Most Americans are one illness away from financial ruin because of Inferior insurance with costly deductibles and uncovered services. By contrast, no body in Canada and other countries become bankrupt because of hospital bills. Unlike USA, their systems are created to remove financial barriers to healthcare because people are more important than profits. Ironic that USA ends up with the most unaffordable (inefficient) system in the world.
Most Americans are one illness away from financial ruin because of Inferior insurance with costly deductibles and uncovered services. By contrast, no body in Canada and other countries become bankrupt because of hospital bills. Unlike USA, their systems are created to remove financial barriers to healthcare because people are more important than profits. Ironic that USA ends up with the most unaffordable (inefficient) system in the world.
How many people are we talking about here ?
Less than 0.5 % of the total US population..?
Could it be,, that divorces,not controlling their spending and loss of jobs ..contributed to folks not being able to pay their medical bills ?
How many people are we talking about here ?
Less than 0.5 % of the total US population..?
Could it be,, that divorces,not controlling their spending and loss of jobs ..contributed to folks not being able to pay their medical bills ?
A good link on this.
https://www.cnbc.com/id/100840148
56 million, nearly 20% of the poulation between 19-64 will struggle with medical bills.
Sadly, ObamaCare does little to change this, at least in the short term.
A good link on this.
https://www.cnbc.com/id/100840148
56 million, nearly 20% of the poulation between 19-64 will struggle with medical bills.
Sadly, ObamaCare does little to change this, at least in the short term.
The new bankruptcy laws changed things dramatically. Most people that earn over 60k per year are ineligible, no matter their debts.
As you pointed out, there are numerous reasons why one might file and it is difficult to quantify one factor...i.e. usually one factor is not at play, or that debt would be subject to payments instead of being discharged.
When 56 million are struggling to pay medical debts and many have insurance, it is obvious to even you far right wing extremists that we have a problem. ObamaCare certainly does not prevent this and it wasn't created to do so.
It will take time to reduce the overall unpaid medical costs that are driving up the costs of the system. No reform will work unless this number comes down.
The new bankruptcy laws changed things dramatically. Most people that earn over 60k per year are ineligible, no matter their debts.
As you pointed out, there are numerous reasons why one might file and it is difficult to quantify one factor...i.e. usually one factor is not at play, or that debt would be subject to payments instead of being discharged.
When 56 million are struggling to pay medical debts and many have insurance, it is obvious to even you far right wing extremists that we have a problem. ObamaCare certainly does not prevent this and it wasn't created to do so.
It will take time to reduce the overall unpaid medical costs that are driving up the costs of the system. No reform will work unless this number comes down.
Obamacare didn't create the most unaffordable healthcare system. Main fault lies in healthcare providers charging the highest prices in the world. Obama is partly right in that insurance is better than no insurance in paying medical bills.
Far more insured Americans suffer from medical bills than those who become bankrupt. Nerdwallet estimates 15 millions deplete their life savings and another 10 millions unable to pay for necessities such as food. Over 25 million cut back on prescription medicine which might make them sicker.
Obamacare didn't create the most unaffordable healthcare system. Main fault lies in healthcare providers charging the highest prices in the world. Obama is partly right in that insurance is better than no insurance in paying medical bills.
Far more insured Americans suffer from medical bills than those who become bankrupt. Nerdwallet estimates 15 millions deplete their life savings and another 10 millions unable to pay for necessities such as food. Over 25 million cut back on prescription medicine which might make them sicker.
I think we can all agree that millions of people going bankrupt due to medical bills is a huge problem. Was a problem before Obamacare and still is as their is nothing in Obamacare to help this.
Here is a question, what would happen to health care costs if we just eliminated insurance? I think they would come down dramatically. I could be way off here but I think costs are higher because the providers know they can get x amount from an insurance company for a specific service. If doctors had to compete in a truly transparent, competitive market they would have to charge a fair price. The way it is set up now, patients have no idea what the cost of any service is, they maybe know and only care about their deductible and co-pay. Every doctor office should have a list of services and prices readily available. Just a thought...
I think we can all agree that millions of people going bankrupt due to medical bills is a huge problem. Was a problem before Obamacare and still is as their is nothing in Obamacare to help this.
Here is a question, what would happen to health care costs if we just eliminated insurance? I think they would come down dramatically. I could be way off here but I think costs are higher because the providers know they can get x amount from an insurance company for a specific service. If doctors had to compete in a truly transparent, competitive market they would have to charge a fair price. The way it is set up now, patients have no idea what the cost of any service is, they maybe know and only care about their deductible and co-pay. Every doctor office should have a list of services and prices readily available. Just a thought...
I think we can all agree that millions of people going bankrupt due to medical bills is a huge problem. Was a problem before Obamacare and still is as their is nothing in Obamacare to help this.
Here is a question, what would happen to health care costs if we just eliminated insurance? I think they would come down dramatically. I could be way off here but I think costs are higher because the providers know they can get x amount from an insurance company for a specific service. If doctors had to compete in a truly transparent, competitive market they would have to charge a fair price. The way it is set up now, patients have no idea what the cost of any service is, they maybe know and only care about their deductible and co-pay. Every doctor office should have a list of services and prices readily available. Just a thought...
The insurance industry may add an underlying cost but it is because of the underlying basis for increased costs.
I'll get to the comparison in a moment, but if you look at the increases in insurance costs since 1980, they are direct correlary to the increases in medical expenses which are directly correlary to unpaid medical expenses.
Think of this for an example....just imagine if car repair shops would be required to fix your car after an accident or complete breakdown no matter if you could pay or not. Not basic oil changes, or minor accidents, just major events. No mechanics liens, no up front credit card or cash payments...you pick up your car and leave. Sure, some would make monthly payments, some no payments at all.
If this were the case, how much would it end up costing to repair cars for those who could pay? And subsequently, how much woudl insurance cost based on those repair expenses?
This is our current health care situation.
I think we can all agree that millions of people going bankrupt due to medical bills is a huge problem. Was a problem before Obamacare and still is as their is nothing in Obamacare to help this.
Here is a question, what would happen to health care costs if we just eliminated insurance? I think they would come down dramatically. I could be way off here but I think costs are higher because the providers know they can get x amount from an insurance company for a specific service. If doctors had to compete in a truly transparent, competitive market they would have to charge a fair price. The way it is set up now, patients have no idea what the cost of any service is, they maybe know and only care about their deductible and co-pay. Every doctor office should have a list of services and prices readily available. Just a thought...
The insurance industry may add an underlying cost but it is because of the underlying basis for increased costs.
I'll get to the comparison in a moment, but if you look at the increases in insurance costs since 1980, they are direct correlary to the increases in medical expenses which are directly correlary to unpaid medical expenses.
Think of this for an example....just imagine if car repair shops would be required to fix your car after an accident or complete breakdown no matter if you could pay or not. Not basic oil changes, or minor accidents, just major events. No mechanics liens, no up front credit card or cash payments...you pick up your car and leave. Sure, some would make monthly payments, some no payments at all.
If this were the case, how much would it end up costing to repair cars for those who could pay? And subsequently, how much woudl insurance cost based on those repair expenses?
This is our current health care situation.
Heat - yes the no caps on lifetime coverage is a good thing in the ACA. A well needed change.
DJ - Interesting comparison, I see where you are coming from. I was thinking more along the lines of college tuition. The rates have gone up so much partially because of all the "free" government money available for people to go to college. Colleges know they will get their money so they continue to raise it up every semester. as I mentioned in a different post, I'm now of a HSA. So trying to shop for prices for basic things like blood tests and X rays is proving to be difficult at best. That issue is what prompted my comment on transparency on prices for services.
Heat - yes the no caps on lifetime coverage is a good thing in the ACA. A well needed change.
DJ - Interesting comparison, I see where you are coming from. I was thinking more along the lines of college tuition. The rates have gone up so much partially because of all the "free" government money available for people to go to college. Colleges know they will get their money so they continue to raise it up every semester. as I mentioned in a different post, I'm now of a HSA. So trying to shop for prices for basic things like blood tests and X rays is proving to be difficult at best. That issue is what prompted my comment on transparency on prices for services.
what would happen to health care costs if we just eliminated insurance? ...
One problem is that individuals lack bargaining power and are in a weak position to refuse life-saving healthcare. However governments are more powerful than individuals and have more control of costs as shown in other countries.
what would happen to health care costs if we just eliminated insurance? ...
One problem is that individuals lack bargaining power and are in a weak position to refuse life-saving healthcare. However governments are more powerful than individuals and have more control of costs as shown in other countries.
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