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?
I haven’t seen any other posters mention Medicare/Medicaid. I am about to lose Medicaid (for good reasons) but I have used it in California, Washington and Oregon and overall it’s a lot better than nothing.
Medicaid has covered full childbirth expenses, a ligament replacement surgery, years of mental health therapy, my HRT, dental care, glasses (in some states) and everything else pretty much. I have paid zero out of pocket except for glasses in one state that doesn’t cover them for adults and i think Washington didn’t cover Dental maybe.
The care is NOT as good as when I had $700/mo techbro insurance for instance i hurt my back (ruptured disc) and medicare doctors refused to even image it because i can walk and stand so they just say to eat ibuprofen. I’m really excited to get private insurance and actually get an MRI and treatment because the back part sucks.
But the country hasn’t left me to die in the streets. Medicaid and SNAP have been feeding my family and taking care of our health care for a couple years now while we pivoted and my partner went to school (also paid for by the gov) and now we are back to the productive portion of society. Social safety nets work and the left coast at least has useful ones if you meet the criteria and have the capacity to jump through the hoops.
Worth noting, Medicare is only available to the elderly and disabled.
oof i meant Medicaid I always confuse them. We aren’t old or disabled we were just poor for a while. Thank you i fixed that!
Each state names their Medicaid implementation something different. In Washington they call it AppleHealth and in Oregon it’s Oregon Health Plan.
I heard a stupid mnemonic that helps me out
Underpaid? Medicaid
Gray hair? Medicare
lol I bet i remember that thanks