r/tuesday • u/JustKidding456 Believes Jesus is Messiah & God; Centre-right • 17d ago

“After UnitedHealthcare CEO Killing, Doctors Speak Out.” Wall Street Journal, December 14, 2024.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zV9qk5rIaM
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u/a157reverse Left Visitor 17d ago

The simple fact is that while most Americans aren't satisfied with the American healthcare system in the abstract, a majority of Americans are satisfied with the cost of their own personal healthcare.

I'm not quite sure what conclusion to make of this. Personally, I am satisfied with my healthcare costs as they are quite low as a healthy (as far as I know) young person. My healthcare costs are basically limited to the annual physical and PT for exercise related injuries from time to time. But I am dissatisfied with how my personal healthcare costs could financially destitute me if it turns out I've got cancer or have a bad car wreck or something similarly catastrophic.

I think people aren't necessarily wrong for being dissatisfied with the healthcare system even if they have limited exposure to it currently. High quality healthcare ain't cheap, and you're seeing many socialized systems start to stress under the cost pressures. Personally, not sure I would take Canadian bargain of long wait times. Unfortunately, a lot of efforts to reduce healthcare costs (such as allowing nurse practitioners to fill more roles) are seen as money grabs by the insurance companies.

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u/fragileblink Centre-right 17d ago

But I am dissatisfied with how my personal healthcare costs could financially destitute me if it turns out I've got cancer or have a bad car wreck or something similarly catastrophic.

But isn't this what catastrophic insurance is for?

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u/a157reverse Left Visitor 16d ago

Only eligible under 30.

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u/fragileblink Centre-right 16d ago

I don't think high deductible plans are only eligible under 30. This is what insurance does- keeps you from becoming financially destitute as a result of health care costs. I have a high deductible plan, the deductible is earning money in my HSA.

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u/a157reverse Left Visitor 16d ago

Oh, I thought you were talking about Catastrophic health plans. https://www.healthcare.gov/choose-a-plan/catastrophic-health-plans/

I've got a HDHP, it's a good tool and the HSA is nice. The annual cap on contributions make it hard to build up a significant savings amount though. And with how complex and opaque billing, reimbursement, covered vs non-covered, and in-network systems are, it's pretty easy to see how an insurance plan that supposedly protects you financially can fail to do so.