Uninsured Ex-Sheriff Who Fought O-care Struggles To Pay Medical Bills

[ElNono]

Just so we're on the same page, is it your position that something with more effective cost controls could have passed congress? And if so, what would it look like?

We're not discussing what "Congress can pass". We're discussing that ACA did nothing to control overinflated prices, which is one of the main drivers of health expenditure in this country.

The reason why that happened is simply anecdotal. Whether it's because Congress is co-opted, or they didn't have the balls or votes. It's all academic.

There's not going to be real healthcare reform until you clearly put patient care over profit motive.

[angrydude]

There's not going to be real healthcare reform until you clearly put patient care over profit motive.

Do you mean running it at a loss?

Or eliminating unnecessary costs (the insurance companies)?

[ElNono]

Do you mean running it at a loss?

Or eliminating unnecessary costs (the insurance companies)?

The latter + capping margins through price controls, or it's not going to work.

If the private sector wants to offer a "concierge" type of service for extra cost, they certainly offer that for those that want it and can afford it.

[boutons_deux]

"patient care over profit motive."

that would violate a for-profit corporation's fiduciary duty, so patient care as a priority won't EVER happen in USA.

[Th'Pusher]

There's not going to be real healthcare reform until you clearly put patient care over profit motive.

I agree with you, but arguing the means to get to that end without consideration of the monied and political interest is the academic exercise. The ACA is what was politically feasible to pass at the time. That's what healthcare reform looks like in the US.

[ElNono]

that would violate a for-profit corporation's fiduciary duty, so patient care as a priority won't EVER happen in USA.

That's why I said that "corporation's fiduciary duty" has to be out of the picture.

I agree with you, but arguing the means to get to that end without consideration of the monied and political interest is the academic exercise. The ACA is what was politically feasible to pass at the time. That's what healthcare reform looks like in the US.

I didn't argue the "means". I argued that ACA did nothing to address the real elephant in the room. That's real, not academic.

Academic is discussing how we can change Congress so the next time, whenever that might be, a better solution is "politically feasible".

At that point we enter in the realm of "America, ed and un able", etc...

[boutons_deux]

At that point we enter in the realm of "America, ed and un able", etc...

we are there, been there quite awhile, no escaping, it's getting worse by the year, if not faster.

Wanna go faster? in 2016, hand Exec and Congress to Repugs, along with SCOTUS.

[RandomGuy]

Nothing to gloat about, IMO. And I'm willing to bet it's not going to change one iota the way he thinks, unfortunately.

Not gloating, per se. I find it funny in a sad sort of way, but not gloating. I wouldn't really wish that on anyone. I might even give the guy $5 bucks.

As to whether it would change his mind, I can only hope that this episode highlights for him the failure of libertarian social theories.

Lastly:
http://www.investopedia.com/financia...-bankrupt.aspx

Top reason people go bankrupt:

1) Medical Expenses

​​​A study done at Harvard University indicates that this is the biggest cause of bankruptcy, representing 62% of all personal bankruptcies. One of the interesting caveats of this study shows that 78% of filers had some form of health insurance, thus bucking the myth that medical bills affect only the uninsured.

Rare or serious diseases or injuries can easily result in hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills - bills that can quickly wipe out savings and retirement accounts, college education funds and home equity. Once these have been exhausted, bankruptcy may be the only shelter left, regardless of whether the patient or his or her family was able to apply health coverage to a portion of the bill or not. (Find out what you can do to avoid a financial meltdown when there's a medical emergency. Read Steering Clear Of Medical Debt.)

The costs of this are socialized anyway. It is buried in the interest you pay for every kind of loan you might ever need to take.

[boutons_deux]

You don't have to go bankrupt. Ms just can't find money to pay medical bills.

Medical Debt Among People With Health Insurance

An estimated 1 in 3 Americans report having difficulty paying their medical bills – that is, they have had problems affording medical bills within the past year, or they are gradually paying past bills over time, or they have bills they can’t afford to pay at all.1

Medical debt – and a host of related problems – can result when people can’t afford to pay their medical bills.

While the chances of falling into medical debt are greater for people who are uninsured, most people who experience difficulty paying medical bills have health insurance.

Medical debt can arise when people must pay out-of-pocket for care not covered by health insurance or to which cost-sharing (such as deductibles) applies.

Medical debt might also result from health insurance premiums that individuals find difficult to afford.2 The consequences of medical debt can be severe.

People with unaffordable medical bills report higher rates of other problems – including difficulty affording housing and other basic necessities, credit card debt, bankruptcy, and barriers accessing health care.

http://kff.org/private-insurance/rep...lth-insurance/

But Repugs and BigCorp will abort any proposals for govt no-profit public insurance option.