this post was submitted on 12 Sep 2023
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[–] ChamrsDeluxe@lemmy.world 52 points 2 years ago (4 children)

Good insurance won't, but the problem is, most companies don't provide "good" insurance. In most cases you are better off without it.

One company I worked for had the worst insurance I've ever seen.

I paid like $180 per paycheck JUST FOR ME! and I had no co-pay woooooHhhOoooo! Well anytime I'd go to the doctor i'd be fucked, with one visit really sticking out in particular: I went in knowing I had strep throat and just needed a doctors note. Doc took one look (didn't do any tests or anything because it was really obvious) said "yep, you've got strep. " gave me my note, and I was oit of there in like 5 minutes... A week later? A $200 bill…. What…. The…. FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!? Yeah bad insurance will ruin you.

[–] bustrpoindextr@lemmy.world 15 points 2 years ago (1 children)

If you had no co pay you wouldn't have had a $200 bill ( unless you went out of network and then fuck you for wanting to have a choice)

[–] ChamrsDeluxe@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

Nope, in network, that's just how their insurance worked.

[–] Wogi@lemmy.world 15 points 2 years ago (1 children)

The only time you're better off without insurance is if you never use it.

The insurance company isn't only paying part of the bill, even if it's ridiculously expensive and pays laughably little of the bill.

They're also negotiating the price down. Without insurance you're pretty much bare assed to the healthcare industry, who can and will charge you whatever they want. They'll charge you for every individual wet wipe at hilariously inflated prices. They'll charge you for the presence of a tray in your room to set a drink down on. When a nurse pops her head in for 30 seconds suddenly you're billed for an hour of her time. And you're stuck with that bill, no matter what, without insurance.

The insurance company will require them to verify the hours billed, they'll reject charges for shit they shouldn't be billing for, and negotiate down the price of stuff they can bill for.

The difference even for simple visits can but several thousand dollars. For more serious visits the sky is the limit.

[–] dragonflyteaparty@lemmy.world 17 points 2 years ago (1 children)

This isn't necessarily true. I've seen and heard of multiple doctors who had a lower price for those without insurance.

[–] TurtleJoe@lemmy.world 8 points 2 years ago

That could be true for a GP or something like that, but not for a serious issue where you need tests for a diagnosis, a hospitalization, or ER visit.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 8 points 2 years ago

I went to see a gastrointestinal specialist two weeks ago and also had a five minute visit where he didn't really listen to me about my issues and told me to call back in two weeks. I did, gave all my symptoms in detail to the nurse. A different nurse took two days to reply and the doctor still didn't listen to my problem. Or I guess didn't read it. And he's the only gastrointestinal doctor in town. All the others within a 90 minute drive are either not taking new patients or won't see me for 3 months, at which point, it will be too late. I haven't eaten in 22 days. I'm basically fucked until I end up in a hospital.

Please no medical advice. Thank you.

[–] agent_flounder@lemmy.one 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I feel like the total bill without insurance would've been even more? Idk

[–] ChamrsDeluxe@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago

Nope, when I ditched my insurance from that company and had to go to my regular doctor, it was $65 up front and I didn't see another bill. It was the most bullshit thing I've experienced.