16 votes

Health insurance that doesn’t cover the bills has flooded the market under Trump

9 comments

  1. [8]
    Brock_Knifemann
    Link
    Why even have insurance if it doesn't cover anything. Can we, as a nation, please please get our heads out of our collective asses and get universal health insurance like every other civilized...

    Why even have insurance if it doesn't cover anything.

    Can we, as a nation, please please get our heads out of our collective asses and get universal health insurance like every other civilized nation?

    A lot of people love to say things like "there's no harm in making a little profit", or "capitalism good, socialism bad". You know, that's some grade-A bullshit. When you're literally dealing with people's health and lives, there is absolutely harm in making a profit.

    14 votes
    1. [3]
      Gaywallet
      Link Parent
      Because that way you can point at the affordable care act and say "wow look at how bad this is, it requires us to have insurance that does nothing!" You could ask the same thing about car...

      Why even have insurance if it doesn't cover anything.

      Because that way you can point at the affordable care act and say "wow look at how bad this is, it requires us to have insurance that does nothing!"

      You could ask the same thing about car insurance, as it's required by law in many states and yet the coverage minimums are often designed in a way that you can get insurance that basically doesn't cover anything.

      2 votes
      1. [2]
        JXM
        Link Parent
        Car insurance is different from health insurance. It isn't there for you, it's there for the other person. If you get in a wreck and cause $10,000 in damage to the other person's car/life, your...

        Car insurance is different from health insurance. It isn't there for you, it's there for the other person.

        If you get in a wreck and cause $10,000 in damage to the other person's car/life, your insurance pays for it.

        2 votes
        1. Gaywallet
          Link Parent
          You're right, it's perhaps not the best analogy because the way the insurance works is fundamentally different, but the purpose of the analogy was to point out that mandating insurance without...

          You're right, it's perhaps not the best analogy because the way the insurance works is fundamentally different, but the purpose of the analogy was to point out that mandating insurance without mandating coverage ends up with issues like this.

          2 votes
    2. NaraVara
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      Most people don’t realize it doesn’t cover anything because the mechanism by which it screws you is concealed behind the deductible and copayment numbers. It's a rude surprise they get when they...

      Why even have insurance if it doesn't cover anything.

      Most people don’t realize it doesn’t cover anything because the mechanism by which it screws you is concealed behind the deductible and copayment numbers. It's a rude surprise they get when they actually get saddled with a bill.

      The best is that a lot of insurers are trying to set up parallel WebMD style gateways to automate prescriptions and stuff and are trying to subtly nudge you towards this sort of one-size-fits all care to sidestep having people actually go see a doctor.

      1 vote
    3. [3]
      skybrian
      Link Parent
      If a doctor or hospital does a good job treating the sick, and doesn't charge too much, but they do make a profit, do you really think they are automatically bad?

      If a doctor or hospital does a good job treating the sick, and doesn't charge too much, but they do make a profit, do you really think they are automatically bad?

      1. [2]
        monarda
        Link Parent
        Disclosure: did not read article A doctor's fee is called their wages. They cannot, like any other person, work for free. Shareholders and the like, you know people who don't actually work to make...

        Disclosure: did not read article

        A doctor's fee is called their wages. They cannot, like any other person, work for free. Shareholders and the like, you know people who don't actually work to make you better, should not be making money when you get sick. Health care should make enough to pay for itself, not make a profit on our ills.

        4 votes
        1. skybrian
          Link Parent
          In practice, there isn't very much difference between for-profit and not-for-profit hospitals. Either one can overcharge patients. Example. Letting doctors off the hook isn't a good idea if you...

          In practice, there isn't very much difference between for-profit and not-for-profit hospitals. Either one can overcharge patients. Example.

          Letting doctors off the hook isn't a good idea if you want Medicare-for-all. One of the reasons other countries can afford it is that they pay doctors a lot less.

  2. JXM
    Link
    The healthcare market is horrible in general. It's a much larger problem than just insurance not covering things, but that is a big component.

    The healthcare market is horrible in general. It's a much larger problem than just insurance not covering things, but that is a big component.

    1 vote