# Health Insurance **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 19, 2018, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-insurance/818223 "2018-07-19T20:46:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-insurance/818223/21 "2018-07-20T01:24:24Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Ok, then why is he or she so _concerned_ about health insurance in the U.S.? > [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Why should Australians or Canadians be so concerned about America’s health insurance system? ::Hoping no one from any other countries heinously concern troll over this:: Fine, ignore what **wolfpup** said. Share your thoughts on UHC with us, **D’anconia**? > [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > We, the thing about Americans, you see, is that they’re trained from youth to live in terror that another American might be getting a benefit he or she didn’t entirely deserve. Sure, they occasionally respond with a violent primitive patriotism in defense of symbols like anthems and flags, but a sense of obligation to fellow Americans in the form of some kind of social contract? It is alien to them, even when it is in their own best interests. That’s pretty darned impressively put. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-insurance/818223/22 "2018-07-20T01:34:24Z")
I am seriously heart broken when posters detail the trials they face at their darkest times, facing egregious layers of red tape, and having to fight for their benefits. In a system designed to opaque truly shocking fees, etc. While a spouse lies dying, a child stricken, an auto accident. At the cost of a retirement or college savings account. ( If they’re lucky! ) It truly upsets me each time I read of it. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-insurance/818223/23 "2018-07-20T01:54:10Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > That’s pretty darned impressively put. 🙂 Thank you, though the opening “We” is clearly a typo for “Well”. Truth be told, the more I hear about “freedom” being an American ideal, the greater the sense I get that it really means “fuck everyone else”, and the Americans who profit most greatly from this attitude have a powerful motivation to try to get every American to feel the same way, hence taxation isn’t the annoying but necessary price one pays to get to live in a free country - it’s theft! Theft! Those bastards are _robbing_ you! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-insurance/818223/24 "2018-07-20T03:27:17Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > I am seriously heart broken when posters detail the trials they face at their darkest times, facing egregious layers of red tape, and having to fight for their benefits. In a system designed to opaque truly shocking fees, etc. > > While a spouse lies dying, a child stricken, an auto accident. > > At the cost of a retirement or college savings account. ( If they’re lucky! ) > > It truly upsets me each time I read of it. I agree. For example, **davidm** has an ongoing thread in MPSIMS about recovering from a medical maladaventure which had him in a coma for some weeks, and while recovering, is facing a pile of bills coming in. I feel so saddened that someone I know over the interwebs, who should be focussed solely on getting well, is having to try to figure out how to pay medical bills while he doesn’t have any income coming in. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-insurance/818223/25 "2018-07-20T04:08:17Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I agree. For example, **davidm** has an ongoing thread in MPSIMS about recovering from a medical maladaventure which had him in a coma for some weeks, and while recovering, is facing a pile of bills coming in. > > I feel so saddened that someone I know over the interwebs, who should be focussed solely on getting well, is having to try to figure out how to pay medical bills while he doesn’t have any income coming in. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-insurance/818223/26 "2018-07-20T04:43:26Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > Stupid we have in great abundance. I learned in late 2016 that it was in even greater abundance than I previously thought (and I had thought it pretty high before). Abundant stupidity not unique to the US, but our stupid seem to be very, very proud of their overwhelming stupidity. America is the home of the stupid, bigoted and self destructive. Our politics reflects this fact. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-insurance/818223/27 "2018-07-20T04:53:04Z")
Too many people are getting wealthy off the current system to change it for the general good of everyone. Isn’t that the problem in a nutshell? ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-insurance/818223/28 "2018-07-20T05:07:55Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Too many people are getting wealthy off the current system to change it for the general good of everyone. Isn’t that the problem in a nutshell? Yes. Even in deep blue states they won’t reform the health care system because the rich and powerful like it too much. We can talk about conservatives and republicans blocking progress. That is an issue. But even deep blue states like Vermont, California & Hawaii refuse to implement meaningful health reform. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-insurance/818223/29 "2018-07-20T05:10:35Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Too many people are getting wealthy off the current system to change it for the general good of everyone. Isn’t that the problem in a nutshell? But it’s not just the ‘wealthy’ who support the US medical system status quo. From my reading and understanding, there are plenty of poorer folk who are happy to forego decent medical care and coverage because SOCIALISM or something. Bryan says it best below: > [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > We, the thing about Americans, you see, is that they’re trained from youth to live in terror that another American might be getting a benefit he or she didn’t entirely deserve. Sure, they occasionally respond with a violent primitive patriotism in defense of symbols like anthems and flags, but a sense of obligation to fellow Americans in the form of some kind of social contract? It is alien to them, even when it is in their own best interests. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-insurance/818223/30 "2018-07-20T05:48:30Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Too many people are getting wealthy off the current system to change it for the general good of everyone. Isn’t that the problem in a nutshell? There’s another problem: Something like three quarters of Americans say they’re happy with their insurance. This isn’t necessarily an _informed_ opinion (most people are relatively healthy, and most people have employer-sponsored insurance where much of the price tag is hidden) but it’s still a real one. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-insurance/818223/31 "2018-07-20T08:00:32Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > That describes a lot of Conservatives, and ALL TrumpSuckers. And 70% of Colorado which is a lot of Dems. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-insurance/818223/32 "2018-07-20T09:21:25Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > That describes a lot of Conservatives, and ALL TrumpSuckers. And a lot of Democrats. The premise of the OP is interesting because Universal Healthcare has rarely been supported by the majority “liberal” party other than schemes that are mostly based on corporate interests not efficient and universal care. Even now, Democrats who support something akin to what is mentioned in the OP are considered far left radical socialists by the DEMOCRAT establishment. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-insurance/818223/33 "2018-07-20T09:35:57Z")
> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > And a lot of Democrats. The premise of the OP is interesting because Universal Healthcare has rarely been supported by the majority “liberal” party other than schemes that are mostly based on corporate interests not efficient and universal care. Even now, Democrats who support something akin to what is mentioned in the OP are considered far left radical socialists by the DEMOCRAT establishment. You might want to read the OP again. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-insurance/818223/34 "2018-07-20T10:50:44Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Why should Australians or Canadians be so concerned about America’s health insurance system? People in Canadia are likely concerned after seeing how expensive it would be to build a wall. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-insurance/818223/35 "2018-07-20T11:07:35Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > ETA: the OP has since responded, and it’s looks like his concerns are genuine, unlike the faux-concerns of the concern troll. He has? Where? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-insurance/818223/36 "2018-07-20T11:34:39Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Ok, then why is he or she so _concerned_ about health insurance in the U.S.? Some humans actually feel compassion for other humans, even ones they’ve never met in other countries! I know this is probably an alien concept to you, but some of us actually care about others. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-insurance/818223/37 "2018-07-20T12:06:47Z")
You have to remember that this is D’Anconia we’re talking about here. It wasn’t a real question. He doesn’t have either the knowledge or the intellectual capacity to address the subject matter, so he’s just trolling for an answer that he can exploit with some puerile gotcha that his tiny brain has thought up. I’m happy to try to oblige. Hey, D’Anconia, maybe it’s just that we – Australians, Brits, Canadians, French, Germans – all of us, really, in the civilized world – like looking at your American health insurance system and pointing and laughing. Does that answer sit better with you? Good, go with that one, then. Maybe that’s why we’re looking at you, D’Anconia, and your fucked-up health care system, the one that you and your kind would like to make even worse if you possibly could. Maybe you’d like to shut down Medicare and Medicaid, get rid of all that danged socialism and danged gubbermint and let people learn “personal responsibility” or die, whatever. Maybe that’s why we’re looking at you, you stupid fuck, and pointing and laughing. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-insurance/818223/38 "2018-07-20T13:09:59Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > You might want to read the OP again. > > 🙂 Thanks. I’m an asshole sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-insurance/818223/39 "2018-07-20T14:29:22Z")
> [@](#): > > I didn’t have to ask permission from my house insurance company, and I paid not even a dime out of my pocket. And it doesn’t matter if I stub my toe or get leukemia. The American system is premised upon the understanding that if the consumer is not charged a large sum of money and/or required to get permission from an insurance-company death panel, the resulting moral-hazard incentives will drive everybody to start stubbing their toes and contracting leukemia. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-insurance/818223/40 "2018-07-20T14:40:13Z")
> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > Thanks. I’m an asshole sometimes. Everyone’s an asshole sometimes. 🆒 Personally, although I live in a country with UHC these days the vast majority of my family live in the US and I am \*concerned \*for their physical and financial well-being. I also find it reasonable to be \*concerned \*about a system where everyone pays twice as much as needed for considerably less coverage than they could have, resulting in tens of thousands of people each year either going bankrupt from medical bills or suffering long-term effects of illness or injury - or dying - due to a system designed first and foremost for the benefit of insurance company executives and shareholders. I suppose if one isn’t concerned about the pain and suffering of strangers, one might find others’ concern difficult to grasp. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-insurance/818223.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-insurance/818223.md?page=3)