A person shares their experience with a $6,000 hospital bill for a minor emergency room visit, with insurance covering most of the cost but still leaving them with a $2,500 payment. They express frustration with the high cost of healthcare in the United States and how it leads to personal bankruptcy. They discuss the problems with the US healthcare system, including inflated costs, lack of transparency, and unequal access to care. The person compares the US system unfavorably to Canada's, citing the high cost of care and lack of universal coverage in the US. They propose a system with universal coverage and the option for private care, and emphasize the need for transparency and cost control in healthcare pricing.
Here are the extracted facts:
1. The speaker's middle son was sick in San Diego and had to visit an ER.
2. The son received a regular chemistry lab test and 250-500 CC of IV fluid.
3. The bill for the ER visit was around $6,000, with the speaker's insurance paying around $3,500 and the speaker owing around $2,500.
4. Fewer than 50% of Americans can produce $2,500 in cash within 24 hours.
5. Healthcare is the leading cause of personal bankruptcy in the US.
6. The US spends around $10,000-14,000 per capita on healthcare.
7. The US pays more for healthcare services than any other developed nation.
8. The actual cost of a blood test is around $12.
9. The actual cost of a bag of IV fluid is around $38.
10. Hospitals and insurance companies negotiate rates, leading to inflated costs for out-of-network patients.
11. The US has a high quality of healthcare, but high costs and limited access.
12. Canada has universal healthcare coverage, but lower quality care and limited access to certain services.
13. In some Canadian provinces, it is illegal to have private clinics where patients can pay out of pocket for services like MRIs.
14. The speaker had to pay cash for colonoscopies before turning 45, and the cost was around $2,000.
15. The cost of a colonoscopy through insurance can be as high as $6,000.