Ask Lemmy

That's only the start and even then not quite accurate. I don't have insurance through my employer, for example: I used to have it through the government and now I have private, and before either I just bought healthcare with cash on the barrelhead.

And the thing is, paying cash is usually less than half of the price charged to insurers, even if you set up a payment plan, because individuals are easier to get to pay than the insurance corporations. And there's ab additional discount for paying day-of-service because then they don't even need to send a bill and they know they'll actually get paid! So it can be a lot cheaper to buy healthcare in cash, depending on how much you need.

But now let's say you have government insurance: Very good on preventative care, pediatrics, prenatal. Everything generally performed in-house and same-day, but scheduling is a crapshoot. Still the simplest insurance option once you have it.

Employer-provided insurance: My ex-employer, two jobs and half a decade ago, is still fighting with their insurance provider at the time about a hospital visit I had back then. Insurance says it wasn't withing coverage dates, HR can prove otherwise.

Private insurance (but also employer insurance): Actual healthcare providers don't know and don't care if services are within network; which can change on a whim anyway, so someone who was in network when you schedule an appointment might be out-of-network three months later when you finally get in there. Since you can't just schedule with a specialist without a referral, it takes at least two months and two appointments to see one, often more like six months, and whether or not your insurance will pay for it is up in the air anyway. And you're paying hundreds of dollars each month for this "service". It's insane.

And this is for a young family in relatively good health seeking preventative care. I can't even image this nightmare of corporatism and bureaucracy with a chronic condition or an emergency.