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Americans Are Delaying Health Care Until Tax Refunds Arrive

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251–256 of 256 posts

Re: Americans Are Delaying Health Care Until Tax Refunds Arrive

#251

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because its a scam to extract the maximum amount of wealth from people with no real choice options out. And the ilusion, that in this stick-up of scenarios, the individual is to be able to engage in a free-market decision.

If you have some cold symptoms, you can't call around to find a doctor who will diagnose it for a reasonable price, because they won't give you one. But that's not a stick up, it's a lack of price transparency. So how about we get a price transparency law? The "stick up" scenario is limited to emergency care, and there is an argument that emergency services should be provided by the city for that reason. But most hea…

Its more complex, to judge wether you are getting unnecessary procedures priced in, you would need to be a expert in the field. Its similar to enterprise software, where the customer often gets a "all-scenarios"included gigantic package - half of which he will never use.

Now add to that a field of experts, fused together by a lethal threat to their profession (lawsuits with expenses for life if you do damage) - forming a Wagonfort - and you get the perfect mess.

Re: Americans Are Delaying Health Care Until Tax Refunds Arrive

#252

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not "they" or "the rich" that are doing this. It's your fellow man that you probably vote along side. Support for the AMA, support for the insurance corporations, local regressive housing policies. This didn't come from some evil lizard overlord. It came from your friends and neighbours who have arrayed themselves against you. If you don't want to draw battle lines with them, fine, but right now you're fighting…

If you were the one who downvoted me then it's a shame because we agree. Firstly, I am an anarchist. I don't vote for anyone. Secondly, anyone, be they politician or just voter, who is trying to enact these thoroughly horrific laws and policies is just flat out telling us how to live our lives while processing it. I have not had a lease in 3 years. I can't afford anything. So that's where I'm coming from.

Just to answer one part: I follow /. etiquette. I don't vote in threads I participate in.

Also the website does not permit downvoting responses so you know it wasn't me who voted your newer response down. So you can then conclude it's also possible that people disagree with your original post and that the voting was by someone else.

Re: Americans Are Delaying Health Care Until Tax Refunds Arrive

#253

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Possibly, but the point was poorly formed, lacked specificity, and is outside the scope of conversation.

A common talking point is about how we spend y on the military_thing when we could be spending on y on problem_x. Seemed fairly obvious in the context of this discussion.

It's not in scope merely because cliche stupidity is common.

Re: Americans Are Delaying Health Care Until Tax Refunds Arrive

#254

Earlier quoted context omitted.

why is it a problem to have a maximum deductible? Relatedly, it seems like there's roughly some 'max' insurance expects you to pay each year, and you can decide whether to take the risk using a high deductible plan, and potentially not have many expenses, but lower premium, or have higher premium up front. 8 years ago, our HDHP was ... $280/month. It's now north of $800, and the deductible went up. Yes, we're a bit o…

> why is it a problem to have a maximum deductible? Because it means I get to choose between $500 a month with a $6,500 deductible, and HSA-compatibility, and $150 a month with a $8,000 deductible. The latter is a better fit for my risk profile.

those are just deductibles - i didn't understand what "maximum deductible" meant in that context.

Unfortunately, my experience, at least in my state, is such that none of the premium options are remotely affordable now. $2000/month with a $1000 deductible per year, or $1300/month with an $11000 deductible. Neither of these are anywhere near 'affordable' in my book.

Re: Americans Are Delaying Health Care Until Tax Refunds Arrive

#255

Why why why do you put up with this in America?? I live in the uk and health has always been free at point of use. The cost is spread amongst all tax payers and costs kept low. I honestly don’t understand why not every single American is screaming for access to health services that are literally on their front lawn. I cannot fathom this is any way shape or form.

We have 11 nuclear powered aircraft carriers in service in four more on the way. No money for healthcare.

It's not that there's no money, there's just not enough will.

Re: Americans Are Delaying Health Care Until Tax Refunds Arrive

#256

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You make it sound like the business isn't run by humans. Do you consider price gouging sick people and ethical business to get into? If not, please make that a bit more clear in your comment.

Being run by humans doesn't mean there is empathy built-in; to the contrary because its run by masses of humans, its out of touch with reality and majority of involved will tell you someone else makes final decision, while the rest will simply follow others. Its as numb as long hand of government can be. They don't see human patients with names and families, they same charts and graphs with numbers and profit/loss ce…

So we have a problem:

1. assume businesses cannot be ethical. 2. so, telling a business to be ethical is pointless 3. to encourage prosocial behavior amongst businesses, they must, therefore, be regulated 4. but, since businesses cannot be ethical, they can use their power to control regulation

how to stop this hellscape? is it possible that assuming businesses cannot possibly act ethically was a lie spread by said companies?

tldr; then what's the solution, assuming regulatory capture is a thing?

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