Item — HN Reader

I just took a look at our annual medical contributions and employer's part.

We pay just over 10k for health insurance through our (different) companies. Our different employers cover almost 28k. So around 38k for insurance. This doesn't even include dental or vision which is separate.

It just seems so crazy how much we pay and still have deductibles. I understand we have small copays and get items covered like age-related screenings but this just feels excessive.

2 comments

Just talk to people in the healthcare industry about what kind of patients they have. We cover a tremendous amount of treatments in the U.S., at an arguably unsustainable level of service.

My aunt had a kidney infection in Canada and my cousin had to pull teeth to get her scheduled for an MRI. My five year old got a black eye from running into a table and they scheduled him for an X-ray and CAT scan (“just in case “) later that same morning. Had the results by lunch. My dad had a non-emergency scan scheduled the next day, and an outpatient procedure for a kidney stent (to treat high blood pressure) within two weeks. Once the surgeon was in there he realized my dad didn’t need a stent after all.

Here in the US, I see wait times for medical care comparable from what I hear from my Canadian friends. I don't think we our system can really tout that as an advantage over theirs.

Where are you located? E.g. the average wait times for CT scans and MRIs in Canada is weeks: https://canjhealthtechnol.ca/index.php/cjht/article/download.... UK NHS is 6-18 weeks. Here in suburban Maryland I’ve never had to wait more than a day or two for anything.

I live in the urban west. Most of the people I know have to wait weeks for pretty much anything.

When I had a serious accident involving multiple broken bones and the need for orthopedic surgery, I had to wait two weeks to get an MRI, although I did get a basic X-ray in the emergency room. Then another month (while being unable to move much, let alone work, and being in a great deal of pain) to get the surgery. That was me getting expedited scheduling. It also cost me a fortune out of pocket.

I’ve never had anything that available (outside of urgent care which imo is not very good). None of this had an immediate need.

MRI a few years ago had a month and a half wait (not urgent but recommended).

Pediatrician? At least 3 months and thats IF they take new patients.

Allergist, 6 month waiting list.

My last PCP I had to book out 2 months in advance (the practice I wanted to go to was booked 6 months out).

We are also suburbs of a big city.

It's not about wait times, it's about excessive scanning and endless, marginal-benefit end of life care

The people who opposed socialized medicine by fear-mongering about “death panels” can’t now complain that their preferred system provides limitless, marginal benefit end of life care. That’s the trade off THEY argued for and said THEIR system could do.

What about the people living in the same country who didn't oppose socialized medicine or fear monger about death panels? Can they complain that their non-preferred system sucks every bit as much as they always knew it would, and advocate for improving it, or are they forever bound to suffer karmic justice for what other people did over a decade ago?

I pay 8% from my salary for mandatory government health "insurance" which is basically a tax as there are enormous waiting queues for something serious.