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A comment on A Petabyte of Health Insurance Prices Per Month – Why is there so much data?. Parent comment

Re:A Petabyte of Health Insurance Prices Per Month – Why is ... by talldatethrow on Tuesday July 11, 2023 @04:10PM (#36686588)
While there are huge problems, I think the majority of the problem is people expect their health insurance plan to be like a prepaid maintenance plan.

If you crash your car today without insurance, you understand it won't be covered by getting insurance tomorrow.

Why people think they can finally get healthy "insurance" at 45 from company xyz, knowing they need this pill or that pill, and expect the new insurance company to pay for it I will never understand.

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Re:A Petabyte of Health Insurance Prices Per Month – Why is ... by lotsofpulp on Tuesday July 11, 2023 @04:25PM (#36686762)
In the US, federal law requires the insurance company to offer any applicant insurance coverage and pay for necessary healthcare (after accounting for deductible/out of pocket maximums).

https://www.healthcare.gov/how-plans-set-your-premiums

>Five factors can affect a plan’s monthly premium: location, age, tobacco use, plan category, and whether the plan covers dependents.

> FYI Your health, medical history, or gender can’t affect your premium

https://www.healthcare.gov/appeal-insurance-company-decision...

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Re:A Petabyte of Health Insurance Prices Per Month – Why is ... by talldatethrow on Tuesday July 11, 2023 @04:28PM (#36686794)
I understand the law says so. My point is this makes no sense as an "insurance". It's basically a service plan now.
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Re:A Petabyte of Health Insurance Prices Per Month – Why is ... by lotsofpulp on Tuesday July 11, 2023 @04:40PM (#36686917)
Yes, health insurance as expected by people has never made sense as "insurance".

Once an event goes from unlikely to likely, buying insurance for it turns into simply prepaying an amortized amount for future expenses. Not dissimilar to paying taxes for road maintenance.

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Re:A Petabyte of Health Insurance Prices Per Month – Why is ... by flangola7 on Tuesday July 11, 2023 @04:53PM (#36687074)
Why wouldn't they expect it? If they need that medicine/treatment, they need it. If I don't have car insurance my organs won't shut down and I won't die. If I don't have medicine, they do and I will.
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Re:A Petabyte of Health Insurance Prices Per Month – Why is ... by talldatethrow on Tuesday July 11, 2023 @05:01PM (#36687164)
If you need medicine to live, you should pay for it. If you can't, the government should step in.

However, making me pay $400 a month for insurance in case I need stitches next month because I have to subsidize your medicine is annoying.

I want insurance in case something I don't know about goes wrong. You want something you know you need.

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Re:A Petabyte of Health Insurance Prices Per Month – Why is ... by flangola7 on Tuesday July 11, 2023 @05:07PM (#36687227)
Right, but the government doesn't step in. I've voted for universal healthcare sorry supporting candidates at every local, state, and federal election.

I'm sorry that my illness is "annoying" you, but your anger is misplaced. Not that long ago I used to only have insurance for stitches too.

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Re:A Petabyte of Health Insurance Prices Per Month – Why is ... by talldatethrow on Tuesday July 11, 2023 @06:47PM (#36688264)
Your illness isn't annoying me. The fact that I need to pay for it via my health insurance premiums is.

If we want to pay for it via government mandate, fine. Raise taxes. That way during my lower earning years I dont need to artificially pay for it through health "insurance" that isn't really insurance.

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