The largest benefit offered by US insurance companies is the allowed charges: insurers negotiate a maximum cost for each service for the hospitals (et al) to be in the insurance network. Without health insurance you are expected to shop around for a cheap hospital before you need urgent medical care. If you don’t, well, prices are highly variable between hospitals. Under insurance, it wouldn’t be uncommon to see a bill being 50% not allowed, 40% insurance, 10% insured. Which means you might be paying $5000 on that other persons $40000 visit.
Some, but not very many hospitals, pursue unpaid claims in court. This can lead to lost work hours, lost jobs, and lost homes — and also about a 1% increase in income for the hospital. So in practice, a large hospital bill can be significantly more costly than the bill itself. Just the price of living in a free country.
Some, but not very many hospitals, pursue unpaid claims in court. This can lead to lost work hours, lost jobs, and lost homes — and also about a 1% increase in income for the hospital. So in practice, a large hospital bill can be significantly more costly than the bill itself. Just the price of living in a free country.
"Kitto daijoubu da yo." - Sakura Kinomoto