LordoftheHildago
24214
779
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May 21, 2026 2:53 AM
LordoftheHildago
24214
779
44
or0b0ur0s
You forgot "Pay what amounts to a 2nd mortgage for the privilege of doing all this"
SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem
Also add "get denied by insurance, have to get prior auth, wait for prior auth to happen between doctor and insurance company, have one or both of those parties forget about it and just not do it, return to step before prior auth (denied) and start over"
IDownvoteKhaby
Ah but you're forgetting that if you pay another $8,500 you'll meet the deductible and your insurance will pay 80% of everything after that for the whole rest of the year! In network of course. /s
NotASpeckOfCereal
To be fair, there is still waiting in socialized health care (ask any Canadian that doesn't have enough money to pay for "me, now"). But yeah, everything else.
draginator
My union job gives me amazing healthcare in CT, some of the best in the country for only $20 a week. Join a union people.
Monsoonaluna
It's taken me 15 years to find my own diagnosis of a rare autoimmune disease that doctors kept ignoring. I was told to loose weight, I did, I was told it's psoriasis it wasn't. When I figured out what is was on my own it took months to see a dermatologist to demand the right tests to get it confirmed then another year to get into rheumatology im still waiting on that appointment. The complications of my condition are getting worse and I just have to wait.
Illithidbane
"But in Canada, you have to wait for care!"
You think Americans don't wait? You think people terrified of bankruptcy/homelessness aren't delaying care?
DrWrong
Extremely accurate. Also, Canada has a big focus on preventative care, which, ya know, happens before people get sick. It's so brutal to watch everyone i know delay care in the us. https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1N2E3NGVrd3ViNnM4N3l0czAybDFzazdqMXJoaGRrc2FjOTl0MGRwZSZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/AeWoyE3ZT90YM/200w.webp
syko2k
Kill more insurance people. Simple. Send the message that none are safe and you'll get your healthcare.
ionicseraph
My parents: "Yes, but they make you wait a such a long time for medical services". After explaining to my dad, who was in the hospital for half a year waiting to have heart surgery: "Thats a different situation". I cant fucking win with them...
PostHartmann
The hospital 3 miles away won't take Humana. A hospital won't take a major insurance. I won't live to see it but there has to come a tipping point where it will change. I mean it has to, doesn't it?
TripleDane
This comic is missing some facts "paying for healthcare with taxes" which is on BOTH sides.
The fact that American still dont get that they ALSO pay taxes for healthcare as well is really showing the lack of education in the society.
SergeyPrkl
Not just developed but the majority of the countries. there are just a few that don't do this.
TyrannusEquus
I heard some stories about the death panels. How would we find out who was on it?
PandaPolishesPotatoes
Need to get my eyes checked, been a while, can't get in till September.
Need to see a dentist, not even sure if insurance will cover what I need, can't get in until December. Half my tooth chipped off so uh... yeah... doesn't hurt but not good, the whole side of the molar is just gone. Enamel decided to take a the day off, permanently.
egoAristippos
EMHPicardo
kingbobsfanner
Or like my experiences, get nothing, told it's stress/in my head, a Rx for ibuprofen or advil (which I have @ home & been poisoning myself with from taking so much), and still get a nice big bill.
SpoonOfDoom
This can't be true, I was assured by many an American that not only is their healthcare the best and every other system worse, it's only us filthy Europeans that ever have to wait for an appointment. (/s, if that's needed)
greenercloud
Australia beat the U.S. in top countries to live in. You can only live in 2% of this entire continent. And within those 2% everything wants to kill you. Yet, it’s still better to live in than the U.S.!
McPuffinStuff
https://imgur.com/wna0jUm.jpg
TheMindEntropic
for now. Give it enough time and any capitalist society will go exactly the same way America is going.
jjunns
This actually seems easier than it is in reality
J3lek
It turns out the death panels were the Insurance companies we made along the way.
korndogg83
SomeDetroitGuy
They always were. The death panels were the insurance cost cutting boards. It was literally the o ly thing Sarah Palin has ever been right about.
Unclescam
In a wrong way. As per usual.
GoddessPurpleFrost
Prior to me cutting off my mom forever, i literally screamed this at her when Obama's ACA went into effect. "I dont want to pay for other peoples healthcare and they have death panels!" she said. WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU DO WHEN YOU PAY AN INSURANCE COMPANY THAT DENIES YOUR CARE YOU DIPSHIT?! You're LITERALLY paying for other peoples care + a CEO's yacht and your own death panel when you become too expensive. Fuck they are all just so goddamn stupid.
orp0piru
noWhiteHorseHereJustBatturuPrinsu
iWantedAcoolNameButTheyOnlyHadThisOne
What does "doctor in-network" mean? I am from one of the countries that is depicted at the top so I am scratching my head what doctors in network are.
NomadFeetWanderingToes
A particular insurance company only partners with/let's you use your benefits at certain doctors/hospitals etc. "In network" you're covered fully, "out of network" you shoulder something like 80% of the cost, depending on your insurance plan. One of the ways insurance companies compete with each other is to have the biggest "network" it can.
bittenicht39
Doctors in the network of the insurance. Only doctors which are approved by your insurance will be paid by the insurance (and even that is not really guaranteed). Doctors out of network have to be paid by yourself. Imagine having to pay the History and Math teacher at your school if you want aour kid to learn these topics, because only PE and English is in-network. Unbelievable.
iWantedAcoolNameButTheyOnlyHadThisOne
Crazy. Thanks for explaining.
PastureofMuppets
Even worse, it is your employer who chooses the health insurance networks you can choose from. If you lose your job you lose your health insurance unless you begin paying hundreds of dollars out of pocket per month. And if you want to just change jobs, you may have to get a new doctor if your new job doesnt have your old job's network as an option.
vash77
Not only does your insurance company pick and choose your doctor, but there is also what is called a deductible. Mine was 2,000 dollars. Until you pay out of pocket that amount the insurance doesn't pay a dime. It also resets every year, making insurance pretty much a monthly subscription you never use unless something really bad happens.
judasiscar1ot
each insurance provider has a local "network" of healthcare providers that are "covered" (in the loose, american sense of the term) by their plan. outside of that network you're either forced to pay an astronomically higher out-of-network cost including higher copays, additional fees, etc., or outright denial of coverage.
iWantedAcoolNameButTheyOnlyHadThisOne
Wow, ok. Thanks, TIL
pm1001
When I joined msft in the UK the HR person said "benefits include health insurance". I asked what that was and why I would need it. I had never heard of such a thing. To me - you get sick, you go to the doctor, the end.
androidshard
Don't forget the uk's wait times. Two weeks to see a gp here.
And if the appointment goes wrong due to an nhs mistake? Back to a new 2 week wait.
Trans? That'll be years and there's no updates while waiting. They also like removing you from the waitlist if they send you a letter and you don't reply fast enough.
The first class post is weekly where I am, so good luck!
(Previously I lived elsewhere in the uk and a letter took about 2 months to travel about 2 streets)
photodepiction
Yes and no. I'm on drugs that as a "fun" side effect suppress my immune system, so I basically always get seen same or following day, if it could be related, as they classify me as high risk.
androidshard
Enjoy being seen quickly, if you can. I am glad they are able to prioritize you.
I hope your medical issues ease and you continue to get the care you need.
pm1001
The experience I describe was in 1995, when the nhs still worked. I now live in the USA where it's more expensive but the wait times are shorter (not! I am waiting 3 months for a specialist appointment, it's 2 weeks for a GP, .....)
androidshard
I'm waiting over a year so far to see a specialist. It will be another 5 at minimum. Private care is four figures a year. I can't afford it. I'm lucky a loved one helps me with the cost.
The nhs has not worked well for me. It did well at my birth. It did ok in my childhood, excluding the vaccinations being years late because of an nhs error.
In my adult life? It has sucked.
For those around me? I'd like to see it help just one of them for the sheer novelty of seeing that happen.
PwnageHobo
You say every OTHER developed nation, but I honestly think the US healthcare system disqualifies them as "developed"
Madalchemist2018
https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1eDBxeGVnNzExN2ptd2g1M2JoNWRmYzRmaHY2bnFqb21wZWxmbXI1eiZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/ggu8E0UeH7bINjvacc/200w.webp
TripleDane
In many Standards/comparisons, US has gotten a new participation trophy title of " in-development"
it not just the US healthcare system. its the tax system. its the digital infrastructure. US is still not caught up to think i took for granted decades ago.
dashers
It's beginning to feel like the defining description of the US is "military dictatorship".
SpartanwithaSkirt
I think "police state" is more accurate
ChazzK
Technically we're in the chapter of the history books titled something like "The mask comes off". Not *technically* there yet but you already see them lifting.
jayman0123
Has been for like 75 years
SecondSince
Or if that is hard to say you can just call it a shithole.
Megamastermetamememaker
Well guys... you wanted capitalism, you got it, you even exported it, now live with the consequences. FAFO.
donorkort
Literally every single Western country is capitalist.
Megamastermetamememaker
There is a HUGE difference between capitalism american style and socialdemocracy style like in western europe...
donorkort
Of course there is - but it's still capitalism.
Megamastermetamememaker
Even socialism is capitalism then, after your definition.
But whatever.
donorkort
Uhh what.
paullyboy1999
Also risk the hospital giving you an infection during surgery, then slip and puncture your spinal cord, then damage muscles while fixing that mistake, THEN insurance denies claim, THEN hospital sues you over the bills all while they are being protected from lawsuits due to "inherent risk of surgery" best country ever folks....
Aar0ns
The hospital is not your enemy, insurance companies are. You should not be able to sue for anything except costs associated with mistakes. Infection is not a mistake, damaging muscles and spinal cord are, if they were doing something around the spinal cord and those muscles due to an infection then it is gray area… but insurance denying the claim? That’s grounds for appeal/state insurance department inquiry
paullyboy1999
Infection was bacterial from the water they used to cool the drill that was drilling out the bone. While I was recovering from the infection I met 7 other patients who got an infection around the same time, just in the neurologist office
LittleAzie
The problem is, infection risks aren't properly mitigated by hospitals due to cost savings. There are a lot more things needed in their sanitization process that is ignored, such as method and chemical rotation. Additionally, most surgical and recovery rooms really need a vapor/mist sanitization periodically.
Aar0ns
I mean… infection risks are mitigated to the level they can be under the time constraints allotted. At no point have I been in a hospital that didn’t smell like they smothered everything in bleach and disinfectant. It’s not perfect but it’s as good as it reasonably could be.
If you give the hospitals triple the money they could sanitize it better, but they aren’t working with those margins. Insurance companies are
LittleAzie
You don't need to triple the money. You need to require a sanitizer rotation and proper rest time. For most sanitizers they have a rest time to be effective, usually in the time of 30+ minutes. Additionally, as you use the same one, microbes start to develop resistances to it, so you need to rotate which chemical. Best way is to also rotate the pH of the chemical too. You also need to do /every/ surface frequently. So yes, post-op infections can be greatly reduced even more.
hellothisispeggy
If they're not actually sterilizing the tools like they're required to people should absolutely be able to sue but generally people aren't actually that litigious unless they're forced into it. Like think about the "hot coffee" case, that lady was only suing because she needed 20k to cover her medical bills, it's extremely likely the case would've never happened had we just had universal healthcare. Same deal with car wrecks and people suing for injuries because they can't afford care otherwise.
blaghart
Yea because both parties oppose it. Biden literally said he'd veto any attempt to pass universal healthcare in the US. Twice. Including during COVID.
michiyl
blaghart
So you agree, the reason we don't have universal healthcare is because both parties oppose it.
Isorikk
https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1aDJwenUyNHBzN2F3bG9vaDE3ZmVjdDVidzZ3bGVxMjhiaTU4aWozZSZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/hPPx8yk3Bmqys/200w.webp
blaghart
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/coronavirus-crisis-hasn-t-changed-joe-biden-s-mind-medicare-n1172361 Why you lyin?
AlwaysUpvoteBeerCigarsWhisky
https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/mar/10/facebook-posts/when-biden-was-asked-if-he-would-veto-medicare-all/
blaghart
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/coronavirus-crisis-hasn-t-changed-joe-biden-s-mind-medicare-n1172361 Oh look, here he is the second time saying he'd veto medicare for all by claiming it would "prevent Americans from having access to healthcare"
MiserCrass
Thanks, I hate that 'bothsideism' when its blatantly not true. Not that facts matter to those people.
blaghart
Weird how I said "both parties" and yet the 2 month old astroturfing account tries to claim that I, the leftist, am saying "both sides." I wonder if perhaps you could be...a liar? https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/coronavirus-crisis-hasn-t-changed-joe-biden-s-mind-medicare-n1172361
MiserCrass
He said he'd veto if there was no plan on how to provide for it, and that he'd PASS it if there was a plan. Also, obamacare happened, lol.
MiserCrass
AWW the maga in the closet got triggered and muted me rather than debate, go figure.
blaghart
Hey look, you're lying! Also the Affordable Care Act isn't universal healthcare. It's a private insurance reform bill that funnelled millions of dollars into the pockets of private insurance companies. Why am I not surprised the 2 month old account is blatantly astroturfing lies.
Shoutrr
there's also the funny "get sick, find a doctor that is in network, get an appointment that is in weeks/month, it can't wait that long so you find an in network hospital and go to the emergency, wait for hours to see a doctor, need an urgent operation, the surgeon and some of the nurses aren't in network, the insurance refuse to cover the cost"
spaghettiThunderbolt
Meanwhile in the UK, three times as many people die as a result of not being able to access healthcare in a timely manner than in the US, and the US has triple the fucking population. Their socialized medicine kills people at 9x the rate of the "horrible" system in the US (that draws people from all over the world for cutting edge treatments).
Sidewaysgts
lol
LoudBirb
That's straight up not true. US avoidable mortality is 95 per 100k. UK is 71 per 100k.
Unless you're looking at a completely different metric. You got a source for your numbers?
Shoutrr
nice. to prove the US "aren't that bad", you take an outlier. Why didn't you do that with germany, france, spain, portugal, italy etc etc? ah yes, because then you'd have to face the fact that US is, once again, a shithole.
chackstar
Canada is like that in terms of wait times sometimes. Only difference is you are covered no matter where you go. There have been major cutbacks over the decades, however, in an attempt to make us opt for private healthcare and we are going for it slowly but surely.
causationn
Be careful with this thought. We moved from NB to ON on the 7th of the month. NB covers you with this month + 2. Ontario Ohio covers you after 3 months from move in. On month 3 I’m not covered by anyone from the 1st to the 7th. Had to buy private for those 7 days. 60 bucks but still.
chackstar
Right! What the hell is that about anyway? Do we not all live in Canada FFS?! And yes, I know, health is a provincial jurisdiction but for crying out loud!
causationn
OHIP…. Not Ohio
chackstar
Thanks gor the clarifucation