I'm sorry it's taken me so long to read and respond. I was down with Covid while visiting Idaho. Before I tested positive, however, I went to the pharmacy to get free tests. And I was denied b/c my insurance said I was out of network. For government sponsored Covid tests. WTF???
Thirteen years ago, my sister, age 50 at the time, had her health insurance rise to $750/month. It was outrageous. Yes, she had endometriosis and had two laparoscopies but come on! and then she fell and her insurance doubled. Now, in 2022, for fourth year in a row, my insurance is changing b/c the plan I am on (subsidized by ACA thank goodness) is being terminated and I need to pick a new plan. I am 56, healthy, rarely use the medical system except for annual exams, take only one regular prescription, have practiced yoga for 30 years and used alternative complementary medicine for the same time (acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic, massage) and my monthly insurance now costs $768 with a $7,500 deductable and out of pocket max of $9,100. This is absolutely insane. While I still need to update my PoA for healthcare and my medical directives, I have told those closest to me that if something catastrophic happens or if I am ever diagnosed with a terminal illness, just let me die. I will not pay the medical costs in this country. I would prefer to simply die. And it's not like I have a death wish. Healthcare is, in part, why I so very much want to move to Italy.
oh, and my sister had to declare bankruptcy twice due to medical bills associated with her endometriosis which, come on, is not something like cancer treatments. But 30 years ago these procedures were crazy expensive - I have no idea what they cost now.
The privatization of healthcare and for-profit nature in our country is absolutely criminal. And now we are seeing doctors retire in droves b/c of lack of support these last few years during the pandemic. Our country only has sick-care. Very expensive sick care, which is so stressful as to make many of us even more sick. Healthcare? No. We do not have healthcare in the U.S.
You're spot on about the expensiveness of care, but we should also recognize the uncertainty. Going through the insurance market is VERY complicated, and as 99% of us aren't insurance experts, it's pretty worrying the plan we chose will have hidden fees or lagging coverage that will leave us sick and bankrupt.
Joan, David and I had excellent coverage however as I went through David’s medical situations the last 3 years, I became painfully aware of the plight of those less fortunate and particularly those with no insurance. One 8 day hospital stay was billed out at nearly 100,000. Who could do that? Enjoyed the article and it’s an important issue.
I'm sorry it's taken me so long to read and respond. I was down with Covid while visiting Idaho. Before I tested positive, however, I went to the pharmacy to get free tests. And I was denied b/c my insurance said I was out of network. For government sponsored Covid tests. WTF???
Thirteen years ago, my sister, age 50 at the time, had her health insurance rise to $750/month. It was outrageous. Yes, she had endometriosis and had two laparoscopies but come on! and then she fell and her insurance doubled. Now, in 2022, for fourth year in a row, my insurance is changing b/c the plan I am on (subsidized by ACA thank goodness) is being terminated and I need to pick a new plan. I am 56, healthy, rarely use the medical system except for annual exams, take only one regular prescription, have practiced yoga for 30 years and used alternative complementary medicine for the same time (acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic, massage) and my monthly insurance now costs $768 with a $7,500 deductable and out of pocket max of $9,100. This is absolutely insane. While I still need to update my PoA for healthcare and my medical directives, I have told those closest to me that if something catastrophic happens or if I am ever diagnosed with a terminal illness, just let me die. I will not pay the medical costs in this country. I would prefer to simply die. And it's not like I have a death wish. Healthcare is, in part, why I so very much want to move to Italy.
oh, and my sister had to declare bankruptcy twice due to medical bills associated with her endometriosis which, come on, is not something like cancer treatments. But 30 years ago these procedures were crazy expensive - I have no idea what they cost now.
The privatization of healthcare and for-profit nature in our country is absolutely criminal. And now we are seeing doctors retire in droves b/c of lack of support these last few years during the pandemic. Our country only has sick-care. Very expensive sick care, which is so stressful as to make many of us even more sick. Healthcare? No. We do not have healthcare in the U.S.
You're spot on about the expensiveness of care, but we should also recognize the uncertainty. Going through the insurance market is VERY complicated, and as 99% of us aren't insurance experts, it's pretty worrying the plan we chose will have hidden fees or lagging coverage that will leave us sick and bankrupt.
Joan, David and I had excellent coverage however as I went through David’s medical situations the last 3 years, I became painfully aware of the plight of those less fortunate and particularly those with no insurance. One 8 day hospital stay was billed out at nearly 100,000. Who could do that? Enjoyed the article and it’s an important issue.