Yeah. I lived in America for 6 years; and when I left, it was primarily because of the tangible risk of getting in a minor car accident and being financially ruined.
Even so, I quickly forget about the undercurrent of fear and avoidance I had with doctors or clinics of any kind.
So we’d rather take abdominal pain so bad it keeps you from functioning, because the alternative could be an expensive nothing-burger.
notarobot@lemm.ee 19 hours ago
Really? I always joke about the us health system not being free and being expensive but I thought it was expensive only for things like surgery
LucasWaffyWaf@lemmy.world 17 hours ago
When I broke and dislocated my arm a few years ago, four months’ worth of hospital visits drained over $2,000 from my bank account, was draining hundreds from my brother’s account, and then the week before Christmas I got hit with a bill for over three thousand dollars to cover the rest of the services rendered, due Christmas eve.
The services that were rendered included having my arm eyeballed by a doctor a few times, two xrays, and that’s it. Nothing for the pain (“Just mix ibuprofen and Tylenol”), nothing to rehabilitate the strength I lost in that arm, just some dick in a coat poking my arm and charging me hundreds for the opportunity.
Had I not gone to the hospital, I wouldn’t have been left penniless. Combine that with a severe anxiety disorder and now I feel fight-or-flight fear responses any time I have to spend more than $100 on something.
Oh yeah, then a few months after that a friend of mine elsewhere in the country fell ill. He didn’t think it was major enough to warrant hospital fees, especially since he was uninsured and made little money. About a week later his condition suddenly went critical, and the next evening his sister informed me that he was dead in the hospital. Leukemia. I’d still be talking to him if it weren’t for the American wealthcare system.
notarobot@lemm.ee 17 hours ago
Do you have insurance?
LucasWaffyWaf@lemmy.world 16 hours ago
Nope. None of the jobs I’ve worked ever offered it, never had the budget for it. All my medical costs have been covered out of pocket.
Squirrelanna@lemmynsfw.com 18 hours ago
An ambulance ride you didnt even want can run you thousands of dollars.
captainlezbian@lemmy.world 11 hours ago
Nah an ER visit will chew through your deductible
Frozengyro@lemmy.world 18 hours ago
Yes it’s an insane and wildly corrupt system. Just getting seen the hospital is 700+
sploosh@lemmy.world 17 hours ago
I have a prescription that costs $15 a month with insurance. Without insurance its $265 a month.