Why Your Health Insurer Doesn't Care About Your Big Bills

[MayhemMonkey]

My cost for year for insurance for myself and the wife is about 5,000 dollars. The I have a copay per doctor's visit of 20 dollars.

We have a 350 dollar we pay for some things and then they pay 80 to 100 present after that.

To see a general doctor I can just walk in anytime from 8am to 10pm 7 days a week 365 days a year, I just pay 20 dollars.

I don't need any thing to see a specialist I just call and make n appointment.

so, say on top of the 5 grand you probably pay another grand or 2 depending on how many times you need to see a doctor? so say 6 to 7 grand per year? Thats actually pretty good compared to some horror stories Ive heard in the US.

https://boughtbymany.com/news/article/private-health-insurance-cost-uk/

The average premium for UK private health insurance is £1,349 per year (source: ActiveQuote). But you might pay much less than that for health insurance depending on the two factors that influence the cost.



Check the price of private medical insurance policies using specialist comparison site ActiveQuote.com.

thats on average for the UK

 

[oldshadow]

Even employer plans are seeing rising costs. From the piece in the OP:




Yes it does include tax. As for loss of service, what do you mean? Many single payer systems nonetheless have options for private healthcare.

Which means I would pay double to get the kind of care I get now.

Once in taxes and then again in a add on.

 

[Islam Imamate]

Which means I would pay double to get the kind of care I get now.

Once in taxes and then again in a add on.

You're assuming the care you get now wouldn't be covered by the single payer system though.

 

[oldshadow]

so, say on top of the 5 grand you probably pay another grand or 2 depending on how many times you need to see a doctor? so say 6 to 7 grand per year? Thats actually pretty good compared to some horror stories Ive heard in the US.

https://boughtbymany.com/news/article/private-health-insurance-cost-uk/


thats on average for the UK

No I would pay about maybe 500 plus the 5 grand.

I had a heart attack a couple of years ago and total I paid was a about 1 grand and 350 of that was the ambulance because the city and my insurance company doesn't have any agreement. They pay part but not the total charge.

 

[oldshadow]

You're assuming the care you get now wouldn't be covered by the single payer system though.

From what I have read the speed and care would not be the same.

 

[Neph]

Good.

But are the taxes you pay making up for the free? And can you get the service I can?

Heath care is always going up like everything the best we is try and comtrol it some.

If you have single payer and like it more power to you.

I mean I don't know what service you get but for me it is excellent. I have very few needs because I'm in my 30s and healthy. If I need to see a doctor, it's free. If I need an ambulance, it's free. If I go to hospital, it's free. When I go buy medicine it's all on the benefits scheme so all the drugs I need are a few bucks for a pack.

As I get older I would consider moving to private health care but even still the break even point is supposedly somewhere in your 60s so I'm hardly worried about it at all. If I did want the service the option is there and at a considerable amount cheaper to what you are paying by way of your employer (which directly erodes the wages you would otherwise be earning).

Unfortunately it seems like there is a complete breakdown of competition in the US for healthcare and it is a cartel of price fixing. Insurance companies operate on loss ratios, which is basically Total Expenses divided by Gross Written Premium. It is in their interest that the GWP is as high as possible and it is also in their interest if both increase at an equal ratio. It is not in the consumers interest...

 

[Islam Imamate]

From what I have read the speed and care would not be the same.

Maybe but to use your own words, don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

 

[MayhemMonkey]

No I would pay about maybe 500 plus the 5 grand.

I had a heart attack a couple of years ago and total I paid was a about 1 grand and 350 of that was the ambulance because the city and my insurance company doesn't have any agreement. They pay part but not the total charge.

my bad dude, was just trying to estimate.... but yeah thinking about it you wouldve had to visit the doctors about once every week to rack up that kind of cost lol

thats not bad for the heart attack, I also had one last year and it cost me nothing.... other than a week in the hospital and being on multiple meds for the rest of my life(my prescription costs are covered by the NHS also). Hope you are doing well now dude

 

[oldshadow]

I mean I don't know what service you get but for me it is excellent. I have very few needs because I'm in my 30s and healthy. If I need to see a doctor, it's free. If I need an ambulance, it's free. If I go to hospital, it's free. When I go buy medicine it's all on the benefits scheme so all the drugs I need are a few bucks for a pack.

As I get older I would consider moving to private health care but even still the break even point is supposedly somewhere in your 60s so I'm hardly worried about it at all. If I did want the service the option is there and at a considerable amount cheaper to what you are paying by way of your employer (which directly erodes the wages you would otherwise be earning).

Unfortunately it seems like there is a complete breakdown of competition in the US for healthcare and it is a cartel of price fixing. Insurance companies operate on loss ratios, which is basically Total Expenses divided by Gross Written Premium. It is in their interest that the GWP is as high as possible and it is also in their interest if both increase at an equal ratio. It is not in the consumers interest...

I'm not saying I couldn't be convince that I would gain by single payer but so far all I can do is read about it and reading about it has not convinced me I should give up what I have.

 

[Neph]

I'm not saying I couldn't be convince that I would gain by single payer but so far all I can do is read about it and reading about it has not convinced me I should give up what I have.

This might be an interesting read for you:

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-healthcare-comparison-20170715-htmlstory.html

PS I'm glad you are well from the heart attack

 

[all caps]

If I have a serious issue, I go to the hospital with no intention of paying the bill. Sue me, idgaf.

 

[ultramanhyata]

I have no idea what any of that means lol

what is your total cost per year for healthcare? (apologies if you explain it here)

OS is basically saying that he doesn't care how much the providers are actually charging or how much the insurers are actually paying for his care.

As long as it only costs him a $20 co-pay and a $350 deductible, whether or not the system ultimately collapses is not his problem or concern.

 

[oldshadow]

my bad dude, was just trying to estimate.... but yeah thinking about it you wouldve had to visit the doctors about once every week to rack up that kind of cost lol

thats not bad for the heart attack, I also had one last year and it cost me nothing.... other than a week in the hospital and being on multiple meds for the rest of my life(my prescription costs are covered by the NHS also). Hope you are doing well now dude

Sounds like you got good care.

Did you get stents? I got two within an 1/2 hour of getting to the ER.

I felt great right after they were done. Doctor said because I was in very good shape otherwise I did really well.

I spent the night in ICU and wanted to go home the next morning but they would not let me. Said I had to stay 48 hours.

Why did you have to stay a week? I wanted out as soon as possible. I wanted to get home so I would sleep. I had a private room but still you bet no sleep because they come in to bother you all the time with something.

I'm going good now I'm back up to 4 to 5 mile run 3 times a week and teach and work out a couple of times a week.

I hope you are doing well.

 

[MayhemMonkey]

OS is basically saying that he doesn't care how much the providers are actually charging or how much the insurers are actually paying for his care.

As long as it only costs him a $20 co-pay and a $350 deductible, whether or not the system ultimately collapses is not his problem or concern.

but I can understand his fears considering the horror stories that are spun about single payer in the US media

if people were aware that single payer doesnt eliminate private care altogether I think they would be more willing to consider it. OS doesnt seem entirely against the idea, he just said he was unconvinced

 

[oldshadow]

OS is basically saying that he doesn't care how much the providers are actually charging or how much the insurers are actually paying for his care.

As long as it only costs him a $20 co-pay and a $350 deductible, whether or not the system ultimately collapses is not his problem or concern.

No that's not what I said.

The system needs work but I'm not ready to just give it all up for something that very well may be worse for me.

In a few years I have to go on Medicare and I keep my insurance as a supplement. So over all I will pay less and get more.

Like I said I open to single payer but I'm convinced it will be better.

 

[MayhemMonkey]

Sounds like you got good care.

Did you get stents? I got two within an 1/2 hour of getting to the ER.

I felt great right after they were done. Doctor said because I was in very good shape otherwise I did really well.

I spent the night in ICU and wanted to go home the next morning but they would not let me. Said I had to stay 48 hours.

Why did you have to stay a week? I wanted out as soon as possible. I wanted to get home so I would sleep. I had a private room but still you bet no sleep because they come in to bother you all the time with something.

I'm going good now I'm back up to 4 to 5 mile run 3 times a week and teach and work out a couple of times a week.

I hope you are doing well.

yeah I got 2, had to wait until morning for mine as I was taken in at about 3 am, and had to be transferred to the specialist hospital in Edinburgh. Did you get yours through your groin or through your wrist? Ive heard most get them through the groin but I got mine through the wrist. I felt like shit afterwards as where they went in on my wrist had to be hermetically sealed(I think to prevent internal bleeding) and it hurt like a motherfucker, even whilst I was morphined out of my tits lol.

I was kept in for a week because when I was transferred back from Edinburgh I had to be quarantined for 3 days in case Id brought any germs from the other hospital(procedural stuff), they lost the first sample I provided so I had to stay an extra 3 days to be safe. It was soooo boring lol

Yeah I got lucky because I used to train really intensely(used to coach and fight muay thai) but got ill a year before my HA(not knowing it was heart issues that was making me feel ill) so my fitness levels werent as good as they used to be. But the doctors told me living the way I did for so long previously was why I recovered as well as I did. Although I have let my fitness work slip lately after building myself back up again. I still hate running with a passion though ahaha

 

[ultramanhyata]

No that's not what I said.

The system needs work but I'm not ready to just give it all up for something that very well may be worse for me.

In a few years I have to go on Medicare and I keep my insurance as a supplement. So over all I will pay less and get more.

Like I said I open to single payer but I'm convinced it will be better.

You're looking at US health care through the lens of your own personal costs and experiences. Not from the perspective of the solvency of the system itself and its ultimate effect on the larger economy.

 

[MayhemMonkey]

The system needs work but I'm not ready to just give it all up for something that very well may be worse for me.

perfectly reasonable position dude, especially considering what youve been through

 

[TheSlothMan]

I would have to see cost and what I would get.

Now if I want to see a specialist I just call make an appointment, go and pay my 20 dollars. I can get in most of the time in week.

If I'm sick. I can go to the doc in a box walk in 8 am to 10 pm 7 days a week 365 a year and just pay my 20 dollars.

I have a 350 deductible per person (wife and I only) per year.

Like I said we need improvements but I'm not ready to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

How much are your monthly premiums? Do you get insurance through your employer?

I'm self employed and have to get insurance directly through the insurance companies and it's a giant fucking ripoff. I'm healthy and not on any kind of medication, and yet I'm paying nearly $400 a month in insurance premiums with a 4 or 5 thousand dollar deductible. And that's for the shittiest plan they offer which doesn't even cover doctor visits and such until after I hit the deductible. It's a fucking scam and these companies need to be wiped off the face of the earth.........thanks Obama lol

 

[cincymma79]

single payer, take the power out of the insurance companies hands

Medicare and Medicaid set the bar for everyone else already.