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An anecdotal story today why healthcare is so expensive

Posted on 3/25/26 at 8:29 pm
Posted by Lawyered
The Sip
Member since Oct 2016
38031 posts
Posted on 3/25/26 at 8:29 pm
I had to go to a pre-employment drug screen at an urgent care today . Mine was covered by the employer

It was only me and a mid 20’s black guy with a mask on, he was coughing, he definitely had the crud .

He fills out his paperwork and the receptionist asked if he was insurance . He says “no, I haven’t signed up for it at my job. Can I just sign up for it now and it’ll work?”

The receptionist says “ no baby it takes at least a month to get into the system for your benefits to start”

He actually thought his benefits started immediately if he signed up on his phone


She says “ it’s $155 to be seen since you’re cash pay”

The guy goes “ yeah I’m not paying that… I’ll just go to the ER down the street “ and he walks out the door

So now this guy is gonna clutter up the ER and run up a a bill for tests he never intends to pay for because he knows they have to treat him there and won’t ask him to pay a dime while there

The shite is infuriating
Posted by HempHead
Big Sky Country
Member since Mar 2011
56655 posts
Posted on 3/25/26 at 8:34 pm to
We socialize the lowest common denominator for basic shite and privatize that which a basic, functioning person can be held accountable for. Always gotta squeeze the middle till they're so out of breath that they can't scream.
Posted by Spankum
Miss-sippi
Member since Jan 2007
61730 posts
Posted on 3/25/26 at 8:35 pm to
quote:

The shite is infuriating


I agree….

So, what’s the answer to this problem?
Posted by Darth_Vader
A galaxy far, far away
Member since Dec 2011
73076 posts
Posted on 3/25/26 at 8:36 pm to
Now take that guy and times him by roughly 20 million uninsured illegal immigrants who use the emergency room like the local doctor’s office and the picture starts to appear clearly.
Posted by Tyga Woods
South Central Jupiter Island, FL
Member since Sep 2016
42107 posts
Posted on 3/25/26 at 8:38 pm to
I’m self-employed and pay $2,000/mo for two adults and two healthy children. And still get crushed by co-pays and deductibles.

I have a druggie cousin with no job that can camp out at the hospital once a month and never receive a bill.

It’s beyond fricked up.
Posted by cajunangelle
Member since Oct 2012
165219 posts
Posted on 3/25/26 at 8:42 pm to
Imagine that same guy times 75 Mexicans in the ER.

OBAMA BIDEN ROBBED US ALL. IMAGINE ALL THE SOMALIANS ON 8K A MONTH FOOD STAMPS.
Posted by Havoc
Member since Nov 2015
38923 posts
Posted on 3/25/26 at 8:43 pm to
I’ve been dealing with the crud for a few weeks now. No Dr visit needed, just OTC and common sense.
Posted by KemoSabe65
70605
Member since Mar 2018
6837 posts
Posted on 3/25/26 at 8:46 pm to
E…..Emergency
R…..Room
Triage them, if they aren’t bleeding out send them on their way. I am spending >$1,000/month on a blue cross plan for me and wife. Part of my monthly premium is paying for that turds ER visit.
Also, he declined health at work when they told him he had to front half if he even had a job.
True story, client sold out but wanted to make sure his oldest employee had health insurance. Called me on the last day of open enrollment first year Obamacare. Send premium to him and never hear back before deadline. He calls me back later and said Freddy decided he would rather have cable tv.
Posted by OysterPoBoy
City of St. George
Member since Jul 2013
44227 posts
Posted on 3/25/26 at 8:48 pm to
quote:

She says “ it’s $155 to be seen since you’re cash pay”


Even more aggravating, if you have a high deductible plan they’d probably charge you $300.
Posted by WillFerrellisking
Member since Jun 2019
2787 posts
Posted on 3/25/26 at 9:09 pm to
Uhhhh, probably not going to the Dr is why it lasted a few weeks instead of couple days or just 1 week cooyon!
Posted by Havoc
Member since Nov 2015
38923 posts
Posted on 3/25/26 at 9:11 pm to
quote:

Uhhhh, probably not going to the Dr is why it lasted a few weeks instead of couple days or just 1 week cooyon!

I mean, it was only bad for a week, just a little lingering phlegm since then.
Posted by DiamondDog
Louisiana
Member since Nov 2019
13092 posts
Posted on 3/25/26 at 9:58 pm to
A long while ago I started my career at Louisiana Medicaid. We were trying to get a program off the ground called Operation Redirect.

Basically staff ERs with coordinators and schedule Primary Care appts immediately and declutter ERs.

Good idea. No implimentation plan. No execution. It died a slow government bureaucratic death.

I lost faith in government social programs when that happened in 2009.
Posted by armytiger96
Member since Sep 2007
2330 posts
Posted on 3/25/26 at 10:03 pm to
quote:

So, what’s the answer to this problem?


Bring back charity hospitals and send their asses there.
Posted by SuperSaint
Sorting Out OT BS Since '2007'
Member since Sep 2007
149632 posts
Posted on 3/25/26 at 10:07 pm to
quote:

I have a druggie cousin with no job that can camp out at the hospital once a month and never receive a bill.
I am employed you SOB
Posted by Spankum
Miss-sippi
Member since Jan 2007
61730 posts
Posted on 3/25/26 at 10:13 pm to
quote:

Bring back charity hospitals and send their asses there



That’s one possissibility…
Posted by CaptainJ47
Gonzales
Member since Nov 2007
7772 posts
Posted on 3/25/26 at 10:51 pm to
Agree but that isn’t necessarily how it will work. He will be triaged. Once stable he can be asked for payment. Yes he will clog it for a short amount of time until asked to pay. He will have wasted his time and not received treatment if the hospital is effectively run.
Posted by forkedintheroad
Member since Feb 2025
2049 posts
Posted on 3/25/26 at 10:52 pm to
quote:

She says “ it’s $155 to be seen since you’re cash pay”


Meanwhile had he been insured they would have billed $500 to the insurer.
Posted by AndyJ
Member since Jul 2008
3547 posts
Posted on 3/25/26 at 11:04 pm to
When the hospital treats him and sends the bill to collections, he will not pay or declare bankruptcy and blame his high bills. Not his choice to not pay $155 at urgent care
Posted by i am dan
NC
Member since Aug 2011
31308 posts
Posted on 3/25/26 at 11:10 pm to
quote:

I agree….

So, what’s the answer to this problem?


Thought Obamacare was supposed to be the answer.
Posted by lsugorilla
PNW
Member since Sep 2009
6647 posts
Posted on 3/25/26 at 11:15 pm to
This is not why it is so expensive.

There is free ER visits in other countries and their healthcare is way cheaper.

Healthcare in USA is expensive because of politics.

USA politicians get free healthcare for life. Along with their families.
This post was edited on 3/25/26 at 11:19 pm
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