I fell off my ebike and broke my collarbone. In the immense pain and fear I was in I went to emergency clinic that forwarded me to an ER. I received no care at this ER and only sat in a bed for 4 hours before they discharged me. I’ve been refreshing my claims page for my government subsidized insurance for abt a month waiting for the other foot to drop. I have to pay $620 dollars in copays I don’t have. How is the American healthcare system so broken? Also why would any doctor recommend going to an ER? I will also loose my benefits if my premium rates rise since Trump and Congress want to give tax breaks to the ultra wealthy. I knew the system would come for me eventually, there is no escape.
Private healthcare is how. It’s a system the prioritizes profits for investors over care for patients. It influences every recomendation. It’s why doctors prescribe what’s advertised in their offices. Never forget that a doctor is a business and what’s best for you isn’t what’s best for their bottom line. You go to them in vulnerable state and they seize that opportunity.
People dont realise that businesses exist to make a small amount of [usually rich] people richer. There are Brits that say “well at least Americans get seen quickly and have a decent standard of care”. LOL.
Also, “quickly” in US can be 8+ months before you even get a basic assessment by a specialist. Things get worse? Might as well go straight to the ER. Urgent “Cares” were a band-aid for general/family practice groups not having space for sick visits. Word is a regional network now won’t even be doing stitches at urgent care. ER required.
Brits don’t go into debt or have their finances ruined after receiving care though.
Not yet we haven’t. But we are slowly privatising the NHS, and theres a political party getting too close to power that would like to speed that up a lot.