Millions are dropping coverage.

[d.anders]

I don't see how this ends well. Until universal coverage becomes the law of the land, many, many people are going to suffer like never before. I lost my life savings to the cost of caring for my sick parents. My dad had a stroke and my mother had cancer. No one should go bankrupt over the cost of healthcare. I do agree with those who say this is immoral. Sadly, so few in America agree with me.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/01/business/obamacare-enrollment-decline.html

[+ SidewaysDM]

@d.anders I agree 100 % that nobody should loose their life savings caring for their family members. It is morally and ethically wrong. Every citizen in the richest country in the world, deserves quality lifetime healthcare that everyone can afford. Canada and the UK provide universal healthcare for all of their citizens. Unfortunately, at this time we live in an environment where taking care of fundamental human rights is no longer the priority. 
 

I am truly sorry for the loss of your parents. And the huge, additional burden of loosing your life savings. That is heartbreaking. 

[TonyDown]

Even with our group health insurance plan at a leading research, design and manufacturing company, my coworker had to cash in a 401k as health care costs for her husbands debilitating illness ballooned.  It shocked me how quickly medical expenses can paint us into a corner, even with employer coverage.

A colleague from another company, ironically a medical device company, had to file for bankruptcy due to medical expenses wiping them out.

I recently needed a bone marrow biopsy.  That cost a crap load of money.  The bills were huge.  Without coverage, that would have wiped out a lot of reserves.

I count on never having to drop coverage but realize that is becoming a reality.

Such is life in the States.  

 

Edited May 1 by TonyDown

[Nightowl]

1 hour ago, TonyDown said:

Even with our group health insurance plan at a leading research, design and manufacturing company, my coworker had to cash in a 401k as health care costs for her husbands debilitating illness ballooned.  It shocked me how quickly medical expenses can paint us into a corner, even with employer coverage.

A colleague from another company, ironically a medical device company, had to file for bankruptcy due to medical expenses wiping them out.

I recently needed a bone marrow biopsy.  That cost a crap load of money.  The bills were huge.  Without coverage, that would have wiped out a lot of reserves.

I count on never having to drop coverage but realize that is becoming a reality.

Such is life in the States.  

 

The US is a third world country when it comes to healthcare.

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

1 hour ago, Nightowl said:

The US is a third world country when it comes to healthcare.

This 2-minute documentary on Cuban vs US healthcare draws a similar conclusion in 2008😉:

 

 

Edited Saturday at 12:48 AM by Vegas_Millennial

[+ KensingtonHomo]

For-profit health insurance companies should be illegal. All of them have recorded enormous profits while using AI to deny patients the care they're paying for. 

Then there's the Medicare Advantage scam. Advantage programs cost 120 percent of what standard Medicare does. And it now accounts for over half of Medicare spending, overspending by over $80 billion in 2024 and 2025. United Healthcare, Humana, Aetna, and Elevance made a combined $20 BILLION off of Medicare Advantage. 

It's a complete scam. 

MedPAC estimates that MA overpayments will drive up Part B premiums by roughly $11 billion in 2026 for all seniors, including those not enrolled in Advantage plans.

Benefit Expansion: Eliminating the overpayment could theoretically fund a significant portion of vision, dental, or hearing benefits for everyone in Traditional Medicare—benefits that are currently widely available only through private MA plans.

[Peter Eater]

On 5/1/2026 at 7:42 AM, d.anders said:

I don't see how this ends well. Until universal coverage becomes the law of the land, many, many people are going to suffer like never before. I lost my life savings to the cost of caring for my sick parents. My dad had a stroke and my mother had cancer. No one should go bankrupt over the cost of healthcare. I do agree with those who say this is immoral. Sadly, so few in America agree with me.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/01/business/obamacare-enrollment-decline.html

I am sorry for your awful situation. More than half a million Americans are bankrupted annually from medical debt, which doesn't happen in any other industrialized country in the world. It's roughly 66% of all personal bankruptcies! Insurance companies have a tight grip on Congress . 

[+ sync]

Over my lifetime I have seen what appears to be the total collapse of reliable, affordable healthcare financial assistance in the United States. 

Some 32 years ago my wife fell ill and passed.  At that time, I was enrolled in a health insurance plan offered by my employer through a company named Oxford, which was later absorbed by UnitedHealthcare.  The total costs of healthcare and hospitalization came to nearly USD$46,000...the Oxford policy covered the entire amount.  If I had to endure those expenses under the conditions of today's health insurance monopolies, I would be living my final earthly days in penury.

My spirit weeps for the working-class people in the US today who are being relentlessly assaulted by the ever-widening wealth gap being perpetuated by those charged with making our lives better. 

"Keep hope alive!"

[+ PhileasFogg]

This topic is inherently political when the government is the largest payor/influencer in the American healthcare system and the core problem is we provide healthcare for all but - absent the mandate - don’t require all to pay in to the system.

And don’t say it’s not true.  Healthcare inflation tracked with the economy until Medicare was introduced in the late 60’s.  Ever since healthcare inflation has been twice that of the overall economy.

It’s the same with higher education and home financing - when the government intercedes to make something more available, they ultimately make it more expensive and less accessible and create a lot of rich people exploiting the rules.

We can start the thread with the “what” - millions are dropping coverage - but the answer is in the “why” which leads us down a slippery slope 

Edited Tuesday at 06:45 PM by PhileasFogg

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

29 minutes ago, PhileasFogg said:

This topic is inherently political when the government is the largest payor/influencer in the American healthcare system and the core problem is we provide healthcare for all but - absent the mandate - don’t require all to pay in to the system.

And don’t say it’s not true.  Healthcare inflation tracked with the economy until Medicare was introduced in the late 60’s.  Ever since healthcare inflation has been twice that of the overall economy.

It’s the same with higher education and home financing - when the government intercedes to make something more available, they ultimately make it more expensive and less accessible and create a lot of rich people exploiting the rules.

We can start the thread with the “what” - millions are dropping coverage - but the answer is in the “why” which leads us down a slippery slope 

Excellent point.

[d.anders]

16 hours ago, PhileasFogg said:

This topic is inherently political

So many important realities of life are political. I'm sorry this board chooses to shut down important discussions that are vital to an older gay man. But I understand what can happen when moderation is an issue. It is not easy or enjoyable to moderate political discussion.

20 hours ago, Peter Eater said:

I am sorry for your awful situation.

I wish to thank everyone who expressed kindness. The situation happened a long time ago, and time has a way of dulling the pain. If I knew then what I know now, I would have behaved differently. Of course, things could be much worse. I could be homeless, or have alzheimer's. I still own my apartment, I survive on Medicare, and I receive Social Security. Trouble is, these things can always change. It is never good to take any good thing for granted.

[+ PhileasFogg]

27 minutes ago, d.anders said:

I'm sorry this board chooses to shut down important discussions that are vital to an older gay man

I’m not a moderator 😉and am shutting nothing down.   But I see where it goes when we start talking about emotional experiences and we start sharing false or misleading data/statistics that come out of the politically charged internet meme machine 

[d.anders]

6 minutes ago, PhileasFogg said:

But I see where it goes when we start talking about emotional experiences and we start sharing false or misleading data/statistics that come out of the politically charged internet meme machine

Talk to any doctor and ask him or her what they think about health insurance companies in America controlling our health care.

[+ PhileasFogg]

Just now, d.anders said:

Talk to any doctor and ask him or her what they think about health insurance companies in America controlling our health care.

Guess what, I’d share their opinion.   But is that really what your OP is about?

[+ sync]

37 minutes ago, d.anders said:

Talk to any doctor and ask him or her what they think about health insurance companies in America controlling our health care.

You make a very good point:

NEW YORK-- (BUSINESS WIRE)--The 36th Barometer from Sermo, a fast, frictionless HCP engagement platform providing the healthcare industry with real-time business insights and authentic physician touch points, revealed that 78% of U.S. physicians feel health insurance companies have too much influence in determining which treatments and procedures are approved for patients; this declines to 52% globally and 38% in Europe.

[Peter Eater]

18 hours ago, PhileasFogg said:

This topic is inherently political when the government is the largest payor/influencer in the American healthcare system and the core problem is we provide healthcare for all but - absent the mandate - don’t require all to pay in to the system.

And don’t say it’s not true.  Healthcare inflation tracked with the economy until Medicare was introduced in the late 60’s.  Ever since healthcare inflation has been twice that of the overall economy.

It’s the same with higher education and home financing - when the government intercedes to make something more available, they ultimately make it more expensive and less accessible and create a lot of rich people exploiting the rules.

We can start the thread with the “what” - millions are dropping coverage - but the answer is in the “why” which leads us down a slippery slope 

Uh, no. Correlation dies not imply causation. Just because two variables move together (correlation), it does not mean one causes the other (causation).

Yes, it's political. But the causation comes from massive deregulation, business consolidation and monopoly - and we know which political engine has driven an obscene, disastrous policy that believes greed is good.

[+ PhileasFogg]

15 minutes ago, Peter Eater said:

Uh, no. Correlation dies not imply causation. Just because two variables move together (correlation), it does not mean one causes the other (causation).

Yes, it's political. But the causation comes from massive deregulation, business consolidation and monopoly - and we know which political engine has driven an obscene, disastrous policy that believes greed is good.

Correct, correlation and causation MAY be disconnected or they MAY NOT.  But as a factual data point - it’s factually documented by SSA that in Medicare’s first five years - starting in 1967 - physician and hospital charges rose substantially.   I wonder why 🙄

But…it you want to prove the point that this post is a slippery slope to politics, reread your second paragraph.

FACT:  Medicare/Caid cover 39% of all healthcare expenditures, and 70% of hospital in patient days - him with the gold makes the rules and the “him” is “us” responding to incentives WE create  through large complex payor structures set by the largest payor in the system - the US Gov’t

 

Edited yesterday at 01:48 PM by PhileasFogg

[Peter Eater]

3 minutes ago, PhileasFogg said:

Correct, correlation and causation MAY be disconnected or they MAY NOT.  But as a factual data point - it’s factually documented by SSA that in Medicare’s first five years - starting in 1967 - physician and hospital charges rose substantially.   I wonder why 🙄

But…it you want to prove the point that this post is a slippery slope to politics, reread your second paragraph.

FACT:  Medicare/Caid provide 39% of all healthcare expenditures, and 70% of hospital in patient days - him with the gold makes the rules and the “him” is “us” responding to incentives WE create  through large complex payor structures 

 

Reduced competition allows health systems to raise prices for services and insurance premiums.  A complex, fragmented system with multiple payers results in high administrative overhead, accounting for nearly 25% of spending. Increased longevity brings more age-related diseases, with chronic conditions accounting for up to 75% of all healthcare costs. Etc.

None of which has anything to do with the introduction of Medicare in the 1960s, and in fact things like its single-payer status are beneficial . 

[Peter Eater]

Here's one useful overview of how deregulation (since Reagan) has been a primary cause of skyrocketing Healthcare costs: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/04/upshot/reagan-deregulation-and-americas-exceptional-rise-in-health-care-costs.html?smid=nytcore-android-share

[+ PhileasFogg]

23 minutes ago, Peter Eater said:

Reduced competition allows health systems to raise prices for services and insurance premiums.  A complex, fragmented system with multiple payers results in high administrative overhead, accounting for nearly 25% of spending. Increased longevity brings more age-related diseases, with chronic conditions accounting for up to 75% of all healthcare costs. Etc.

None of which has anything to do with the introduction of Medicare in the 1960s, and in fact things like its single-payer status are beneficial . 

I’m sorry but you copying trite phrases from biased websites is not useful.  
 

And the fact that you don’t see the connection to decisions made 50 yrs ago underscores your lack of actual insight.  
 

If you want to take this debate to PM, feel free to.  But be prepared for me to come back with data and facts and not these worn out rubbish talking points from partisan sources. 

[d.anders]

5 hours ago, PhileasFogg said:

But is that really what your OP is about?

I guess a part of me would love to share the details of my 20-years of suffering with American health care. You damn right, it's emotional. I would love to warn others what can and does happen. You can have a million+ in the bank one day, and the next day it's gone. I would love to get therapy to help me cope, except I can't afford it. I can't even afford a gym membership. Cardio does help with stress. I also don't want to burden strangers with all the boring details and my very personal trauma.

I remember what the Affordable Care Act did for me. Most importantly, it reduced my monthly insurance payment by almost $300. I was fortunate, I did not lose all of my doctors. Seeing the ugly changes to the ACA stirs up ptsd. That's why I felt the need to share the article.

[+ PhileasFogg]

16 minutes ago, d.anders said:

I guess a part of me would love to share the details of my 20-years of suffering with American health care. You damn right, it's emotional. I would love to warn others what can and does happen. You can have a million+ in the bank one day, and the next day it's gone. I would love to get therapy to help me cope, except I can't afford it. I can't even afford a gym membership. Cardio does help with stress. I also don't want to burden strangers with all the boring details and my very personal trauma.

I remember what the Affordable Care Act did for me. Most importantly, it reduced my monthly insurance payment by almost $300. I was fortunate, I did not lose all of my doctors. Seeing the ugly changes to the ACA stirs up ptsd. That's why I felt the need to share the article.

I understand completely.  ACA was well conceived and poorly executed (because of politics).   I may have mentioned earlier that several months ago I retired and my coverage in the market place was $2,200/mo.  I can afford that…but the reality is that 95% couldn’t without the subsidy and I’m shocked that so many decline coverage.  BUT, their choices are not my problem.  But the fact that they’re opting out makes it more expensive for everyone who stays in.  We like to pick on companies and blame greed, but the core problem is that any insurance system needs healthy people paying in to make it work.  

[marylander1940]

Among other things that must be addressed we (each of us) should be more responsible when it comes to our lifestyle and what we eat. 

 

[Peter Eater]

22 hours ago, PhileasFogg said:

I’m sorry but you copying trite phrases from biased websites is not useful.  
 

And the fact that you don’t see the connection to decisions made 50 yrs ago underscores your lack of actual insight.  
 

If you want to take this debate to PM, feel free to.  But be prepared for me to come back with data and facts and not these worn out rubbish talking points from partisan sources. 

There's no way I'd take this to PM with an uninformed conservative ideologue who thinks Medicare is bad. What a waste of time that would be!

[+ BOZO T CLOWN]

On 5/1/2026 at 9:42 AM, d.anders said:

I don't see how this ends well. Until universal coverage becomes the law of the land, many, many people are going to suffer like never before. I lost my life savings to the cost of caring for my sick parents. My dad had a stroke and my mother had cancer. No one should go bankrupt over the cost of healthcare. I do agree with those who say this is immoral. Sadly, so few in America agree with me.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/01/business/obamacare-enrollment-decline.html

Sorry to hear about your situation. Bozo will assume that your parents didn't have long term/catastrophic health care insurance. If they did, their unfortunate situation would almost certainly not have occurred. Both of Bozo's parents purchased it, as well as a few aunts and uncles. For a few of them, the benefits have already more than paid off. As for Bozo's parents, it was the second best thing they ever did. The first, of course, was bringing Bozo into the world.

BTC
🤡

Edited 5 hours ago by BOZO T CLOWN