US health insurance unaffordable?

[gordo]

Show all the data driven reports you wish but the USA has the best health care, educated doctors and cutting edge equipment and research. Obama Care ruined it IMHO.
Socialized Medicine will never be my choice.

LOL!

Your truth is what you believe in your heart. The facts are what happen in reality.

US citizens, possibly including yourself, already benefit from many existing social programs that deal with a wide range of concerns including retirement, food, housing, energy, education, childcare, farming, policing, and others. I guess you feel all those socialized programs should be eliminated and you personally would never take advantage of any of them?

 

[curiosity]

I would tend to agree with those reports. I've heard that the U.S. has very good specialists, but the daily preventive and/or primary care is sorely lacking. I can confirm both from personal experience. I'd also say that our politicians have never (in my lifetime) created any program or supported any policy with altruistic intentions. But boy can they sell it to the masses!
I believe the U.S. has the potential to create the best system in the world...in every regard. Will that ever happen?
I have hope.
In the meantime, knowledge, experience, and good decision-making can make the most of a less than perfect situation.

 

[_socket]

There are many great options for health care. One is to move away from LOW deductible HIGH premium. I personally use a health savings plan that has a max out of 6k. I think said plan costs around $250... I'm allowed to contribute 3500 tax free a year. Even if I fell out of the US of A and landed on my head in Canaduh I would still only pay 6k MAX. There are many solutions to reduce risk for insurance providers and doctors liability, but no one wants to do it because it's nice to MILK the middle class so everyone else can get free health care. Bazos is getting fatter as we indirectly subsidize his company by giving his employees free public health care. Seeing that California has a larger population than Canada I don't think there is much to compare. Try free at our level and you will quickly implement death squads.

 

[ChrisZ]

Just had my first kid, found insurance had been billed like $600 for things like "reading" a routine blood test result. We should cut out the middle man =)

In Poland, in private medical company basic blood test with "reading" costs 6$.
40$ is advanced test with thyroid hormones etc.
Now I understand, why people come here from USA for medical treatment.
Chris

 

[DYP]

In Poland, in private medical company basic blood test with "reading" costs 6$.
40$ is advanced test with thyroid hormones etc.
Now I understand, why people come here from USA for medical treatment.
Chris

What is the primary factor that keeps those costs low?

 

[turbotom1052]

One thing the US healthcare does for you is it limits you wanting to go to a doctor unless you are mortally wounded/ill. Even then it is cheaper to just die. And if you do die your healthcare provider will thank you.

You know how much U.S. politicians pay for healthcare? $0. $0 deductible too. Yeah they don't see any problem with the way it is now.

The "thank you" only occurs when their total premiums taken in, exceeds what they've paid out.

 

[turbotom1052]

So, which is the better option for the U.S.:
1. Fix the ACA (Obamacare) & offer a "Single Payer Option" or,
2. Provide a central, government administered system (Medicare for all)?

We often hear the term "Medicare for all" but in reality what the progressives propose is more like "Medicaid for all." This is a prime example of how finely tuned political talking points have become. Medicare for all sounds a lot better to the to the people that will actually be footing the bill, than Medicaid for all. Most responsible and working people in the US will be sure to have theirselves, and their families covered by whatever system is in place, provided its financially doable. The financially doable part does continue to be a moving target. The other side of the coin is the population that would rather roll the dice with their health, and when health issues arise just march themselves, or their children into the emergency room for care, where the costs wind up being absorbed by the above mentioned group. Whether its private health insurance with employer contributions, privately funded health insurance, or some form of Obamacare, or the Progressives proposed plan, the end result will still be the same. The bill will wind up falling into the laps of the people who wouldn't dream of rolling the dice and being without coverage for themselves and their families!!!