Hey all, I’m British so I don’t really know the ins and outs of the US healthcare system. Apologies for asking what is probably a rather simple question.

So like most of you, I see many posts and gofundmes about people having astronomically high medical bills. Most recently, someone having a $27k bill even after his death.

However, I have an American friend who is quick to point out that apparently nobody actually pays those bills. They’re just some elaborate dance between insurance companies and hospitals. If you don’t have insurance, the cost is lower or removed entirely. Supposedly.

So I’m just asking… How accurate is that? Consider someone without insurance, a minor physical ailment, a neurodivergent mind and no interest in fighting off harassing people for the rest of their life.

How much would such a person expect to pay, out of their own pocket, for things like check ups, x rays, meds, counselling and so on?

  • laverabe@lemmy.worldEnglish
    4·
    3 months ago

    In 2017, Harris was the first senator to co-sponsor Bernie Sanders’ bill, the Medicare for All Act of 2017. “Here, I’ll break some news,” she said that year at a town hall in Oakland, California. “I intend to co-sponsor the Medicare-for-all bill, because it’s just the right thing to do.” 15 other Democrats eventually joined her.

    That bill, if enacted, would have abolished private health insurance for all age groups (including Medicare beneficiaries) and replaced it with a government-run single-payer system to benefit “every individual who is a resident of the United States,” including undocumented immigrants.

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/johngoodman/2024/08/13/why-health-policy-problems-rarely-get-solved/?

    yeah too neolib, better to stick with Trump, he’ll really get the single payer socialist healthcare going with the fascism and stuff, cause he really cares about people. /s

      • laverabe@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        3 months ago

        You’re the one telling people not to vote for her.

        That’s neoliberal gaslighting 101! Kamala loves to do it too! But yeah vote for her because she’s “one of the good guys” and certainly wasn’t…

        Until Nov 2024 she is the only option. She’s not perfect but now is not the time to seek a perfect Bernie. Political realities matter. Criticism is fine but anyone saying “do you really want to vote for her” is either a Russian mouthpiece or very clueless.

          • laverabe@lemmy.worldEnglish
            1·
            3 months ago

            And regardless of differing opinions, calling someone an asshole and moron is not at all condusive to productive discussion, and is downright rude and disrespectful.

            How does that help anything? We’re both for single payer healthcare as a human right, and support for the neolib right now is quickest path to get there. I don’t like it either, but infighting only helps fascists.