How are people expected to handle increased health insurance costs when everything else in life has become more expensive? I think the answer is: they’re not
I
’ve got a genius business idea for people with few discernible skills. First you establish a “health insurance” company and get people to pay you large sums every month. Then, when a customer tries to use their insurance to cover medical costs, make a habit of denying their claim. While doing that, pay lobbyists to keep politicians amenable. Repeat this strategy until your company is worth billions.
I’m not saying this is exactly how the US health insurance industry works, but it’s close enough. There is a reason Americans spend the most on healthcare in the industrialised world, but have the worst health outcomes, according to an analysis by the Commonwealth Fund. Privatising a public good is great for a few well-remunerated executives but rarely benefits the masses.
Not that I’m criticising these insurance companies. No sir. I love the fact that my wife spends $750 a month on health insurance for our three-person family (with the rest of the astronomical bill being covered by her employer), and we still have to pay a minimum of $500 to visit the emergency room. I love the fact that, according to a 2024 YouGov poll, nearly a quarter of Americans didn’t call an ambulance during a medical emergency because they were worried about costs.
