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Not discounting larger cultural forces and momentum at play, but I have to wonder how big a role inflated healthcare costs play in parents' level of protectiven

Not discounting larger cultural forces and momentum at play, but I have to wonder how big a role inflated healthcare costs play in parents' level of protectiveness over their young children. Even adjusted for inflation, a visit to the emergency room for a broken arm or a few stitches is a way different financial proposition today than it was in say 1988 when I was a pre-teen running amok, alone, within a 5 mile radius of home. I know I have a dollar amount floating in the back of my head when I'm watching my kiddo cavort around in the playground or jumping between big rocks the same way that I did at his age. Is there mortal danger? Not at all.. Buuuuut, is he going to split his lip if he face plants on a leap? How many grand is that going to be, even with insurance? It figures into the mental calculus, even if we can ostensibly afford it. Lots of families probably cannot afford it so well. My family definitely wouldn't have been able to if health care costs were the same in the 80s as they are now.

giarc 2y ago
Likely not at play since you see the decrease in free play across countries with public healthcare systems. As a Canadian I do not think about the cost of healthcare whatsoever. If my kid falls and breaks an arm, the cost is $15 which is one day of parking.
- nkotov 2y ago
  Broke my arm a couple years ago in the US - total cost for me out of pocket after insurance was around $5k.
- Cpoll 2y ago
  > one day of parking Unfortunately you really will be there the whole day.
  - giarc 2y ago
    Do we have issues with wait times, yes. However, the guy above you broke his arm and had to pay $5,000 AFTER insurance covered their portion.
    - duck 2y ago
      I worked with a Canadian about 10 years ago that broke his arm while visiting family in Winnipeg during Christmas. He waited 2 or maybe 3 full days to have it set and get a cast with no luck in seeing a doctor and finally drove across the border to have it done in the US. He was 60 or so and when he didn't even seem upset at that happening! That really opened my eyes on "free" healthcare.
      - giarc 2y ago
        N of 1 stories don't really work as I could easily find a ton of terrible stories of why the private system in the states is bad for people. The Canadian system (or any public system) gets a bad rap for wait times, but it's not like everyone is just walking around with open wounds and broken bones here. I work in a hospital, and if you come in and need an MRI urgently, you get it. If it can wait, you wait. We aren't fully public, and if you want a private MRI next day you can pay for it (and in fact, the last time I compared local prices vs prices in Montana, we were cheaper).
Clubber 2y ago
The news has gone to 11 with the fear mongering since the 1990s and fear mongering about your kids in danger is the most profitable. FWIW, my kid always wanted to go to the playground when she was a youngster. When she hit around 11, she was no longer interested. Computer took over.
neuralRiot 2y ago
Another side effect of the healthcare cost is the liability for the owner/ maintainer of the play space as naturally parents would want to offload the cost of the treatment by seeking a lawsuit.

giarc 2y ago

Likely not at play since you see the decrease in free play across countries with public healthcare systems. As a Canadian I do not think about the cost of healthcare whatsoever. If my kid falls and breaks an arm, the cost is $15 which is one day of parking.

nkotov 2y ago
Broke my arm a couple years ago in the US - total cost for me out of pocket after insurance was around $5k.
Cpoll 2y ago
> one day of parking Unfortunately you really will be there the whole day.
- giarc 2y ago
  Do we have issues with wait times, yes. However, the guy above you broke his arm and had to pay $5,000 AFTER insurance covered their portion.
  - duck 2y ago
    I worked with a Canadian about 10 years ago that broke his arm while visiting family in Winnipeg during Christmas. He waited 2 or maybe 3 full days to have it set and get a cast with no luck in seeing a doctor and finally drove across the border to have it done in the US. He was 60 or so and when he didn't even seem upset at that happening! That really opened my eyes on "free" healthcare.
    - giarc 2y ago
      N of 1 stories don't really work as I could easily find a ton of terrible stories of why the private system in the states is bad for people. The Canadian system (or any public system) gets a bad rap for wait times, but it's not like everyone is just walking around with open wounds and broken bones here. I work in a hospital, and if you come in and need an MRI urgently, you get it. If it can wait, you wait. We aren't fully public, and if you want a private MRI next day you can pay for it (and in fact, the last time I compared local prices vs prices in Montana, we were cheaper).

Clubber 2y ago

The news has gone to 11 with the fear mongering since the 1990s and fear mongering about your kids in danger is the most profitable. FWIW, my kid always wanted to go to the playground when she was a youngster. When she hit around 11, she was no longer interested. Computer took over.

neuralRiot 2y ago

Another side effect of the healthcare cost is the liability for the owner/ maintainer of the play space as naturally parents would want to offload the cost of the treatment by seeking a lawsuit.