• @Jaderick@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    It always has. IIRC correctly the biggest reason for bankruptcy in the US has been medical bills, for a while. Our greed driven system is garbage.

    • Snot Flickerman
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      3711 months ago

      Michael Moore made a whole damn documentary about it in 2007, 16 fucking years ago.

      Nothing has changed.

      • Semi-Hemi-Demigod
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        4011 months ago

        They eliminated pre-existing conditions and maximum lifetime payments for health insurance, so that’s not nothing.

        But they failed to pass a public option which means health insurance companies have a captive audience for their rent-seeking.

        And the Democrats still just talk about getting people affordable “coverage” and not affordable “care.”

        And hospitals are still understaffed and mental health care has six month waiting lists.

        • shikitohno
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          1311 months ago

          Mental health care is also often just excluded from coverage. My current job is the first time in my life I’ve had insurance that would cover therapy rather than be like “Look, we gave you one 60 minute session with our free crisis line, what more do you want? If you really need it, it’s only $450 a session if it’s that important.”

          • Semi-Hemi-Demigod
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            911 months ago

            I had to call thirteen different therapy offices before I found one that could take me before summer.

            Of course, my health insurance website showed them all as “Accepting New Patients”

            • TheCrispyDud
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              311 months ago

              Maybe there was an asterisk and really tiny font stating “Eventually”.

            • @corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca
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              211 months ago

              We have a single wait-list if none are available. They email you when there’s an opening at a PCP in the area, and you can veto or lemon-law two offers before you have to go around again.

          • Maeve
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            111 months ago

            How many mh visits does your policy cover?

            • shikitohno
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              111 months ago

              I haven’t really tested the limits on it, but so far at least one therapy session a week. Haven’t needed any inpatient care or anything beyond this, thus far, so I can’t comment on that.

              • Maeve
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                111 months ago

                That’s wonderful, I’m so glad you’re getting what you need!

        • tmyakal
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          1311 months ago

          Where I live, all care has a six month wait list. I started a new job with new insurance back in April, still haven’t been able to get in anywhere to see a new PCP. My dentist canceled an appointment on me last week and rescheduled it for February.

          People say socialized medicine leads to long wait times to see doctors. Well, I’m not seeing them now anyway, so at least it’s less or of my pocket.

        • @corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca
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          711 months ago

          And the Democrats still just talk about getting people affordable “coverage” and not affordable “care.”

          You want to review how the Republicans actually convinced people, especially in the poorest regions who’d benefit the most from a system of improved coverage and reduced cost, that it was a bad thing.

          Democrats can’t shoot for affordable care; they’re trying to get coverage in the door, at least.

        • @lolcatnip@reddthat.com
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          211 months ago

          And the Democrats still just talk about getting people affordable “coverage” and not affordable “care.”

          The charitable interpretation is that they’re talking about getting the government to pay for healthcare and they don’t want to make it sound like medical professionals would all become government employees.

            • @lolcatnip@reddthat.com
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              11 months ago

              Because that would be a lot less popular. A lot of Americans are terrified of the scenario because they’re afraid of change in general, and they’re afraid the result would be run even worse than the system we have now, because they think governments are inherently less competent than private companies.

              I’m not talking about brainwashed Republicans; I mean centrist Dems whose support is absolutely vital for a Dem politician in almost any congressional district.

    • Semi-Hemi-Demigod
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      1011 months ago

      Not just the biggest, the biggest by far. Two thirds of bankruptcies are due to medical debt.