I think you’re generalizing from your specific circumstance. If, so, I’m sorry you’ve been wronged, and things will get better if we move away from the expensive, highly-profitable system we’re currently stuck with.
I was literally sitting there on Christmas Day when I stepdad learned that one of his clients died because the Free healthcare veterans are supposed to get pushed back his life saving treatment.
My experience is not at all unique. It’s experienced by anyone with a disability or that relies on SSI or a veteran.
I want to communicate this clearly that I don’t mean this to be cruel or condescending or anything negative but y’all’s privilege leads to ignorance.
To try to put this Into perspective SSDI the good version of SSI requires you to work for years, prove that you are disabled, get told that you aren’t disabled enough, have an attorney fight for you.
Only to be allowed to make a maximum 1,550$ month. A penny more and I can lose all benefits and lose the free healthcare that is currently available.
The only reason I am not either homeless or forced to live with my mom, stepfather and brother is because I happen to qualify for adult foster care.
I pay 700 something rent, that provides all basic needs and utilities.
Which sounds good on paper until you are one of if not the only independent and mentally stable individual in the house and the provider isn’t in it for the money.
11 years, 5 houses most of which featured abuse and/or neglect from both housemates and providers with zero governmental oversight. The one time I tried the adult abuse hotline I got a machine and no call back.
It’s only after moving here back may 2020 that I have not experienced abuse, neglect.
Oh and one of the providers allowed on of the residents to chase a pregnant woman with a knife.
Again mine isn’t a unique situation. Thousands of others face it. Many of them unable to speak out or even understand what is happening.
Also, you’re lumping me into the wrong group. I’ve been denied disability, fell out of the workforce a few months ago, and have been borrowing to survive. Haven’t earned more than 25k for a few years. ‘The easy way out’ is in my mind often. Maybe I’ll qualify as unsheltered for the next PIT count.
But I finished an education in public heath a while ago, and consolidation is the way forward. Competition, as in private care, is a means of driving prices.
The reason state care sucks in some cases, is because it’s underfunded. Corporate taxes are far too low. The burden on individuals is too high. The tax system is not progressive enough. The IRS doesn’t have the resources to pursue the largest dodgers. Supply-side economics has dominated our society.
The reason there’s a shortage of providers is that education costs a ton, and forgoing wages for 10-15 years isn’t something many people can do.
Iirc, the Cuban education system is highly regarded, and takes about half the time to finish (6 years, after graduating high school). I don’t know much about their costs, but according to Google, the full Cuban program costs slightly more than the twice the annual cost of private tuition in the US ($66,000 for the entire medical program in Cuba, $35,000 per year for undergraduate US programs).
As with many of our systemic problems, the concern with profitability at various tiers of organization is killing service and quality.
And it’s going strawman. I would love for the government to allow me to make enough money that I have the luxury of being able to afford that fancy health insurance.
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u/Van-garde 3d ago edited 3d ago
I think you’re generalizing from your specific circumstance. If, so, I’m sorry you’ve been wronged, and things will get better if we move away from the expensive, highly-profitable system we’re currently stuck with.