[News] $1.1 million hospital bill

[Badger Boy]

So you think it acceptable that anyone without a job - so is unlikely to have health insurance - wouldn't get that life saving treatment ?

I'm not pretending to have any expertise on this subject, but I doubt too many others do either. You might, I don't know you, but generally speaking there will be a lot of opinions based on very little knowledge so I see this as an opportunity to improve my knowledge. Obamacare reduced the number of uninsured people, correct? Do you have any idea what the number of completely uninsured people is?

The article initially posted suggested that Covid-19 patients were being underwritten by the federal government, is that the case? Is that for everyone who tests positive or just people with insurance who contract Covid-19?

 

[Westdene Seagull]

I'm not pretending to have any expertise on this subject, but I doubt too many others do either. You might, I don't know you, but generally speaking there will be a lot of opinions based on very little knowledge so I see this as an opportunity to improve my knowledge. Obamacare reduced the number of uninsured people, correct? Do you have any idea what the number of completely uninsured people is?

The article initially posted suggested that Covid-19 patients were being underwritten by the federal government, is that the case? Is that for everyone who tests positive or just people with insurance who contract Covid-19?

Obamacare - lets start with that - all but cancelled by Trump.

 

[schmunk]

A fairly good place to start if you want to learn about the failings of the US healthcare and social security system:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?sxs...hUKEwi21sSQ-oPqAhWSYsAKHbbTB8YQ4dUDCAw&uact=5

(various segments from Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, on Youtube)

 

[beorhthelm]

What an utterly ridiculous post. The point of the NHS is that it treats EVERYONE equally and nobody has to pay at the point of delivery ( eye care and dentistry being the exceptions but don't get me started on that ! ). What should the cost matter to anyone receiving said treatment ? The the US system may well have very good healthcare .... but it's only for those that can afford it. Be out of work and the system will happily see you die a painful death on the street.

for a ridiculous post you've agreed with half and not said anything contrary to the other half.

 

[Lower West Stander]

When I lived there, I found not only how unbelievable US healthcare was but the attitudes of otherwise sensible New Yorkers.

There are three hospitals all doing exactly the same thing on 1st Ave and they advertise for you to go there.....

People pay massively over inflated costs for healthcare and baulked at Obamacare because why should they pay to look after poor people? And this is the attitude of a large number of Democrats as well.....

The whole system is rotten to the core and chock full of vested interests. It stinks

 

[schmunk]

When I lived there, I found not only how unbelievable US healthcare was but the attitudes of otherwise sensible New Yorkers.

There are three hospitals all doing exactly the same thing on 1st Ave and they advertise for you to go there.....

Worse than that, seriously ill people will drive past their nearest hospital A&E to go to a distant hospital, purely because it's the one within their health insurance coverage.

 

[LlcoolJ]

When I lived there, I found not only how unbelievable US healthcare was but the attitudes of otherwise sensible New Yorkers.

There are three hospitals all doing exactly the same thing on 1st Ave and they advertise for you to go there.....

People pay massively over inflated costs for healthcare and baulked at Obamacare because why should they pay to look after poor people? And this is the attitude of a large number of Democrats as well.....

The whole system is rotten to the core and chock full of vested interests. It stinks

Well said.

 

[Badger Boy]

Obamacare - lets start with that - all but cancelled by Trump.

In what way? The Republican health care plan died a horrible death before it's doomed vote.

 

[blue-shifted]

Almost with out exception every American I have meet are polite friendly open people but the Americans I tend to meet come from New York or other large North American cities and on the whole they would not recognise the Trump or his supporters world, that is with one exception the idea of universal health care any suggesting of such and you are undoubtedly a communist who should be deported.

I think the issue lies at the heart of what being an American citezen is all about, work hard to earn lots and keep as much of your wealth for yourself, if you want to help others then donate to charities as they almost all believe in very little government involvement

The US healthcare system is where I point anyone in the direction to when they argue that little government is a positive thing.

 

[The Large One]

Wow .... and I don't know why I say that given I know how ridiculous the American health system is. It highlights really how stupid Americans are to keep voting for governments that don't give a toss about healthcare of those that can't afford it - or indeed healthcare at all really. Throw in the gun issue and the police issue and you have the dumbest, stupidest, most backward society on the face of the planet. Super Power my arse - super stupid more like !!!!

EDIT - I'd be interested on any views from Americans on here. Or maybe any ex-pats currently living in Stupidland.

When Obama was looking to bring in national healthcare, some on the right dismissed it as 'European-style communism'.

Admittedly, they don't know what they were talking about, but it does highlight how entrenched the idea of personal health insurance is over there, compared to one paid for out of direct taxation here.

 

[Wardy's twin]

Indeed. The cost of healtcare is ramped up because insurance pays. Their healthcare is per capita twice as expensive as ours.

I have an interest in the cost of healtcare owing to my interest in what it takes to 'make' a drug (from the initial idea to the synthesis, proof of concept, efficacy and safety in animal models, first in human studies, randomized trial and marketing). It is insanely expensive, but even if the drug is good it has to be sold in order to make money. I have argued that the model does not work and the only rational way to make drugs is to have one global company, but that's communism and it will never happen.

That's not communism HWT that one company is the epitome of a totalitarian state. Economically we are going that way with globalisation. One could put together a George Orwell / Aldous Huxley style novel about how the world changed from nation states into economic states who then clash for world dominance e.g. Alibaba v Amazon V Ebay .

 

[Juan Albion]

When you rely on having insurance to cover the cost of a hospital stay, just remember some of the insurers will consider it their duty to do everything they can to get out of paying.

 

[Stat Brother]

In what way? The Republican health care plan died a horrible death before it's doomed vote.

I believe, although as usual happy to be proven wrong, Obamacare never got off the ground, as President Obama didn't have control of either the house or senate (I think senate)
Therefore it was repeatedly stalled by the Republicans.

If any aspects did get through I'm pretty sure Trump killed that off too, but for a different reason.

Were Obama to have been blessed with considerable foresight.
He might have called it Trumpcare.

Were he to have done that I'm 99% sure it would be in place now and funded to the max

 

[Juan Albion]

I believe, although as usual happy to be proven wrong, Obamacare never got off the ground, as President Obama didn't have control of either the house or senate (I think senate)
Therefore it was repeatedly stalled by the Republicans.

If any aspects did get through I'm pretty sure Trump killed that off too, but for a different reason.

Were Obama to have been blessed with considerable foresight.
He might have called it Trumpcare.

Were he to have done that I'm 99% sure it would be in place now and funded to the max

No, ObamaCare did get off the ground and so far Trump has completely failed to replace it. You may remember John McCain's deciding thumbs down in the senate - which was more of a middle finger to Trump.

 

[Stat Brother]

No, ObamaCare did get off the ground and so far Trump has completely failed to replace it. You may remember John McCain's deciding thumbs down in the senate - which was more of a middle finger to Trump.

Yes after pressing send I then remember all the noise around how difficult it was to register and sign up.

 

[Questions]

View attachment 124931

I see Chelsea has the highest life expectancy according to that graph

 

[Biscuit]

I think the NHS should issue pre-paid bills to everyone who receives treatment.

When the cost of treatment is printed in black and white it might help people realise how lucky they are to have an NHS to rely on.

 

[Juan Albion]

I think the NHS should issue pre-paid bills to everyone who receives treatment.

When the cost of treatment is printed in black and white it might help people realise how lucky they are to have an NHS to rely on.

There would be too many morons around who would query their bill and demand a refund in cash.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

i see chelsea has the highest life expectancy according to that graph

Chey-na!

 

[Juan Albion]

Chey-na!

Or Jina!