Hey all, I’m British so I don’t really know the ins and outs of the US healthcare system. Apologies for asking what is probably a rather simple question.
So like most of you, I see many posts and gofundmes about people having astronomically high medical bills. Most recently, someone having a $27k bill even after his death.
However, I have an American friend who is quick to point out that apparently nobody actually pays those bills. They’re just some elaborate dance between insurance companies and hospitals. If you don’t have insurance, the cost is lower or removed entirely. Supposedly.
So I’m just asking… How accurate is that? Consider someone without insurance, a minor physical ailment, a neurodivergent mind and no interest in fighting off harassing people for the rest of their life.
How much would such a person expect to pay, out of their own pocket, for things like check ups, x rays, meds, counselling and so on?
Don’t forget self employed or at a workplace with workplace insurance so bad it’s actually cheaper to go through private (so basically low income)
I know multiple small business owners who also have a regular corporate job JUST so they have insurance. The whole second job has nothing to do with salary, only health insurance.
Every family farm I know, the husband works the farm while the wife works a normal job for insurance and stable base income to help keep everything afloat