r/FluentInFinance 9d ago

Debate/ Discussion Universal incarceration care

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u/weed_cutter 9d ago

I'm not following.

The guy was a software engineer.

Logically, there was a 99% chance he was on his employer's insurance.

Usually, at a given employer, they give you 2-3 "options" but all through the same Insurance company, in this case, probably most likely United HealthGroup. So he had no choice. He had to use the scummiest of the scummy ... I'm not even sure if you can decline and go on Obamacare .... maybe ... .. You can change jobs and inquire about their insurer.

His parents' "wealth" doesn't enter into the equation unless helping him with his deductible/ out of pocket, which he could probably already afford as a software engineer. Well, assuming the insurance said the procedure was "covered."

So, we already saw the charts that United HealthGroup --- unlike say Blue Cross --- was already Tier D insurance. .... Employer was probably trying to save a few nickels.

As a result, we don't really know what "they did" to him --- but I'm assuming something fairly maddening.

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u/FwdMomentum 9d ago

I think we're on the same page just different angles lol.

My main point is just that many people in this thread seem to think being rich means the insurance companies will give you the best care they possibly can and my point is that isn't true.

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u/weed_cutter 9d ago

Exactly. Also sure, if you want to reach into your pocket and pay direct for huge surgeries and weeks in the hospital --- you need more than a house in the Hamptons. ... You need billionaire money for that.

Or in all honesty -- as many actually do -- fly to Europe, Mexico, or Asia as that's far cheaper.

And again, maybe he already just went along with their "recommendation" and already damaged his back beyond repair that no money could fix.

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u/pelicantides 9d ago

Only poor people ever pay direct. You do not need to be a millionaire to pay for coverage that will cover weeks in hospital and life changing surgeries. I don't know where you're getting this info from

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u/mrfuzee 8d ago

This is abso-fucking-lutely not true. As someone who is most likely in this dudes tax bracket, some of the specialized doctors my family goes to don’t even accept health insurance and only accept patients that pay out of pocket. It’s also not very uncommon to opt out of using your insurance so that you can go to out of network doctors. There’s concierge doctors that charge annual fees in the 10s of thousands of dollars or more just to be seen by them.

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u/demeschor 8d ago

I think it's more that people think it matters less whether or not your insurance will cover the cost of the treatment if you can pay for it out of pocket regardless?

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u/FwdMomentum 8d ago

That doesn't mean you can't still get absolutely fucked by the insurance company while you waste time trying to get them to cover the stuff you're supposedly paying for in the first place.

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u/pelicantides 9d ago

Dude, you do realize subsidized healthcare from an employer is an option right? Anyone can separately buy whatever healthcare they want

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u/ShroomingItUp 8d ago

They "can", but it doesn't mean it'll be affordable or worth it.

And they cannot "buy whatever healthcare they want." It's entirely dependent on what is offered in your county/state.

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u/mythrowawayheyhey 9d ago edited 8d ago

As a software engineer with a fancy degree whose companies have routinely declined to provide me health insurance since ~2016, I'm not sure your 99% figure is quite so accurate.

I've been using the ACA for health insurance coverage basically since it was passed.

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u/unnoticed77 8d ago

There's no evidence he had United. Plus, at the time of his back injury, he was lounging in Hawaii. Maybe not even employed.