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My husbands suicide shows theres something very wrong with US insurance industry

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Re: My husbands suicide shows theres something very wrong with US insurance industry

#31

Post by EvanAnderson »

petilon wrote: post #7

Yes, there is something wrong with the insurance industry. But there is something wrong with the hospitals, doctors and drug companies too. The whole system is broken. Hospitals try to eke out the most out of insurance companies, often providing services that are unnecessary. Pharmaceutical companies charge US patients significantly higher rates than in other countries. Don't put all the blame on insurance companies.

Every player in the US healthcare / health insurance "system" has adapted to the regulatory niche they play in.

If Americans had the fortitude to have grown-up conversations about what should be socialized, how care should be rationed, etc, the public could exert some control over the design of the "system". As it stands, the "system" has mostly been shaped by corporate interests while the public has been distracted by inflammatory rhetoric pumped-out by all the entrenched players designed to play to partisan feelings about "fairness" and "freedom".

Re: My husbands suicide shows theres something very wrong with US insurance industry

#32

Post by ceejayoz »

JohnTHaller wrote: post #30

The goal of their insurance company is to make a large return for their shareholders. And, thus, a large bonus for the C-suite execs. Their goal is not to provide care. In this particular instance, the insurance company saved money to give to shareholders and their C-suite by not treating the patient further. They lose no money by allowing him to die. This is all by design.

This happens with (theoretically) non-profit insurers, too. Like the BCBS networks.

Re: My husbands suicide shows theres something very wrong with US insurance industry

#33

Post by VirusNewbie »

ceejayoz wrote: post #8
VirusNewbie wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

No, selfish would be more like knowing it, being of reasonably sound mind, and doing it anyways. Being convinced of something by wonky brain chemistry isn't necessarily a personal failing.

My brain chemistry tells me i'm better than most people and deserve more. Is that...selfish?

Re: My husbands suicide shows theres something very wrong with US insurance industry

#34

Post by happytoexplain »

JohnTHaller wrote: post #30

The goal of their insurance company is to make a large return for their shareholders. And, thus, a large bonus for the C-suite execs. Their goal is not to provide care. In this particular instance, the insurance company saved money to give to shareholders and their C-suite by not treating the patient further. They lose no money by allowing him to die. This is all by design.

Yes, that's what people are referring to when they say "wrong".

Re: My husbands suicide shows theres something very wrong with US insurance industry

#35

Post by LoganDark »

ceejayoz wrote: post #25
LoganDark wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel like ascribing it to "wonky brain chemistry" serves to erase agency. I read the article and there are very real and reoccurring reasons of incredible mistreatment for why this happened. It is not because he was simply unstable and decided to try suicide for no reason. He had such a reason that I am incredibly disappointed in the entire system that led to this.

> I feel like ascribing it to "wonky brain chemistry" serves to erase agency. Wonky brain chemistry can erase agency. (As can an empty bank account from an insurance denial!)

I mean, I don't agree with the assumption that he was simply irrational and chose this because he wasn't thinking straight. I would much rather believe that he had strong reasons for this and that there is something to be done about the circumstances that led to it. Suicide is more often than not a systemic failure and not simply an outlier to be ignored.

If you read the article and see all the shit that he went through before he died it should be obvious that he's not the one at fault for breaking under that pressure. Not everyone has the strength to brave such bullshit.

Re: My husbands suicide shows theres something very wrong with US insurance industry

#36

Post by JohnFen »

EvanAnderson wrote: post #22
all2 wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've seriously considered opting out of health insurance altogether and stuffing away the obscenely priced monthly expense into an interest yielding account. Insurance is nightmarish, and I don't really want to deal with it much anymore. I know this might appear foolish, but fighting with a corporation whose incentives are adverse to my own (both on the medical side and the insurance side) makes me a little sick to m…

If you have enough money for that gamble to pay off over the long haul the cost of health insurance would be immaterial to you anyway. You might get away with it in your youth, or you might have a catastrophic loss and have your finances wrecked. You're often able to negotiate discounts for cash payment from providers, but back when I had insurance that excluded a pre-existing condition I ran into providers who stead…

> you might have a catastrophic loss and have your finances wrecked.

If you have health insurance (in the US) and you have a catastrophic event, your finances are going to be totally wrecked anyway. You're likely to have to declare bankruptcy unless you are pretty wealthy. At least, that's how it's gone with every friend and family member of mine that had to navigate such an event. That's on top of the painful nightmare that is dealing with insurance company claims (which, to add insult to injury, you have to do when you're injured or sick).

The premiums are also so high that I'm very far from convinced that holding an actual health insurance policy is a better option than putting that premium money into an emergency fund.

Re: My husbands suicide shows theres something very wrong with US insurance industry

#37

Post by VirusNewbie »

i_idiot wrote: post #10
VirusNewbie wrote: post #2

[flagged]

I think people who commit suicide really believe they actually help their families or the world is better off without them. So, no, they are far from cruel. They are considerate.

How sad. :(

Re: My husbands suicide shows theres something very wrong with US insurance industry

#39

Post by ceejayoz »

VirusNewbie wrote: post #33
ceejayoz wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, selfish would be more like knowing it, being of reasonably sound mind, and doing it anyways. Being convinced of something by wonky brain chemistry isn't necessarily a personal failing.

My brain chemistry tells me i'm better than most people and deserve more. Is that...selfish?

That depends significantly on how wonky it is.

There's a big spectrum between "just knowingly a dick" and "deeply delusional".

Re: My husbands suicide shows theres something very wrong with US insurance industry

#40

Post by all2 »

EvanAnderson wrote: post #22
all2 wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've seriously considered opting out of health insurance altogether and stuffing away the obscenely priced monthly expense into an interest yielding account. Insurance is nightmarish, and I don't really want to deal with it much anymore. I know this might appear foolish, but fighting with a corporation whose incentives are adverse to my own (both on the medical side and the insurance side) makes me a little sick to m…

If you have enough money for that gamble to pay off over the long haul the cost of health insurance would be immaterial to you anyway. You might get away with it in your youth, or you might have a catastrophic loss and have your finances wrecked. You're often able to negotiate discounts for cash payment from providers, but back when I had insurance that excluded a pre-existing condition I ran into providers who stead…

I'm essentially of the mindset of JohnFen (adjacent comment). If I have a health issue that crops up, I'm financially done anyway. Given this, I might as well control the money rather than throw it into a pit and hope something useful pops out in an emergency.
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