Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Obviously this country will never support a completely national healthcare system.
But what if we just got rid of health insurance and paid for our healthcare out of pocket?
Most people could manage for most of their needs through most of their lives...
because most of the care that most will ever need isn't very expensive or frequent if it is.
Not all, not in every instance... but most and most of the time.
The issues, the real problem, is the other 10-20% of care.
The catastrophic, the traumatic, the terminally ill and the terminally old.
In particular... the issue is hospitals and doctors desire to actually be paid for their efforts.
This portion (the 10-20% at the expensive end) is unaffordable on an individual basis.
Truth be told ... it's unaffordable for the insurance companies too.
I guess I'd die then because there is no way I'd ever be able to afford 50% of hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills. I'm sure about 99% of the rest of our population couldn't as well. ESRD and dialysis as well as cancer, diabetes and many other chronic issues would become a short death sentence for all but the extreme wealthy. People need to think before they dream up these stupid ideas.
This isn't the olden days anymore. Now if you want to pay a doctor to come visit your home, give you a shot of whiskey and a towel to bite onto as he does a minor surgical procedure that he is guessing is needed due to not giving you an X ray or similar test, go right ahead.
I'll give you an example of how ridiculous health insurance companies are. I am still covered under my mom's and step dad's dental plan, so I technically have two dental insurances. I have to get a crown put in soon and I still have to pay $370 out of my own pocket even though I have two insurances. Each insurance only pays 50 percent of the cost of the crown. These insurance companies get away with paying as little as they possibly can.
If you wanted a policy that covered more then you would have had to choose a policy that covered more, but then the premiums would have been higher.
You can make payments. I believe hospitals are willing to work with you if you at least make an effort to pay something. They might even be willing to cut some of the costs.
Do you have any concept of money? I bought a $140,000 house which was/is still within my abilities to pay and still eat, have electricity, put gas in my car, save, etc. I COULD NOT HAVE AFFORDED A BIGGER HOUSE. So, How in the hell would I be able to afford hospital payments for a $500,000 bill. So they cut off 100 grand---it's still 400,000 dollars. It's like telling me that it's no problem for me to buy 3 more houses and have 3 more mortgages. Are you for real?
I'll give you an example of how ridiculous health insurance companies are. I am still covered under my mom's and step dad's dental plan, so I technically have two dental insurances. I have to get a crown put in soon and I still have to pay $370 out of my own pocket even though I have two insurances. Each insurance only pays 50 percent of the cost of the crown. These insurance companies get away with paying as little as they possibly can.
LOL! A crown is largely done for cosmetic reasons-usually dental covers the least expensive alternative in any situation, and tooth removal is that option in this case.
Well, if you are young and healthy, you are better off not paying health insurance premiums and just putting that money in a savings account. Yes, things can happen, but that's just life. A lot of people have these chronic conditions because they don't take care of themselves. Many people in America are overweight, smoke, drink heavily and do many other unhealthy things. If people just took care of themselves better, they would be less likely to get these diseases.
Except that that just doesn't happen. Not many people without health insurance actually put $500-1000 a month into medical savings accounts rather than buying health insurance. Instead, when they get sick or injured, everybody gets to pay for their health care. That's why the ACA was passed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kgordeeva
I'll give you an example of how ridiculous health insurance companies are. I am still covered under my mom's and step dad's dental plan, so I technically have two dental insurances. I have to get a crown put in soon and I still have to pay $370 out of my own pocket even though I have two insurances. Each insurance only pays 50 percent of the cost of the crown. These insurance companies get away with paying as little as they possibly can.
Cry me a river. Since crowns run $3-4k for those without dental insurance, paying only about 10% of that is a bargain.
Well, if you are young and healthy, you are better off not paying health insurance premiums and just putting that money in a savings account. Yes, things can happen, but that's just life. A lot of people have these chronic conditions because they don't take care of themselves. Many people in America are overweight, smoke, drink heavily and do many other unhealthy things. If people just took care of themselves better, they would be less likely to get these diseases.
I have put money into funds and savings and don't nearly have enough to cover any large medical bills. So that idea does not work.
And give it up on blaming everyone including America for their problems as a lot of chronic issues come from nothing more then the cards your dealt and how lucky you are, or aren't. I had testicular cancer when I was 29 which had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with my diet and lifestyle. I just had a heart attack this year which pushed ahead an underlying issue. Guess what? It had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with my diet and lifestyle. It was INHERITED from my NORWEGIAN mom who has had a heart attack and stroke as well as lost both of her brothers, father, and grandfather to heart issues, ALL IN NORWAY!
Except that that just doesn't happen. Not many people without health insurance actually put $500-1000 a month into medical savings accounts rather than buying health insurance. Instead, when they get sick or injured, everybody gets to pay for their health care. That's why the ACA was passed.
Cry me a river. Since crowns run $3-4k for those without dental insurance, paying only about 10% of that is a bargain.
Screw insurance. I have a discount dental plan (not insurance) which costs $125 a year for family and I paid $3,000 for an entire 6 tooth front upper bridge with 2 teeth crowns which attach it. They won't limit you to number of root canals or crowns per year which INSURANCE did.
LOL! A crown is largely done for cosmetic reasons-usually dental covers the least expensive alternative in any situation, and tooth removal is that option in this case.
No, this is not for cosmetic reasons. I have to put a crown over a root canal I had done. If I don't put it on, my tooth could get infected again and I would need another root canal.
Do you have any concept of money? I bought a $140,000 house which was/is still within my abilities to pay and still eat, have electricity, put gas in my car, save, etc. I COULD NOT HAVE AFFORDED A BIGGER HOUSE. So, How in the hell would I be able to afford hospital payments for a $500,000 bill. So they cut off 100 grand---it's still 400,000 dollars. It's like telling me that it's no problem for me to buy 3 more houses and have 3 more mortgages. Are you for real?
Like I said before, you can make monthly payments. No one would expect you to pay $400,000 all at once.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
