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Please just read the article if you want to argue about it, it's not that long. > And about 1 in 5 with any amount of debt said they don't expect to ever pay i

Please just read the article if you want to argue about it, it's not that long. > And about 1 in 5 with any amount of debt said they don't expect to ever pay it off. That's 20 million people. > About 1 in 7 people with debt said they've been denied access to a hospital, doctor, or other provider because of unpaid bills, according to the poll. That's 14 million people. > An even greater share ― about two-thirds ― have put off care they or a family member need because of cost. That's 66 million people. > Half of U.S. adults don't have the cash to cover an unexpected $500 health care bill That's 129 million people. Again, please read the whole thing, whether or not you want to comment more. This is important information for US residents.

FreqSep 4y ago
> Half of U.S. adults don't have the cash to cover an unexpected $500 health care bill I recognize that this is an important discussion to have to improve US healthcare, so I’m not outright disagreeing with you. But I think this is a bit editorialized. Paying with cash is so rare in society. I don’t even have the cash to pay for my lunch - I just use a credit card. It shouldn’t be surprising. Half of U.S. adults said they would pay it immediately.(30% using savings,20% using a credit card they pay off that month) A further 21% said they would pay with a credit card and pay it off over time. (Anyone who is already in other forms of debt will probably take this option as they, by definition, don’t have the cash for other things.) Another 5% said they would make a payment plan with a provider / pay overtime. That’s 76% of the country that is knowledgeable about reasonable ways to pay for the services. Now, 24% using worse off options or not knowing - that’s not good at all. But it’s a far cry from the implication that “half of people can’t pay” But still this isn’t really a metric on the U.S. healthcare system directly - that would be asking why we have unexpected $500 bills, not which payment method people are using. And alternatively, or even in tandem, why people are not saving and planning ahead.
- burkaman 4y ago
  I disagree that going into credit card debt or negotiating a payment plan are reasonable ways to pay for essential medical services.

FreqSep 4y ago

> Half of U.S. adults don't have the cash to cover an unexpected $500 health care bill I recognize that this is an important discussion to have to improve US healthcare, so I’m not outright disagreeing with you. But I think this is a bit editorialized. Paying with cash is so rare in society. I don’t even have the cash to pay for my lunch - I just use a credit card. It shouldn’t be surprising. Half of U.S. adults said they would pay it immediately.(30% using savings,20% using a credit card they pay off that month) A further 21% said they would pay with a credit card and pay it off over time. (Anyone who is already in other forms of debt will probably take this option as they, by definition, don’t have the cash for other things.) Another 5% said they would make a payment plan with a provider / pay overtime. That’s 76% of the country that is knowledgeable about reasonable ways to pay for the services. Now, 24% using worse off options or not knowing - that’s not good at all. But it’s a far cry from the implication that “half of people can’t pay” But still this isn’t really a metric on the U.S. healthcare system directly - that would be asking why we have unexpected $500 bills, not which payment method people are using. And alternatively, or even in tandem, why people are not saving and planning ahead.

burkaman 4y ago
I disagree that going into credit card debt or negotiating a payment plan are reasonable ways to pay for essential medical services.