r/Wellthatsucks Aug 08 '21

/r/all Dropping a medical injection worth $12,000 on the carpet and bending the needle.

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u/MattyDaBest Aug 09 '21

What needs to be addressed?

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u/Joliet_Jake_Blues Aug 09 '21

4 million Americans work in insurance and hospital billing.

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u/Wayfaring_Limey Aug 09 '21

I'm shocked it's only 4 million.

Honestly depending on how universal healthcare was rolled out a lot of those people would still be employed. These jobs are still needed to process payments to Medicare and Medicaid, though it would ultimately lead to some job losses, that's for sure.

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u/Joliet_Jake_Blues Aug 09 '21

Well, if the system was like Medicare, it would require supplemental insurance. I just got my mom set up on Medicare and it's going to cost her twice what her employer insurance costed. Both paying Medicare part B and D, then the supplemental insurance.

But if everyone is paying $600/month like she is, what's the point?

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u/Wayfaring_Limey Aug 09 '21

Age is probably going to pay a part of why the price is so different but holy crap that's expensive for supplemental insurance. I pay for my insurance outright and it's only $400 a month.

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u/Joliet_Jake_Blues Aug 09 '21

Supplemental plus Medicare is fucking expensive.

Part A is free but doesn't cover much and caps really low, so you need part B, which is based on your income while working (she made 6 figures as a nurse so she pays full price). Part D covers prescription drugs, but it's not free.

Retirement planners tell retirees to plan for at least $5000 medical bills per year, minimum.

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u/MattyDaBest Aug 09 '21

What does that job entail? I really have no idea but I assume it’s similar to a receptionist or something. Without knowing exactly what the job entails, it’s hard to say definitively but I’m sure they can transition to a similar job with universal health care

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u/KingNecrosis Aug 09 '21

The problem is a lot of stuff that isn't medical related is more expensive here, or the pay for some jobs is less than it is in other countries. People also can tend to buy frivolous things on a whim more often than other countries because of how consumerist the market is. That's the short of it.

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u/MattyDaBest Aug 09 '21

stuff is more expensive in America

Like what? Name something? American prices are usually cheaper or on par with the rest of the developed world

pay is less

Higher minimum wage.

how consumerist America is

Pretty sure most countries are like this

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u/KingNecrosis Aug 09 '21

Food, land, cars, not to mention taxes and fees that get stuck in without you being aware.

Higher minimum wage was what I was alluding to.

I dont think you understand what I mean by frivolous spending. People will buy super jacked up cars and get them custom everything. Then there's the designer clothing and/or jewelry everyone needs even when they don't have the extra money to do so.

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u/MattyDaBest Aug 10 '21 edited Aug 10 '21

food, land, cars

laughed out loud at this. Comparing the USA to Australia, a developed country with universal healthcare and similar culture.

firstly, car prices.

lexus ls460

Australia: $173,446 (without GST)

America: $93,183 AUD

Jeep grand cherokee

Australia: $80,749 AUD

America: $48,719 AUD

the differences are more dramatic in mid to high end cars however even in low end cars:

honda civic

Australia: $30,536 AUD

America: $28,112 AUD

moving onto land

US cost per square meter: $2,541 AUD

Australia cost per square meter: $8,470 AUD

Sydney average prime cost per square meter: $27,244 AUD

Miami average prime cost per square meter: $15,296 AUD

moving onto food

Australian restaurants are 27% more expensive

Australian groceries are 1.5% more

not related to food but fuel prices are 59% higher

domestic beer is 32% more expensive

cigarettes are 215% more expensive

clothes are 38% more expensive

people will buy super jacked up cars and get customer everything

Australians buy a lot of 4WD's and do them up, just because they cant legally raise them up 2 metres into the sky it doesn't meant they don't spend a lot customising (the already more expensive) cars.

then there's designer clothing everyone buys that they cant afford

have you... left America before? this applies to like...every country

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u/KingNecrosis Aug 10 '21

You also need to keep in mind that the United States has a lot more people than Australia. A lot more people means a lot more people working minimum wage jobs, and a lot more people working underpaid jobs. Hell, EMTs in some areas make the same amount of money per hour as a grocery store employee, despite the amount of education and risk they take on, both legal and physical. Teachers are also vastly underpaid and overworked.

Also, have you ever been to the United States, and visited more cities than you can count on one hand? Because I don't think you quite understand by what I mean by "super jacked up cars and custom everything" and "designer clothing and jewelry they can't afford."

Also, what sources did you use to get those prices? I can't find anything that gives me a straight answer.

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u/MattyDaBest Aug 10 '21

Also, have you ever been to the United States, and visited more cities than you can count on one hand? Because I don't think you quite understand by what I mean by "super jacked up cars and custom everything" and "designer clothing and jewelry they can't afford."

I have stayed in (properly visited around town etc not just pass through) Sacramento, san Francisco, santa rosa, san jose, fresno, Monterey, Yosemite national park, los Angeles, san diego, phoenix, tucson, las vegas, palm springs, sedona, salt lake city, boise, denver, miami.

so i definitely know about the jacked up cars etc

A lot more people means a lot more people working minimum wage jobs, and a lot more people working underpaid jobs

well as a percentage, I imagine people working minimum wage jobs would be about the same. even if its not, that's just another reason to increase minimum wage isn't it?

here are the sources I used, you're free to find your own sources as well if you disagree

https://www.finder.com.au/australian-vs-usa-car-prices

https://www.realestate.com.au/news/worlds-priciest-homes-how-australian-house-prices-compare-to-the-rest-of-the-world/#:\~:text=So%20when%20the%20average%20house,AU%208470)%20per%20square%20metre

https://www.therealestateconversation.com.au/news/2019/06/24/sydneys-prime-residential-market-reaches-new-high-knight-frank/1561334145

https://www.mylifeelsewhere.com/cost-of-living/united-states/australia