The Americans dying because they can't afford medical care--(thread locked)

[Conan]

"A 2009 study conducted by researchers at Harvard Medical School found 45,000 Americans die every year as a direct result of not having any health insurance coverage. In 2018, 27.8 million Americans went without any health insurance for the entire year."
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jan/07/americans-healthcare-medical-costs

 

[WVBaker]

"A 2009 study conducted by researchers at Harvard Medical School found 45,000 Americans die every year as a direct result of not having any health insurance coverage. In 2018, 27.8 million Americans went without any health insurance for the entire year."
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jan/07/americans-healthcare-medical-costs

As per your article:

"Healthcare is one of the most contentious issues surrounding the 2020 presidential election as Democratic candidates battle over policies to expand healthcare access and lower costs, from Bernie Sanders’ medicare for all bill which would create a government funded healthcare system providing universal coverage to all Americans, while eliminating surprise medical bills, deductibles, and copays, to healthcare plans that focus on creating a public option under the Affordable Care Act. As Democrats debate solutions to America’s healthcare crisis, the Trump administration is delaying any plans for repealing the Affordable Care Act passed under Obama until after the 2020 election."

Yes, insurance rates are out of control as are hospital costs and doctors fees however, given the costs involved, Universal Health Care or Medicare for All, if you prefer, will never work.

 

[VacationForever]

In the 2 cases that were reported in the article, their issue with medical costs would have easily been resolved by going on ACA and getting Medicaid where it costs nothing out of pocket. I hate reporters who decide to report stories at face value without providing the full picture or presenting available solutions. It might have been ignorance on the part of both the deceased women and the reporter could have helped the larger American population to educate the readers. Instead, the editor decided that sensational reporting sells better.

 

[turkel]

"A 2009 study conducted by researchers at Harvard Medical School found 45,000 Americans die every year as a direct result of not having any health insurance coverage. In 2018, 27.8 million Americans went without any health insurance for the entire year."
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jan/07/americans-healthcare-medical-costs

Another take on this, people make choices how to spend their money. Even after the ACA some people choose not to purchase health insurance.

 

[geekette]

Yes, insurance rates are out of control as are hospital costs and doctors fees however, given the costs involved, Universal Health Care or Medicare for All, if you prefer, will never work.

I think Never is a strong word without evidence. If we remove the middleman (insurance industry), many costs drop out, too.

Another part of the cost issue is the varying chargemasters out there. An xray at facility one that costs a normal 20 bucks could be 200 at the next place.

I think we all expect to pay more for something newer (3D mammogram comes to mind). Like all tech, costs go down over time, and that should be reflected in chargemasters, but it seems to be more of a shoot high and accept whatever insurance will pay and stick the rest on the patient. If we can solve that problem, that would be great progress.

 

[geekette]

In the 2 cases that were reported in the article, their issue with medical costs would have easily been resolved by going on ACA and getting Medicaid where it costs nothing out of pocket. I hate reporters who decide to report stories at face value without providing the full picture or presenting available solutions. It might have been ignorance on the part of both the deceased women and the reporter could have helped the larger American population to educate the readers. Instead, the editor decided that sensational reporting sells better.

That would require them to have low enough household income in a state where Medicaid expanded. These aren't my states, and I am too lazy to look it up. If they cracked anything out of retirement accounts to pay for anything - rent, food, etc., that also counts as income. One working spouse could negate Medicaid eligibility, and many companies that offer health insurance will not cover anyone but the worker (this surprise has been showing up the past few years - I get it, employers have costs to watch, too).

The other issue is getting past "accepting charity". My grandparents would never hear of such a thing, and stubbornness can trickle down thru a family tree. My brother had a stroke not long after he closed his business, so he was uninsured. He refused to look into Medicaid so never did the follow-ups and will be paying off the ER and ICU bills for a long while to come.

 

[WVBaker]

I think Never is a strong word without evidence. If we remove the middleman (insurance industry), many costs drop out, too.

Another part of the cost issue is the varying chargemasters out there. An xray at facility one that costs a normal 20 bucks could be 200 at the next place.

I think we all expect to pay more for something newer (3D mammogram comes to mind). Like all tech, costs go down over time, and that should be reflected in chargemasters, but it seems to be more of a shoot high and accept whatever insurance will pay and stick the rest on the patient. If we can solve that problem, that would be great progress.

Oh Bernie, "geekette"? Quite the nom de plume.

 

[VacationForever]

When my son lived with us, I always paid for his health insurance, and then later through his work. After we moved and he lost his job, I made sure he applied through ACA. He has been on ACA since 2017. Hopefully he gets a job that has health insurance, otherwise he will need to continue his health insurance through ACA, subsidized or not.

 

[geekette]

Oh Bernie, "geekette"? Quite the nom de plume.

Really? This is where you want to take this thread? I've been around here a lot longer than you have. If anyone's identity is suspect, it's yours.

 

[Snazzylass]

In the 2 cases that were reported in the article, their issue with medical costs would have easily been resolved by going on ACA and getting Medicaid where it costs nothing out of pocket. I hate reporters who decide to report stories at face value without providing the full picture or presenting available solutions. It might have been ignorance on the part of both the deceased women and the reporter could have helped the larger American population to educate the readers. Instead, the editor decided that sensational reporting sells better.

Really? I'm in total agreement except the first sentence. Oh, maybe you meant ACA which does have significant costs and likely unaffordable for most people who don't have a job. And, Medicaid? If that were a solution, then we would not have needed ACA. I thought Medicaid was like most welfare programs - directed at helping indigent children. Of course I am sure it varies from state to state.

I formerly lived in a rural area with people of simple means. No T/S owners there. Not sure if it's solely insurance driven or just neglected regular check-ups. More than once I heard of 50+ yo women who were diagnosed with cancer and died shortly there after. Once the surgery was performed, it was revealed how advanced their cases were. They were sewn back up and sent home to die.

 

[Karen G]

There seems to be no way to keep this thread non-political so it's done.