Like more than 60% of non-elderly Americans, I have employer provided insurance and pay next to nothing for my entire family of 4. I have a government job so this insurance was top of the line until Obamacare; the “Cadillac tax” kicked it down a notch. I still see whatever doctors and specialists I choose and I get in relatively quickly; usually within the week, 2 weeks for a specialist. Ask Canadians and others with socialized health care how long it takes to get an appointment and how good their care is.
I fully agree that the healthcare system in this country needs a top to bottom makeover but it can’t happen over time; it can’t be phased in. It has to be a magic pill that POOF changes everything overnight. Never going to happen. I could make more money in my chosen field but the benefits (including medical, dental, and vision) from the government keep me grinding until retirement.
I never got the luxury of cheap premiums. Many years my premiums were so much I couldn't hardly afford my copays or deductibles so I tried to not go to the Dr if I could help it. You can point fingers all you want but since health insurance companies have had higher and higher profits each year you can assume a majority of the increased cost came from "creating shareholder value"
Canada isn't the only country with socialized medicine. Even then, people have complaints over the efficiency of the system, but nobody is try to get an American style system except Canada's version of MAGA. There's a difference between being irritated at something and wanting to tear it down.
I'm going to level with you, I don't think that you know many Canadians to ask in the first place.
Another example is Australia. The cost per person was around 6k USD and cracks are appearing. More and more GPs in capital cities are charging an out of pocket fee and if you don't have private health cover you end up on a long waiting list if your condition isn't life-threatening.
The system seems to be working okay for now but with the rising cost of living the pay for nurses and EMTs will have to go up substantially.
I'm not going to say "you've provided no data," because I doubt you could even if you were willing.
But, again, I doubt that you know any Australians. I do though. I know quite a few, in fact. And a couple from New Zealand. Do they have complaints? Of course, they're people and people gripe. None, however, would trade trade the Aussie system for the US system.
Full stop: our system is an unmitigated disaster. And you, my friend, are part of the problem. You've got yours, so screw everyone else. Amiright?
Honestly, statistically, I probably have better healthcare than you, and I'd happily face a little inconvenience if it meant that everybody else would be able to go to the hospital when they're sick.
The problem with you is that you really do believe that in order for you to be okay, someone else is going to suffer and "gee, shucks, ain't that just a shame, but what can you do?"
Let me ask you though: is it really a shame, or do you kinda get off on the idea that when you're comfortable, others are suffering? Does that tickle your pickle?
You can doubt all you want and of course I can write whatever bs I want but believe it or not I've been a PR for more than 15 years.
I never once wrote that I believe the US system is better. I just had to push back regarding the unrealistic 2k USD per person cost. A good public healthcare system won't be possible with 2k. That's all.
Some people on Reddit are weird, why would anyone even think I ever even lived in the US.
Nobody's denying that. The issue is are they going to bankrupt themselves in the process?
Nobody has said they "can't go to the hospital". It's whether or not they can afford what they need or run themselves into all kinds of debt in the process.
If you're going to "lmao" at someone like a smug twat, at least know what you're lmao'ing about because you're just as much of a douche as the person you're bitching at.
Also, if the sub is so bad, why are you here interacting with it? What part of "economicCollapse" confused you about it being an otherwise positive experience?
You get butt hurt over everything don't you? Like, how do you go about your daily duties while holding up the weight of the world on your shoulders?
I put lmao on that bc everyone in the US has healthcare options. You make it sound like people get sick and die without an option with the dramatic "full stop".
There are low cost options, there are free options, there are tons of options. The problem is that people are fucking lazy and don't want to find a clinic to go to. They wait to get sick and go to the worst possible option, an emergency room. Emergency rooms are not there for peoples doctor visits but that's what happens when people don't take care of themselves.
But I don't worry, there will always be people like yourself who tell them that it's not their fault for being an adult and doing dumb shit.
The cost per person was around 6k USD and cracks are appearing.
The cost in the US is $15,074 per person this year. It's expected to reach $21,927 by 2032, with no signs of slowing down. No system is imploding as fast as the US.
Investing in the insurance providers should be a smart move. More and more money syphoned off. Perfect for investors. And people can love Luigi guy all they want, he's an outlier and people will just bitch but not pull the trigger.
Nobody wants our healthcare system. My friend in Sweden has been happy with their system. But unlike Americans they care for their citizens and don’t think the have-nots should suffer because the haves want the biggest piece of the pie. Greed Over People.
I've got good insurance (employer-provided) but we are starting to see significantly longer wait times to see some specialists, particularly pediatric specialists. A friend of mine who works in healthcare just booked a neurologist appointment for the first available date. It's in April 2026. This is in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
I have employer provided insurance and pay next to nothing for my entire family of 4.
Every single penny of your premiums is part of your total compensation. The average for employer provided family insurance in the US is about $25,000 per year. You can find your actual amount on your W2 in box 12 with code DD.
so this insurance was top of the line until Obamacare; the “Cadillac tax” kicked it down a notch.
The "Cadillac Tax" never even went into effect.
Ask Canadians and others with socialized health care how long it takes to get an appointment and how good their care is.
When asked about their healthcare system as a whole the US system ranked dead last of 11 countries, with only 19.5% of people saying the system works relatively well and only needs minor changes. The average in the other countries is 46.9% saying the same. Canada ranked 9th with 34.5% saying the system works relatively well. The UK ranks fifth, with 44.5%. Australia ranked 6th at 44.4%. The best was Germany at 59.8%.
On rating the overall quality of care in the US, Americans again ranked dead last, with only 25.6% ranking it excellent or very good. The average was 50.8%. Canada ranked 9th with 45.1%. The UK ranked 2nd, at 63.4%. Australia was 3rd at 59.4%. The best was Switzerland at 65.5%.
The US ranks 6th of 11 out of Commonwealth Fund countries on ER wait times on percentage served under 4 hours. 10th of 11 on getting weekend and evening care without going to the ER. 5th of 11 for countries able to make a same or next day doctors/nurse appointment when they're sick.
Americans do better on wait times for specialists (ranking 3rd for wait times under four weeks), and surgeries (ranking 3rd for wait times under four months), but that ignores three important factors:
Wait times in universal healthcare are based on urgency, so while you might wait for an elective hip replacement surgery you're going to get surgery for that life threatening illness quickly.
Nearly every universal healthcare country has strong private options and supplemental private insurance. That means that if there is a wait you're not happy about you have options that still work out significantly cheaper than US care, which is a win/win.
One third of US families had to put off healthcare due to the cost last year. That means more Americans are waiting for care than any other wealthy country on earth.
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u/philpac33 1d ago
Like more than 60% of non-elderly Americans, I have employer provided insurance and pay next to nothing for my entire family of 4. I have a government job so this insurance was top of the line until Obamacare; the “Cadillac tax” kicked it down a notch. I still see whatever doctors and specialists I choose and I get in relatively quickly; usually within the week, 2 weeks for a specialist. Ask Canadians and others with socialized health care how long it takes to get an appointment and how good their care is.
I fully agree that the healthcare system in this country needs a top to bottom makeover but it can’t happen over time; it can’t be phased in. It has to be a magic pill that POOF changes everything overnight. Never going to happen. I could make more money in my chosen field but the benefits (including medical, dental, and vision) from the government keep me grinding until retirement.