Probable Bias

The healthcare system in this country is irretrievably broken. Look around you: We are sick, overweight, unhealthy and mentally unwell. We have the best doctors and medical experts in the world. But the insurance lobby, big food and pharma, and other special interests have taken our system to the point of no return. For starters, why on earth is insurance tied heavily to employment? You lose your job, you also lose your health insurance? What the hell? Why are entrepreneurs penalized for starting business vs W2 employees? If you’re 40 and want to start a business, expect to pay $2,000+ per month for basic high-deductible coverage. Shouldn’t we be incentivizing entrepreneurship and job creation? Why is the pricing system so opaque? I recently had a procedure done. No one on staff had any clue how much it was going to cost. Then, I got THREE separate bills from various providers totally $3,600 for a simple wound dressing. Two of the providers were “out-of-network” … I didn’t even know they were involved in my care, guys. I’m not sure the bills have stopped coming yet to be honest. Medical debts under $500 can’t be sent to collections anymore, so no one pays those. I’m sure that’s going to make it better! A single dose of insulin in the US costs over $100. In Canada, it costs around $10. Doctors spend a ridiculous amount of time dealing with insurance claims vs actually treating patients. A life-saving cancer treatment can be delayed weeks while waiting for insurance approval. 62% of bankruptcies are the result of medical debt. You can go from healthy and rich to sick and broke the next day in this country. There is no safety net for illness related financial issues. Instead of focusing on preventive care, our system is designed to treat illness rather than promoting smart health practices. Been to an emergency room lately? It’s a hellscape. Low-income people without coverage flood emergency rooms. Uninsured parents with children with ear infections need better options than the ER. This drives up costs and overwhelms emergency services. Mental health should be a top priority in this country. Instead it’s almost completely neglected by insurance limitations and provider shortages. The criminal justice system is full of people who should instead be getting simple mental health support. Worst of all, the aggressive marketing of pharmaceuticals has caused addiction, complications and illness. What the hell happened, guys? We are the wealthiest nation on earth and we can’t figure out how to care for our collective health and wellbeing? I’m not voting for another politician (democrat or republican) who doesn’t have a real plan for healthcare reform. I demand specifics. We should all demand specifics. What we’re accepting in American healthcare right now now is not acceptable.