one) to receive treatment.

by fy20 5y ago

Talanes 5y ago

I'm the slightly higher tier of low-wage worker that does get decent hours and benefits, and I still don't go to the doctor. My general experience when not going in to deal with a discrete injury is that I pay 50 bucks to have someone ask me some questions, shrug, and give me the card to someone else who would cost another 50 bucks that I can no longer spare.

TMWNN 5y ago

>There was a post a few days ago (or comments at least) discussing how many people working low wage jobs in the US are working 29 hours or fewer specifically so their employer doesn't need to provide health insurance. Are there social programs that cover those people, or do they just not go to the doctor when sick? Details vary by state, but generally Medicaid, a public insurance program, kicks in for those below a certain income level. Contrary to what Reddit would have you believe, 91% of Americans have medical insurance (<https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2020/demo/p60-271.html https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2020/demo/p60-27...>), whether through their employers, or government programs like Medicare/Medicaid. That's compared to 95-97% in other developed countries because there are always some people who fall through cracks, like (say) a Canadian who doesn't get a new provincial health care card after moving, or a German who neglects to buy into a new sickness fund after changing careers. Two thirds of Americans have private medical insurance. One third have public insurance of some type, including 20% from the aforementioned Medicaid. Some large chunk of the 4-6% differential in the US versus other countries is illegal aliens who don't qualify for public insurance and are working cash jobs that don't provide private insurance. The only such national systems with actual 100% (or as close to it as possible) coverage is something like the UK NHS, which does not have a requirement to show a membership card (because, well, there isn't one) to receive treatment.