It's not “private healthcare”, it's the complete lack of any healthcare system in US. In Canada for example, many hospitals are private and you don’t see them complaining about it.

When the state spends more on giving money to oil companies than creating a working healthcare system you know that country is fucked.

When I was 19 I had thought I had appendicitis. I went to the emergency room. Once there I waited 3 hours to see a doctor while in pain. They see me, do a MRI scan, find nothing but want me to stay overnight to ensure nothing happens. The pain subsided and I left the following day.

It turned out I wasn't on my Dad's insurance anymore and I was billed. At 19, 1.5 years out of the house. I had 15k in debt.

Welcome to America.

I'd be dead in America.

Affording the treatment wouldn't have been an issue, because I wouldn't have been able to afford the diagnosis.

It is when I see this that I am grateful for having been born in a country with 100% public and universal health

Is this a joke I am too not-American to understand?

I had a medical emergency yesterday that may me realize how lucky I am to live in Canada.

I'm getting weekly immunotherapy allergy shots (which are also covered by the free healthcare here) and I had a bad reaction to a shot. They needed to give me 2 epipens and some ventilator drug and stretchered me in an ambulance to the hospital where I waited about 5-10 min (I was stable at this point) for a private room. They kept me there for like 4 hours with IV drip and prescribed me another EpiPen.

Total cost was 0 with no questions asked. I know for non life threatening injuries like broken bones you might be waiting a few hours to get in, but I'd rather it be like that then have the possibility of going in massive debt.

He should ask for an itemized bill. Then he might only owe 50 grand.......

St Jude’s is a charity hospital that does not charge patients or their families. They accept insurance payments only and the rest is covered as charity.

No big deal. You have until August. Just skip the avocado toast until then and you'll be fine.

American healthcare is a fucking joke.

I'm so lucky that I live in a country where it's covered and I don't have to worry if i get sick.

Here's my American Healthcare story:

• snap finger bone, go to urgent care to get splint
• pay 50ish dollars that day
• 2 months later, get bill for 200 dollars
• ahah! everyone says to ask for an itemized bill! do that
• get itemized bill back that claims the 200 charge is for 'visiting with a doctor with knowledge of medical history' (paraphrasing)
• contest charge because I did not see a doctor, and splinting a snapped finger does not require any fucking context at all
• get runaround for 2 months, while being threatened with late fees
• finally they say they will adjust the bill
• get new bill for $201, 'for a visit that did not include a doctor' (no fucking joke)

welcome the USA, where healthcare operations are scams

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/arizona-based-nextcare-inc-pay-us-10-million-resolve-false-claims-act-allegations

https://www.justice.gov/usao-az/pr/urgent-care-provider-convicted-health-care-fraud-and-ordered-pay-125-million

(these are just 2 of the scams in my state, thanks to shell companies when one is shut, another opens)

edit: and in case anyone thinks I paid that shit, I didn't. I sent them a polite version of a 'fuck you' reply. Then covid hit and I never heard from them again.

Insurance companies are a joke. I hate it here. I worked at a certain restaurant for years who make an entire thing out of getting donations for St. Judes a few weeks a year. What are we donating for if people still get bills like this?

fuck america and its dogshit insurance scam industry 🖕 cannot wait for this shitstain country to collapse

It doesn't have to be this way

American health care is fucked. That said:

I watched a promo for St Jude a few years back. They cover all expenses for families so they can focus on their kids. You should donate. They're awesome.