CDC declined to test new coronavirus patient for days, California hospital says

Re:CDC declined to test new coronavirus patient for days, Ca... by mtalantikite on Thursday February 27, 2020 @01:24PM (#22436104)

The healthcare system in the US is a shameful mess, but for someone that makes minimum wage they'll likely be on Medicaid, which is one of the US government's health programs. It's complicated, but likely in that case a person getting a blood test won't have to pay anywhere near the $3000 or $1700 amount. It'd probably be free, but I say probably because it's possible that your blood test gets sent to a lab that isn't Medicaid approved and who pays for it gets complicated at that point.

In the example case given from the article, that person likely made too much money to qualify for Medicaid, so they probably have a bad health insurance plan that has a high deductible. Which is why they're getting stuck with a huge bill for something that really shouldn't cost anywhere near $3000.

Anyone that pretends that the way the US health care system functions right now is good is either lying or an idiot.

Edit: As another person pointed out, to complicate things even more every state has a different implementation of Medicaid. If you're in one of those states that believes your poverty is your own fault, you probably have no health coverage at all.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:CDC declined to test new coronavirus patient for days, Ca... by pcr910303 on Thursday February 27, 2020 @01:36PM (#22436247)

> in that case a person getting a blood test won't have to pay anywhere near the $3000 or $1700 amount. It'd probably be free

Oh, that’s much, much more assuring to know. Looks like

> Anyone that pretends that the way the US health care system functions right now is good is either lying or an idiot.

Looks like the general consensus of HN agrees; I hope the US decides to overhaul the healthcare system to provide better care if everything I’m hearing in this thread is true, it’s a topic that’s saddening to hear about.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:CDC declined to test new coronavirus patient for days, Ca... by csense on Friday February 28, 2020 @06:42PM (#22447476)

Basically these kinds of bills push 9 out of 10 people into bankruptcy.

So part of the reason you're paying $3000 for a test that actually costs $300 is because you're paying for 9 other people who couldn't pay.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:CDC declined to test new coronavirus patient for days, Ca... by mnm1 on Thursday February 27, 2020 @01:44PM (#22436346)

Someone making the federal minimum wage working full time makes $15,080 a year. For an individual to be eligible for Medicaid, they have to make (for 2019) less than $17236.20 a year (138% * Federal Policy Level $12,490). So yes, in states that don't have a higher minimum wage, they would just barely be covered, but millions of people making minimum wage in states that have raised the minimum wage or making just above minimum wage are not covered by Medicaid. In such a case, it's better to make less money by working less rather than lose that insurance because Medicaid is great insurance while what is available at such jobs is likely garbage.

And of course, there are the asshole states that did not expand Medicaid coverage. In those states, people making such little money are fucked. The ACA may help with discounts but I doubt any reasonable insurance can be had. Hell, I can't find decent insurance through the ACA in my state and I'm willing to pay anything. Super fucked up. I totally agree that people who defend this system are assholes or idiots. No other way around it.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:CDC declined to test new coronavirus patient for days, Ca... by mtalantikite on Thursday February 27, 2020 @02:11PM (#22436667)

Yup, this is super important to note too. You could make minimum wage in your state -- and likely live in a state with an overall higher cost of living -- but still not qualify for Medicaid because the low wages you make aren't low enough. It's awful.

[ Parent | on HN ]