Americans Borrowed $88 Billion to Pay for Health Care Last Year, Says Survey
Americans borrowed an estimated $88 billion in 2018 to pay for medical attention.
The financial strain of paying for health care in the U.S. has been made clear by a new survey that shows that Americans borrowed an estimated $88 billion in 2018 to pay for medical attention. The survey, released Tuesday by Gallup and the nonprofit West Health, shows that around a quarter of Americans avoided seeking treatment for medical problems because of the costs, and that half of the adult population fears a medical emergency could bankrupt them, The New York Times reports. Only 39 percent of respondents said they were satisfied with how well the system was serving Americans generally. “Our data shows an American public that’s beaten down from this really serious issue,” said Dan Witters, a senior researcher at Gallup. However, 64 percent of respondents said they were mostly satisfied with their experiences in the health-care system.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, Trump says no movement on health care until 2021.
Bet the overall financial strain of $1.2 Trillion borrowed for a car is worse, and that debt is still growing !
So you actually think that people who get sick should have to borrow money to pay for their care?
If you don't carry and PAY FOR health insurance...… YES ?
"Care" isn't FREE ….. is it ?
"However, 64 percent of respondents said they were mostly satisfied with their experiences in the health-care system."
Seems the "Majority" are okay with everything.
There are many people who have health insurance and still pay a lot out of pocket.
Every other first world country in the world has some form of universal health care. What the hell is wrong with the United States? Are we nuts?
Health care should be a right in an advanced country.
And if someone pays for their insurance, but the company denies coverage of treatment due to a pre-existing coverage, then what? If things go back to the way they were before ACA my daughter will be paying over 700 dollars a month for insurance that may or may not pay for the treatment she has to have every 2 months to stay alive. That treatment is 10,000 dollars a dosage. What is she supposed to do? DIE?
Only 39 percent of respondents said they were satisfied with how well the system was serving Americans generally.
I'm waiting for some one to come along and pooh pooh your comment like somebody did to mine last week.
There's very little compassion amongst the people here who vote for the Rs
I get that from my own family. When they realize that my daughter will be affected they tell me "treatment shouldn't cost that much" - well no shit sherlock BUT IT DOES!!! They never will admit that the system is very flawed & even people that are working & paying for their insurance will be screwed if we go back to the way it was.
No, it shouldn't but them telling you that isn't helping. They know the healthcare system is broken but like everybody else over there --------> they got theirs they don't care about you
No other country is the world's policeman involved in multiple military actions across the globe- with a cheer leading section urging for even more.
We allow those snobbish semi socialist countries the luxury of riding on our military coat tails. They wouldn't be able to afford their universal health care if they had to equip and maintain a military capable of defending themselves.
Until it hits them. My brother and I got into it about insurance and ACA. He doesn't see a problem yet - until they back off from the pre-existing condition ban - then when his wife & he have to pay for all of her medical treatment out of pocket because of her pre-existing breast cancer then he will see. All the insurance companies have to say is "you had cancer once so every health issue you have relates back to that and we won't cover it".
Thank you for the good thoughts. I will keep fighting this fight, to keep my daughter alive.
Maybe we shouldn't be.
Most don't have to.
They do so because hospitals offer it upon checkout, frequently with 0% interest. The hospital gets their money immediately and the lender gets to start charging 28% interest if somebody is late with a payment.
Health care is your right. Just like food. You can have as much as you can pay for.
Why shouldn't financial responsibility be a requirement in an advanced country?
That's illegal, unless you're in one of those Christian care ministry nonsenses. Even prior to the ACA, pre-existing condition limitations were very restricted in most states.
$700 seems quite the bargain, then.
That's about what my wife's coverage costs. Her bi-monthly infusions are $18,500 each. But we've maintained our insurance since we were young, often giving up "fun stuff" to make sure the premiums were paid, so when she was diagnosed the condition could not be pre-existing.
Before the ACA
Not illegal
And you do realize that insurance companies can cancel your policy at will.
Hey, Trout - it has happened - surprise surprise.
You know what - I have decided to no longer engage you, because you never take anyone else's issues into consideration & think that YOUR experiences are the same as everyone else's. You do not look to see what others have experienced because you are the boot strap guy - well enjoy listening to yourself yammer away.
I know. You would think somebody might actually start working on how we reduce the cost of care, rather than pretending that changing who writes the check will somehow solve anything.
They're getting screwed now. The ACA hammered the shit out of people who buy insurance individually but can't qualify for a subsidy for whatever reason. Democrats find this fact inconvenient, so they either pretend those people don't exist or state openly that they don't matter. Republicans find this fact exceedingly convenient, so they do absolutely nothing.
There are several provisions of the ACA that need to be kept, and undoubtedly will be in any change that is made. But until we actually start to address the cost of care, we're simply repainting the house and pretending it's bigger.
There is a difference between denying the application for the policy and denying a claim once they sell it to you.
The former, which your post describes, was not illegal. However 38 states had subsidized high risk pool options for people with uninsurable conditions. Texas started theirs in 1986.
The latter, denying a claim, was illegal under most circumstances, as long as you disclosed the condition when you applied.
Again, against the law. In Texas, as well as most other NAICS regulated states, a life or health insurer can only cancel a paid policy if they withdraw from the state.
It was me last time, BTW.
She, like you, was afraid of several things that have been illegal for many years in most of the country. She enjoyed being fearful and didn't appreciate the interruption.
It's always about you, isn't it, Jack?
It wasn't you but you did jump in with your unwanted 2 cents. And like I told the other person, you don't know diddly squat about me and what my condition is so don;t even pretend.
ps you contradicted yourself on what was legal and illegal
My wife has ulcerative colitis. Without a Remicade infusion every 8 weeks her immune system will attack her colon and she will starve to a slow, agonizing death over a period of weeks.
Her last infusion was on February 27. The bill was $19,156.
You will forgive me for thinking I might have something in common with another person whose loved one needs a very expensive treatment every 8 weeks.
I have 20 years experience on health insurance as part of executive compensation packages, including ERISA compliance, TEFRA compliance, COBRA compliance and now ACA compliance.
What I don't have is fear. But I do understand how it can be frightening if you're unfamiliar with the system and don't know how to make it work for you.
100% agree. Some here think that they are the only ones worth listening to, or that they are the only important one here.
All I can say is thank God for Tricare for Life. $500.00 per quarter premiums for full coverage.
Are ALL "Issues" the same ?
"Mostly True" seems to work for the "Left" as being a good thing on other subjects.
Now it doesn't ?
If you were insured before you had a Pre-Existing condition, your saying insurance companies won't cover getting the condition later in life ?
I've NEVER had that problem with insurance companies. I paid for insurance BEFORE "Sickness". So a new illness isn't a pre-existing condition !
Before ACA, we were paying $460.00 for a family of 5. After ACA, we are paying $ 670 for a Family of 3. Your getting the discount because of people like me, that had their rates raised and have been in the insurance system for decades.
Like the Car insurance Commercial notes:
He said: "You picked the wrong insurance plan"
I said: "No … I picked the wrong insurance company" !
No, but they can cancel your policy upon renewal - then a new company would have to be found & the condition then becomes what? A pre-exisiting condition.
Prove that your premiums went up that much. Show me. Put your money where your mouth is - show me what your premiums were before ACA & what they were after. Scan in your premium stub with dates for both and then maybe I will believe you.
What discount? I have a plan through my employer. My daughter pays $700 a month for just her - no discount.
Like the commercial says: "You picked the WRONG insurance company" !
Decades of paying insurance, I have NEVER had a problem with them.
Well, I am happy for you, but you do not make up the whole population. If this was not a problem why would so many people have this problem? I am sorry, but I want my daughter to live. If that bothers you - tough.
And neither do the "Few" that seem to have ALL the complaints....ALL THE TIME !
Just because one is "Loud", doesn't mean they are "EVERYONE", although the media will try to make you think it "IS" Everyone !
Oh, and BTW it happened to me when I was pregnant with my daughter. My husband's employer switched insurance companies mid pregnancy & the company refused to cover my pregnancy because it was a pre-exisiting condition. WE did not choose the company, his employer did & we did not learn of the pre-exisitng condition shit until I had complications & had to deliver early and stay for a longer period of time - MEGA bucks that we had to pay out of pocket. So just because YOU have never experienced it does not make it untrue.
So because YOU do not have an issue NOW fuck everyone else - gotcha.
Not sure why you requested to follow me here since you think so lowly of me.
AND as I said before - I am sorry if you do not like that I will keep being LOUD about this to keep my daughter alive. You don't like it, TOUGH.
Also - I do believe in Karma - so this will happen to you because you are so against people doing what they can to survive. You will have to choose between fighting to keep someone you love alive by joining the pre-existing condition fight and your hatred of "liberals".
Good day - may the Goddess' blessing be upon you.
As ALL other parents would do also.
I've always told my kids 2 things:
1. I'd go broke sending them to college if they needed my help
2. I'd go broke trying to save their lives if they needed my help
Nothing more....NOTHING LESS !
I thought TriCare recipients had to start using Medicare when they reached a certain age.
It's already personally happened to "ME".
Now don't you feel silly saying what you said ?
Government has many "Help" programs already in place you can use.
"Insurance" isn't the problem, It's the actual "Health Care Costs" !
Write you local House Representative and/or senator !
Blame his employer....not the Insurance Company.
If you rely on others....your gonna get a big disappointment from time to time. Take matters into your own hands, so there is no disappointments !
The Moral of the story is.....don't switch !
But polls mean ….. EVERYTHING ! Might as well "USE" them equally....right ?
Because some don't have a problem they really don't give a shit about anyone else who has a problem. I don't know why you engage with that one.
I don't think so. If it's like the Federal Blue Cross, you use Medicare for hospitalization but your FedBlue (or Tricare) for doctors' visits, prescriptions, etc. - you don't need to pay for Medicare Part B or Part D. You just use Part A which you've already paid for through payroll deductions.
You make me laugh. I have to say that for you. As I said: Have a good day and may the Goddess bless you in all you do today".
Are you going to scan in & post those premium receipts so we can all see how ACA did you wrong?
May God bless you too Veronica !
"Are you going to scan in & post those premium receipts so we can all see how ACA did you wrong?"
Sure....I'll expose my personal information to you and everyone else…. right now.......
So, you can't prove it? Gotcha....
Send me your birth certificate and your SS#....and I'll consider sending you my insurance information.
I'll wait !
I have a lot to learn before I retire. Thank-you
It is at home and I am at work. But I asked you first so it is on you to provide first.
Never has, never will.
[deleted]
You first.
I am ain't I !
Wrong. I am waiting for my programs to run. I am very productive - if you can't multitask that is your problem.
Why work harder for the same pay? I put in my 40 hours, complete all my tasks and get high evaluations each year. My supervisor loves me. I always do more that I am asked to do. It seems you are the one with difficulty getting your work done - if you can only focus on one thing at a time.
So let's see the paperwork....
Never has, never will …..What ?
Sure !
Yeppers. That is why I am not always commenting right away or I am not on at all. Depends on if it is a busy day.
We'll each do it in 5 minutes ……….. Starting ……….. Now !
Go !
I forgot to ask - do you need the LONG version of my BC or will the SHORT do????????
HEEHEE!!!
Short will be fine.
I don't discriminate !
Told you (DON'T you ever listen) I am at work & it is at home. I don't carry it with me.
Sure you do.
Reference ?
Nothing against you. I believe that everyone discriminates against something. It is human nature.
Sure !
2 minute intervals is pretty quick for someone "WORKING"…. wouldn't you say ?
Paranoid much?
I am good at my job, what else can I say.
Deeper and Deeper you go.
Locked for a long running off topic personal commentary and lack of the seeder's presence.