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‘It didn’t use to be like this’: woeful US healthcare system exposed by CEO killing (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 3 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Summary

The killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has reignited debates over the U.S. healthcare system, with Americans sharing stories of denial, delays, and exorbitant costs despite having insurance.

Many report fighting insurers for coverage of essential treatments, facing hidden costs, and taking drastic steps like career changes to secure health insurance.

Critics blame corporate greed for worsening access and affordability, while others note the system’s complexity discourages seeking care.

Though some find employer-provided plans satisfactory, the overall system is described as profit-driven and increasingly inaccessible, leaving many financially strained or avoiding medical help altogether.

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 3 days ago (2 children)

It's one of the things the US is famous for with the rest of the world, which doesn't even care. That's how exposed it is. It's notorious. The default is, "Oh, that's that place with the insanely poor health system."

"Exposed" lol

[–] [email protected] 11 points 3 days ago (1 children)

at the same time though i know a lot of foreigners who think it's all an exaggeration until they get here

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Even with insurance, the average out of cost for a vaginal birth with no complications is over $2000. It jumps up to about $12,000 if you need a C-section. Those prices aren't what the insurance pays, that is what you pay while your insurance company tries to avoid paying the hospital anything. If your newborn has complications and needs to go to the NICU, you will easily be on the hook for six figures

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

i don't think there's any set of numbers that can wake people up. i think the terror of american healthcare is so specific, visceral, and unfathomable to someone who's received care as a dignity, that the only wakeup call is something specific, visceral, and unfathomable

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago

I am aware, it's like student debt where the fogures are so astronomical that they have become abstract. I'm trying to let our non-American counterparts know that however expensive they think basic healthcare is here, it's way worse than they think.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago

Shit, just an ER visit, with no complications, no injuries, and no other issues, would have set me back $5k after I had a car accident. What I received:

2 x-rays, chest and knee
1 CT scan, abdomen
Ibuprofen

The ambulance company also tried to bill me $1300 for a ride that took me a grand total of 3 miles, and tried to bill me twice AFTER my insurance had already paid them out.

The good news is that my workplace at the time was extremely large, and the accident happened during work hours, so I got covered by worker's comp and didn't have to pay a dime.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

I knew it was bad but never thought it could be as bad as it is