Americans Hate Their Private Health Insurance

https://jacobin.com/2024/12/unitedhealthcare-murder-private-insurance-democrats?mc_cid=e40fd138f3

42 comments

  1. “The deluge of public wrath toward insurers in the wake of this startling crime — let alone the [possible](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/united-healthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-shooting-bullets-words-written-on-them/) health care–related motive of the killer — casts serious doubt on this piece of conventional political wisdom. **In fact, it calls into question the political establishment’s entire thinking on health care.**…
    Anger at the privatized US health care system is not just a matter of moral urgency (for the ordinary people who suffer constantly under that system as well as the executives who get death threats from them). It’s clearly a potent political force waiting to be harnessed. **No one in Washington seems to have much interest in doing so right now. If and when they do, it could cause a political earthquake.**”

  3. No shit, really?

    My last major appointment was supposed to be $200, then I got $800 extra billed on top of that out of nowhere- and that was after they verified the price with insurance to confirm the original $200 as I was standing there.

    Time before that, insurance just said “no we aren’t covering you for this life-threatening service that the doctor ordered” but somehow, shockingly, made the hospital eat the bill. I was fully expecting to pay something- this outcome also didn’t make sense.

    Here’s an idea, how about a system that… actually works?

  4. Everybody but the very rich. And they don’t have to wait for an available appt. either.

  6. That’s because we shouldn’t need it

    We’re the richest country in the world and the only “rich” country without universal / govt-paid health care. We should all hate it, whether we get decent care or not.

  7. I’ve paid into health insurance for 20 years. I’ve gone to the doctor twice for what I was told was a covered normal check-up for insurance to say oh, you haven’t met your deductible, so we’re not paying anything. Why have I been giving them money when I pay for my own visits anyways? Just in case I ever get cancer or something, I have it, but I know when that day comes, they will say yeah, not covered… I could put all the money I’ve paid into health insurance over the years into a stock account and had the money grow for the last 20 years and then when the day comes, I’d have cash to pay for any procedure I need.

  8. It’s just such crap. My story pales in comparison to others with far bigger issues but nonetheless I feel like sharing it. Went to lab to get blood work. They run my insurance and say my estimated payment is 0$. Get bill for 250$ months later. Insurance denied 1 test. Normally 10$ test for them but because I have to pay, it’s full 250$. Would never have gotten it done had I known the cost. No other business can pull such a bait and switch.

  9. Sure, thats why Americans have a billionaire oligarch government carefully picked by the Hero of the common man. They’ll show those greedy corporate hot shots.

  10. Hey remember when a black guy wanted to fix that for everyone and half the country decided they’d rather end democracy and destroy the economy rather than have a black person have accomplished anything

  11. My dad was billed for a Hospice consultation.

    I do not know a single person who likes their healthcare, but then again I don’t know any CEO’s or congressmen.

  12. We just found out our new charges will be $2400 /mo. In 2025!!! Wtaf?! How are we going to even live

  13. My affordable healthcare is not affordable, yet they tell me I love it.

  14. My deductible is 5k. My doc sent me to get blood work at a place that was out of network and cost me 2500. So this year I paid 7500 before insurance kicked in. They also denied a medication my doctor prescribed.

  15. In the recent past, people were afraid to change because they felt a new system would be worse

    I wonder if maybe, just maybe, we’re reaching the point where the system is so awful for everyone but the wealthiest that we can change.

  16. Thanks a lot for killing the Public Option, Joe Lieberman. Another asshole who became a saint when they died.

  17. Recent events finally gave Americans a face to go with their health insurance. It has become *humanized* and we are all asking ourselves why someone like *that*, with a net worth of more than $40 million, is taking our money and telling us we can’t get the healthcare we need.

  21. I literally don’t go to the doctor because I know I will get ram rodded by insurance payments. I avoid seeking the benefit of the most advanced medical age of humankind. I know that no matter how hard I study my policy and network, they will deny me coverage and scam me. If I need medicine or treatment, I expect to pay for it out of pocket, and go into medical debt, insurance coverage or not. Sorry dude that debt slot is reserved for childcare, if I can ever approach affording it. Private insurance industry generally holds us as hostages and is one of the worst things in American life. Luigi was right

  22. No fucking shit. Can we abandon the lie that they do that the corporate Democrats love recycling each primary?

  23. I just love going to an in-network hospital and then getting absolutely raked over the coals because half or more of the staff are not in-network.

  24. Ya it’s not changing anytime soon folks. The Billionaires that are in the cabinet are there to keep things tilted towards the upper class

  25. Democrats would run on fucking ending it if they had any cojones.

  26. I’m always amazed that the bill for a service, like normal bloodwork, is $1200, and insurance pays $186. I had a scope done, and the cost was $15k. Insurance paid, iirc, $3500. I don’t get it. Why not just bill $3500, or $186. Why the claims, telephone number bills made with fictional numbers, and then, a “real” negotiated price ?

    Or, the emergency surgery that resulted in a) an unsolicited check from insurance (?) for $4000, followed by EOB rejecting a $16,000 surprise bill (good thing I knew NOT to cash that check) and having to use NY’s surprise billing law against the practice (add in snippy practice administrator when I told them NO). They settled for $6000, but if I’d taken that poison check, I’d be out the protection of the surprise billing law AND having to fight the practice for the remaining fake bill. (hospital in network, legit emergency surgery). Thank you NY for the surprise billing law.

    TL DR If insurance ever sends YOU a check, DO NOT CASH IT until you are 100% sure of the underlying claim. It’s your insurer trying to wriggle out of something.

  27. This is the one aspect of American life that needs to be socialized. What we have now is “survival of the richest.” Health is way to basic a need to have it subjected to capitalism.

  28. It’s a broken system between the pharmaceutical companies, health insurance companies, and “nonprofit” hospitals.

  29. Dude I make 25k a year and I don’t qualify for help so I need to pay $480/month. WILD

  30. *Americans hate private insurance, period(.) health, home, auto, life, all of it is a scam!

  31. No surprise that our oligarch controlled media is focusing more on the killer than the Americans who’ve lost their lives fighting these corrupt “healthcare” companies. I’ve also never seen someone’s death be this universally celebrated.

  32. No duh. But we can’t get anything else cause “tHaT wOuLd Be CoMmUnIsM”

  33. Had job health care (hahaha) from 1991 through 2017. (when I could first receive it)

    In 2017 I was forced to go out on disability.

    I’m now on Medicare and Medicaid and **finally receiving the care all of my paid health care denied coverage for**

    I would **still be working as a nurse if I had received the care I needed each time**

    So yeah fuck private health. (it’s not care nor does it insure shit)

    I just want to go back to work. I loved taking care of old people.

  34. Pro tip: if you’re traveling abroad and are familiar with the language, it’s worth looking into whether there’s a doctor’s appointment for even the slightest ailment. In France, got a new eye prescription for glasses: €20. Had an ankle sprain in Italy, €8 for a cream and brace at the next door pharmacy. In Thailand on honeymoon had a massive migraine, $0.25 equivalent for paracetamol and a hotel doctor’s visit which was a shocking $12 add on.

    I know a person that gets their physicals in Mexico, because he’s convinced the healthcare industry just feeds patient data to clinical trial enrollment needs and that insurance companies aggregate metadata to train their algorithms to maximize profit and deny coverage. Spoiler alert, he ain’t wrong on both counts.

  35. But then vote for candidates who are against Medicare for All because “communism!” Can’t make this shit up

  36. My wife has explicit instructions to divorce me upon diagnosis. Clear me out of any and all assets possible.

    Because I’ll be damned if the health insurance industry will cause my family to fall into bankruptcy.

  37. Where the hell was this energy during the Biden admin?! Did people really forget that the dude lowered insulin? Or the whole campaign to pressure Eli and Lily to lower their insulin prices as well?!

    I’m glad people are finally waking up but it honestly almost feels too little too late

  40. My doc said UHC is the worst he’s dealt with in 25 years of practicing.

    They are awful but not special. All of them are awful.

  42. Medicaid is the best healthcare ive ever had. i get billed NOTHING. ever.

    everyone should have access to this.

Comments are closed.