How do americans afford health care?

Question

I have heard that a fucking medicament cost like 600 dolar or a visit to the doctor cost a lot money. So how can a normal citizen afford this?

Sometimes I go to doctor for stupid reasons to not go to school or for annual check up. I rarely go to doctor due to being ill. So I can't imagine how to afford this in US, if I lived there.

motownplayer2000 · Accepted Answer

Yeah, its ridiculous. But here in America, we have a fraudulent scam system called insurance. The doctors office can basically charge you whatever they like. And your right, if you look at the bill from the doctor. A visit to the doctor for being sick or needing something like checking on bones and ligaments can cost well over $500 for a 10-20 minute consultation.
How insurance works, is that we pay a Premium, if you dont pay the deductible.. every month and each visit counts to that deductible. Once you get to that price which can vary depending on the plan, they have an out-of-pocket cost. Which is usually like 80/20. So basically, when you are paying on the deductible, with the premium we pay every month. We still get the bill from the doctor. Which will cost about $80-$150 depending on the price the doctor sets. The premiums vary but most for a family of four under 1 insurance could pay up too $200+ per pay period if we have it through work. So we are still paying over $300+ for a 20 minute visit.
Then with out of pocket is 20% of the price you pay. Do if you go to surgery or have to see a specialist, and they charge over $1000 for there visit we are still paying over $200. So yes, the system for healthcare in this country and messed up. And people go about it like everything is fine and that's thet way it should he. I don't have the answer to fix it. But I know the American people are getting screwed.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

You are misinformed. Most Americans have medical insurance. Very few medications cost that much even without insurance, and with insurance the number is even lower. With insurance the vast majority of medications cost the average American $5 - $20.

Also, with insurance most Americans only pay a copay amount for a doctor visit and the copay is typically about $20 - $40.

I am surprised at how much misinformation and ignorance there is about this subject.

MORPHEUS_12 · Answer

My husband has medical, dental and vision through his work. He pays $380 out of his paycheck a month. Our out of pocket is $6,500. After I have met my out of pocket costs then everything for the rest of the plan year is free. I have some chronic health issues and every year I always met my out of pocket costs. I had two major surgeries this year one was billed to my insurance company as $75,000 and the other surgery was billed at $85,000. I cannot imagine having to be in debt for $160,000. I maxed out my deductibles in May so for the rest of this year I don't have to pay for any copays, prescriptions or any medical bills until the start of the new year.

razelove · Answer

Well Kim, let's talk about employment and careers. A lot of Americans can't afford health care. The mental illness problem of the US is staggering, see the homelessness and drug problem, related. Visits are that expensive, unless you have health insurance. This is where employment and careers come in. Health insurance for a family can be expensive, and junior can't get a job to afford his own. Now, when you have a job, they'll offer health insurance, but it may only cover serious injuries, or have a high "co-pay" which is what you pay at the doctor, or only have one hospital you can visit. If your career and job are good ones, you pay less for insurance that offers more to the point that you're paying nothing for your healthcare as what you deduct from your income is actually saving you money in taxes. There is also medicare and medicaid, medicaid is for children, their mothers, and the disabled, it is state sponsored insurance. medicare is for the elderly, and a similar program on a federal level.

Does it make sense, or need a breakdown of any of it, that's just a broad outline.

COMMODOREII · Answer

Yep that's right welcome to the US healthcare system. If you are lucky to have a job that pays higher than the estimated living wage of $15 per hr and your employer helps pay for your private insurance you can walk up to a doctors office and pay a deductible. A deductible of about $5 to $30 depending on how good your insurance is. Then when you get a prescription from the doctor you take it to the pharmacy. If you lucky to have drug coverage you can pay a copay of $5 to $40 depending again on how good coverage you have. That is if everything is within the network that your insurance covers. If the doctor is not in network you have to pay his fees in full that can range from $100 to $300 depending on if he is a prescriber or a specialist. Again if your pharmacy is not in network then you are stuck in paying a higher copay. Costs can run into the thousands of dollars depending on the drug. Brand or generic. In my experience as a pharmacy technician i have seen all sides of the broken system and it disgusts me. I had insurance with my employer who tried to force me off a brand of medication that worked well for me and they wanted me to use a med that was not as good. If i went with their option i would pay a copay of $15. But if i wanted my brand med they wanted me to pay $150. Even after calling them requesting them to cover a med that was a medical necessity. I found that if i told the pharmacy to not run my insurance and i will pay the direct cash price i only had to pay $65. The system is designed to keep you sick and financially strapped. Don't get me started on how they stripped Medicare a program designed to safe guard the elderly and these people die everyday do to the fact they have choose between from buying their needed meds to keep them alive versus buying groceries so they can eat that week.

NearlyNapping · Answer

Very few people actually pay that much. It's complicated, but many of those prices you hear about aren't the real price. Usually it's covered by some type of insurance, either private or government insurance. Insurance NEVER pays those listed prices. Usually it's considerably less than that.

It's similar to how cars are sold, only more extreme. With cars, they have a "sticker price" but very few people pay that much.

However Americans do pay a lot more for health care. That's because they are supplementing the rest of the world. So Americans are essentially paying a portion of the health care for the rest of the world, along with their own. Or another way of saying it, if everyone paid the same, Americans would pay less, and everyone else would pay more.

Anpu23 · Answer

Most US people have health care insurance through their work. If you have a full time jpb you pay a fee that is deducted from your check, then when you go to the doctor you pay a small co-pay for the visit. So the coat is not completely you, unless you are unemployed and do not qualify for government insurance. Then you pay the entire cost, and if unable to pay you will be refused service and must go to a hospital who can not legally refuse you due to inability to pay. But it will report on your credit.

Philyouup · Answer

We can’t. My net pay is half my gross after taxes and health insurance. And I still cat use it until a pay an other 3000 dollars in deductibles. And then on 80% is covered.

It will be worse after the republicans get rid of pre-existing conditions protection

alice55 · Answer

They earn a lot more than people in other country I think. Like my mother earn 1000 euros in my country and this is considered to be normal here.

DizzyDesii · Answer

I don't know how they afford it. I just missed the healthcare enrollment period. Im not trying to pay $300 premium a month. Tf ion even make that much at this job. So ill try to get a better job and enroll by Nov 2020

R_Cakes91 · Answer

Without insurance, going to the doctor can cost over $200 just for a visit. Many people in the US can’t afford insurance and just go without. I get it through my job though.

Anonymous · Answer

Because we aren't taxed up the ass and as a result, have the disposable income to cover it.

Shahax · Answer

Dont go to the hospital, dentist, or any other medical person ever

Apope16 · Answer

We can't. 30,000 people are dying every year due to lack of coverage. 50% of bankruptcies are for medical debt for treatment like cancer. 60% pay medical insurance with their payroll deductions and can't afford to cover an emergency bill.

mattdzz · Answer

The Veterans Admin dept. pays for my healthcare because I did a couple tours in Iraq for them.

es20490446e · Answer

If you cannot afford it, no problem. You just die and you no longer need it.

DizziBlond369 · Answer

We have health insurance and we probly pay less taxes then you do

gym4ever · Answer

They dont, they just die.

moonpie89 · Answer

Some work insurances can cover medical costs.

Rotherham-mujahadeen · Answer

The same way the British do, with health insurance.

Anonymous · Answer

Wait what is a “dolar”?

Gatman34 · Answer

Insurance

How do americans afford health care?

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