I met a stroke survivor at the doctors office today, he had had a stroke at work. By sheer, stupid coincidence, an ambulance was parked right outside and he got the best care possible virtually immediately.

He still spent 6 weeks in the hospital, and when it came time for release, they wouldn’t let him go home immediately, he would have to spend time in assisted living, which his insurance would not pay for.

He spent $10,000 a month out of pocket for assisted living. He lost his house.

Me? I had a heart attack 3 days after Thanksgiving, 2018. 4 weeks into a 6 week open heart surgery recovery, my company got bought by one of the biggest technology companies in the world, my insurance changed, I lost my doctors, my hospital, and had to start over in a new medical system while complications were doing their best to kill me.

I just had a conversation at work that would cover assisted living or in home care… $330 a month beyond what I already pay for health insurance. Oh, but it covers NOTHING for the first 12 weeks. 90 days of nothing. Hope you have saved that $30,000…

While we were trading these war stories, the Muzak in the doctor’s office started playing this song.

https://youtu.be/qOfkpu6749w#t=58s

Not… even… kidding. Yeah, Aint that America…

Where the quality of your health care, and really whether you live or die, depends on who you work for and what insurance they deign to carry.

  • RedditWanderer@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    In Canada they are trying to move us to the american system. The idea of tying the insurance to employment sounds good to conservatives who think people who aren’t covered by an employer are immediately junkies.

    It’s likely going to work too, the potential profits are too great for these politicians to let it pass.

    • WhyDoYouPersist@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      Cannot stand that word. Profit and unfettered growth still reign supreme in a collapsing world, like a cancer. Every aspect of modern life feels more and more like being stuck in a pyramid scheme.

    • jordanlund@lemmy.worldOP
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      3 months ago

      If you know anyone up there who needs a spokesman against employer based insurance, have them hit me up! Happy to help however I can!

      • RedditWanderer@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        What a ridiculous thing to say. Co-pay, out of pocket maximums, in network only care/medicine are not choice in healthcare lmao.