It’s no secret that American healthcare is notorious for continually shocking the rest of the world who are well used to being more or less covered in case of health emergencies. And while American hospitals and medical facilities are undisputedly something you’d call ‘world class,’ they are also unaffordable for many.
The numbers speak for themselves: total health care spending in America went over $4 trillion in 2020 and more than 30% of that—or about $1.24 trillion—was spent on hospital services. Hospital costs per day averaged $2,607 with California being the most expensive at $3,726 per day. And if you want to stay overnight, the coast soars up Everest, $11,700, to be exact, and that’s for the ones with insurance.
There’s only one thing that speaks even louder than figures. It’s people who have experienced what it’s like to have their health in jeopardy just because they couldn’t afford the costs. Below are some of the most upsetting cases shared by Americans who, while living in the ‘greatest country in the world,’ would probably not dare to call it that.
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This. This needs to be more prevalent. Spam your government with it. They need to hear you, to care for you. That is one of their jobs.
I cannot say how much I hated reading this. People should never put their love on the line because of healthcare. I hope that something changes soon, but I doubt it will.
In the US medical system, death isn't the worst outcome. Financial death is
Previously, Bored Panda spoke with Dr. Andrew Carroll from Arizona, who has experience dealing with healthcare insurance companies and fighting for what's best for his patients. Some time ago, we covered a story about how he broke down in tears when a company refused to provide one of his patients a CT chest scan that you can read right here.
Dr. Carroll explained that there are clear financial incentives for the companies that provide healthcare insurance to keep the system, with its high administrative costs, as it is. "It will be very difficult to reduce the administrative costs without overhauling the payment system altogether," he explained. This is why even small step-by-step changes are really hard to push through.
True. We really take it for granted; I'm appalled at these admissions. Sometimes there is a waiting period (luckily never been long for me), sometimes we complain about the care we receive but I've had a life-saving operation with a week in hospital and only paid about 180 euros
Moreover, Dr. Carroll candidly said that healthcare insurance providers don’t have it in their interest to do what's best for American patients. "Unfortunately, these payers tend not to have altruistic intentions towards their members. They cater to the advantage of the employers paying for the benefits, who want to try and spend the least amount of money they can."
He believes that employers that pay for benefits will need to demand more of the companies providing the benefits or patients will need to file class-action lawsuits to demand that benefits due to them are not unduly restricted, as they are today.
That is disgusting. This whole list is. I rely on the medical system to live, and I take it for granted it seems, this is majorly depressing
Meanwhile the British government looked to Europe and frowned, then across the pond to the US and said "That's the model for us!"
Britain also looked at trump and said this is who we want for prime minister. Then they went ahead and got a bargain trump.
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Who pays for the police and fire services? Are they not paid for out of your taxes? So how ****ing hard is it to extend that to ambulances, and then to healthcare?
And infrastructure! Every single time I visit the EU, I am struck dumb by how much better its roads, bridges, emergency services, and public transportation are, even in the less economically developed countries like Croatia, Slovenia, and Hungary.
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There's also the: "I don't want to pay for everyone's health care with MY taxes!"
Funny thing is that the average US citizen pays about the same amount in taxes. They just have more nukes, aircraft carriers and submarines. Yay.
fun fact jackson, ms roads are crap, and yet the taxes are outrageously high lol.
You should be more up in arms about the fact that 29.8% of your taxes go to Healthcare! Let it sink in almost 30% of taxes go to healthcare yet you dont have free or low cost healthcare options av ailable andd still need to pay for private insurance on top of that. ( numbers from 2018 US budget report)
I live in Poland and the only plus of paying taxes is emergency in a hospital. You've been diagnosed with cancer? Good luck, oncologist is free in 2030, but all you'll receive on that visit is a RX for scans, to confirm if it's a cancer. That's the reality. Easier to go privately, rather use national care
It depends on the place. My mum was done with her chemo, radiotherapy and two surgeries within six months from the day she was diagnosed. After over three years she's still looked after by the doctors and regulary checked - blood test, scans etc
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I get it...I do. In virginia, in my county, I pay high taxes. I gladly pay them. People moved to Maryland in droves in the past 3 decades because of the low taxes. Now they have high taxes and crappy roads, infrastructure, etc. They even have a "rain" tax. Here I am in Va, paying and getting the roads, infrastructure, etc, I have been paying for all along. Sometimes, you just have to pay the $2. (euphemism)
For the money they already collect we could already fund healthcare. I will not give my money to a government that is totally untrustworthy as well as corrupt.
We spend a lot on military because we are keeping ready in case anything like WWI or WWII happens again. There are a lot of times that other countries do not have the military fortitude to fight off invasions from neighboring countries. The reason many of them stay put and behave themselves is because, if the USA got involved, they would be in a world of hurt. Not being boastful or bragging...but think about it...If thin scrawny kid gets picked on by the school bully..not much he can do to stop it. Now if the thin scrawny kid is sitting with 250lb, muscle strapped 6'4" kick boxer...chances are..he can go about his life without any harassment from the bully. Let the downvotes begin!
God know what the Conservative party do with my taxes in the UK, but it's certaintly not funding my access to mental health care.
Well the government has to "defend freedom" overseas instead of having healthy people at home.
What should we do with our money? Cheap and accessible healthcare? ❌ Carpet bomb Syria? ✔
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Another side of the problem of American healthcare is that the country spends enormous amounts of money on healthcare, but a whopping quarter of the costs are purely administrative. As a result, customers are charged a lot, but not every dollar they pay is targeted at helping them. It’s no secret that there’s a lot of waste in the system although nobody really talks about it that much.
Look into the cost of Insulin World wide. Lowest is about $15 a vile. $300 in US.
Again, I am going to cry. This is why I am sceptical about authority. Not just because of my skin colour, but because of things like this.
Now, imagine if he lived in Canada. Free Healthcare, and a roof over his head. That's democracy.
And after having so many Gatorades, you will STILL need the healthcare.
How can you even have a maximum sick days. It is not like, "Oh, I am out of my sick days, so I am cured now."
The odds against winning the lottery are pretty huge, but they're still better than working your way out of poverty.
Dear DR. Carroll - an Insurance company can over rule a Doctor's Order! This is one s**t head Country you live in! Insurance company's should be named after a famous man HITLER!
Amazing huh, when in order to protect themselves they have to treat everyone, all of a sudden they can afford to give you a vaccine. They can afford way more than that. I hope to everything that this kind of topic becomes a thing of the past for more countries, and fast
Health insurance is just as much of a scam as healthcare, if not worse!
And the incumbent party is actively negligent and the party that replaces them phoned up Jacinda for advice on how to pandemic only to ignore everything she actually said.
'Probably' fine. Just to be clear, when you go the NHS with a funny-looking mole, they will usually just whip that sucker straight off and biopsy it to be on the safe side. For $0. Demand better from your tax-charging government.
Suddenly I am very glad that I live in South Africa, where both me and my wife's meds are fully covered by my medical aid
Note: this post originally had 57 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.
As much as we like to make fun of the US "healthcare" "system", but these are just effing heartbreaking.
I stopped reading all the posts, because it just makes me angry and sad. The healthcare system really is way beyond greediness and corruption. I don't know what level it is on. Change is must.
My sister's death. Her fiance gave us the bill he got (they lived together) for the ambulance ride. His family had 7-figure incomes. He gave it to us. It was $350.75 .... I have remembered that number for 30 years. WTF? It wasn't that long a drive, and where did $0.75 come from?! (We got an itemization. We were charged $100 for gasoline, $125-something for lfie-saving efforts, and the rest was "miscellaneous". Miscellaneous what? Did they stop for coffee?) We've never known.... And now I'm crying. Ah, Monday.
I'm chronically ill and disabled. I can at times spend more than half the year in hospital, have 40-45 ambulance trips a year and see my GP 2-3 times a month. Thankfully all included in my taxes because I live in the UK.
The saddest part is that there's nothing we can do to fix this. You can write all the letters to Congress,, go to every protest, and sign all the petitions you want but you' might as well try knocking down the Eiffel tower by breathing on it.
We need to remember this is a government of the people, for the people, and by the people. We are the People. We should stop electing the elitists. And the privileged who own stock in healthcare areas.
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No, America, it is NOT health care, it is "American health care". It is like "lite beer", that isn't beer at all...
I asked an American once why he didn’t want universal healthcare. His reply was that it would take away his freedom.
As an American, I am thoroughly disgusted by that man's ignorance. It's embarrassing.
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As someone who just suffered a surprise leg amputation and who doesn't have insurance, isn't working, and isn't wealthy yet is somehow expected to pay over $44,000 in hospital bills, I totally get it. I've had no physical therapy, no home health, no assistance, no family waiting to help, nothing. The hospital couldn't wait to kick me out. The US "healthcare" situation is demonic. It's led by corporations greedy for financial and political gain and we, the people, are the ones to suffer for their actions. And no one cares. I have several major life-long health problems and am now disabled but do I rate ANY sort of government health benefits? Of course not. I'm a useless, expendable non-entity as far as they're concerned. America is so great, right?
I still can't wrap my head around an Insurance company tell a person they can't have a life saving procedure, or telling a doctor he can't perform said procedure. This makes me so angry. In the u.S. why don't they just cut out the middleman (the doctors) and do it themselves! (Oh s**t I probably jut gave them an idea!)
The right-wing party of the Australian government wants an American-style health system, and has been steadily stripping bit by bit from our medicare. It's terrifying every time something else gets taken away. No sane person wants to be like the US. ☹
Richard Nixon signed legislation allowing health insurance to become for profit. Blame him first, then the greedy companies.
I've had medical debt for quite a few years. As soon as I pay one bill, another one comes. Chronic illness is expensive.
As I read this I thought that it was an exagreation, then I remebered when I broke my hand, and we put off going to the Walk-in, because we didn't want to waste insurence on something that was a possible sprain. Only an hour after, when it had swelled noticeably, did we go to the doctor.
I'm predicting a de-colonization of the Americas as everyone either dies off or immigrates to other countries for health care
There’s more wrong in america than just healthcare. the worst part is, we think we’re the best and we’re far from it. I worked for decades, became a single mom. Had no choice and applied for food assistance for my son and I. We struggled like hell, but did the best I could for my son and I. Meanwhile, I see people with multiple shopping carts of fresh and bulk packs of butchered meats, gold chains around their necks, nails and hair done, expensive clothes, obviously not the working crew…everything paid on food stamps. Probably never worked a day here, eating better than my son and I. The taxes I pay, go to their free food…but I was denied. Figure out how that works.
I live in third world country. But I think our healthcare system is still better than this.
America: We don't want Socialist healthcare! Also America: Has Medicaid, so already has socialist healthcare. Also also America: Actually spends MORE in tax money per capita on socialist healthcare per year than the UK does, just without 99% of the benefits this money should bring. Also also also America: Lets not tell our citizens this fact so they don't kick up a stink and demand to get their actual money's worth from us!
Sorry my dear Americans, you're being lied to about the whole "taxes will shoot up if we switch to Socialist healthcare!". Not only will they NOT go up - at all - if you do switch and actually set it up properly, here's what'll happen if you switched tomorrow; a) you keep the same level of tax you're at now and end up with an even better, higher-funded healthcare system than the UK has or b) your taxes will go DOWN when it's realised how much is being wasted on the current messed up system and that you can actually afford the same type of system (or still better) that the UK has at a cheaper cost than you're currently paying.
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In view of this, the US being the gatekeeper for democracy, is like a bad punchline.
I have purposely kept myself out enough to qualify for Medicaid. I am not ashamed to admit it.
I think Europeans are pretty tired of Americans complaining about their healthcare. Get rid of one of your aircraft carriers and stop crying.
No, we´re not. We´re tired of seing people, no matter where, continue electing parties that are enabling such systems.
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I live in Canada the home of 'free' health care. My friend broke her wrist about 8 weeks ago and with plates/pins it was 'fixed. Two weeks ago she had a surgeon appointment and he told he it was healing wrong and she would need surgery to fix it. Still hasn't had it and probably will wait another couple of weeks if she is lucky. When I had my knee replacement surgery I was initially put on the wait list to be put on the wait list because they were 'managing' the wait lists by not putting people on the wait lists. When I finally was allowed on the wait list it still took a year to have the surgery. Tell me again how free health care is great?
Here’s a radical thought. How about those from the USA who are against the current so-called health care system do not purchase health insurance. Surely this would have a big impact on the profits of the bloodsucking insurers and big pharma companies thus forcing a rethink on how health care is provided. Just me being silly, then!
Yes, we could do that. Say I refuse to get health insurance, but then get cancer, or get in an auto accident? There's no way I'd be able to afford the full hospital bills. Health insurance is a disgusting scam, but it's still slightly better than not having it. There's no easy fix, here.
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As much as we like to make fun of the US "healthcare" "system", but these are just effing heartbreaking.
I stopped reading all the posts, because it just makes me angry and sad. The healthcare system really is way beyond greediness and corruption. I don't know what level it is on. Change is must.
My sister's death. Her fiance gave us the bill he got (they lived together) for the ambulance ride. His family had 7-figure incomes. He gave it to us. It was $350.75 .... I have remembered that number for 30 years. WTF? It wasn't that long a drive, and where did $0.75 come from?! (We got an itemization. We were charged $100 for gasoline, $125-something for lfie-saving efforts, and the rest was "miscellaneous". Miscellaneous what? Did they stop for coffee?) We've never known.... And now I'm crying. Ah, Monday.
I'm chronically ill and disabled. I can at times spend more than half the year in hospital, have 40-45 ambulance trips a year and see my GP 2-3 times a month. Thankfully all included in my taxes because I live in the UK.
The saddest part is that there's nothing we can do to fix this. You can write all the letters to Congress,, go to every protest, and sign all the petitions you want but you' might as well try knocking down the Eiffel tower by breathing on it.
We need to remember this is a government of the people, for the people, and by the people. We are the People. We should stop electing the elitists. And the privileged who own stock in healthcare areas.
Load More Replies... No, America, it is NOT health care, it is "American health care". It is like "lite beer", that isn't beer at all...
I asked an American once why he didn’t want universal healthcare. His reply was that it would take away his freedom.
As an American, I am thoroughly disgusted by that man's ignorance. It's embarrassing.
Load More Replies... As someone who just suffered a surprise leg amputation and who doesn't have insurance, isn't working, and isn't wealthy yet is somehow expected to pay over $44,000 in hospital bills, I totally get it. I've had no physical therapy, no home health, no assistance, no family waiting to help, nothing. The hospital couldn't wait to kick me out. The US "healthcare" situation is demonic. It's led by corporations greedy for financial and political gain and we, the people, are the ones to suffer for their actions. And no one cares. I have several major life-long health problems and am now disabled but do I rate ANY sort of government health benefits? Of course not. I'm a useless, expendable non-entity as far as they're concerned. America is so great, right?
I still can't wrap my head around an Insurance company tell a person they can't have a life saving procedure, or telling a doctor he can't perform said procedure. This makes me so angry. In the u.S. why don't they just cut out the middleman (the doctors) and do it themselves! (Oh s**t I probably jut gave them an idea!)
The right-wing party of the Australian government wants an American-style health system, and has been steadily stripping bit by bit from our medicare. It's terrifying every time something else gets taken away. No sane person wants to be like the US. ☹
Richard Nixon signed legislation allowing health insurance to become for profit. Blame him first, then the greedy companies.
I've had medical debt for quite a few years. As soon as I pay one bill, another one comes. Chronic illness is expensive.
As I read this I thought that it was an exagreation, then I remebered when I broke my hand, and we put off going to the Walk-in, because we didn't want to waste insurence on something that was a possible sprain. Only an hour after, when it had swelled noticeably, did we go to the doctor.
I'm predicting a de-colonization of the Americas as everyone either dies off or immigrates to other countries for health care
There’s more wrong in america than just healthcare. the worst part is, we think we’re the best and we’re far from it. I worked for decades, became a single mom. Had no choice and applied for food assistance for my son and I. We struggled like hell, but did the best I could for my son and I. Meanwhile, I see people with multiple shopping carts of fresh and bulk packs of butchered meats, gold chains around their necks, nails and hair done, expensive clothes, obviously not the working crew…everything paid on food stamps. Probably never worked a day here, eating better than my son and I. The taxes I pay, go to their free food…but I was denied. Figure out how that works.
I live in third world country. But I think our healthcare system is still better than this.
America: We don't want Socialist healthcare! Also America: Has Medicaid, so already has socialist healthcare. Also also America: Actually spends MORE in tax money per capita on socialist healthcare per year than the UK does, just without 99% of the benefits this money should bring. Also also also America: Lets not tell our citizens this fact so they don't kick up a stink and demand to get their actual money's worth from us!
Sorry my dear Americans, you're being lied to about the whole "taxes will shoot up if we switch to Socialist healthcare!". Not only will they NOT go up - at all - if you do switch and actually set it up properly, here's what'll happen if you switched tomorrow; a) you keep the same level of tax you're at now and end up with an even better, higher-funded healthcare system than the UK has or b) your taxes will go DOWN when it's realised how much is being wasted on the current messed up system and that you can actually afford the same type of system (or still better) that the UK has at a cheaper cost than you're currently paying.
Load More Replies... In view of this, the US being the gatekeeper for democracy, is like a bad punchline.
I have purposely kept myself out enough to qualify for Medicaid. I am not ashamed to admit it.
I think Europeans are pretty tired of Americans complaining about their healthcare. Get rid of one of your aircraft carriers and stop crying.
No, we´re not. We´re tired of seing people, no matter where, continue electing parties that are enabling such systems.
Load More Replies... I live in Canada the home of 'free' health care. My friend broke her wrist about 8 weeks ago and with plates/pins it was 'fixed. Two weeks ago she had a surgeon appointment and he told he it was healing wrong and she would need surgery to fix it. Still hasn't had it and probably will wait another couple of weeks if she is lucky. When I had my knee replacement surgery I was initially put on the wait list to be put on the wait list because they were 'managing' the wait lists by not putting people on the wait lists. When I finally was allowed on the wait list it still took a year to have the surgery. Tell me again how free health care is great?
Here’s a radical thought. How about those from the USA who are against the current so-called health care system do not purchase health insurance. Surely this would have a big impact on the profits of the bloodsucking insurers and big pharma companies thus forcing a rethink on how health care is provided. Just me being silly, then!
Yes, we could do that. Say I refuse to get health insurance, but then get cancer, or get in an auto accident? There's no way I'd be able to afford the full hospital bills. Health insurance is a disgusting scam, but it's still slightly better than not having it. There's no easy fix, here.
Load More Replies... 