The recent fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has sparked intense discussions about America's healthcare system, with thousands sharing their struggles with insurance coverage and medical care access.
Elizabeth, a 64-year-old retiree from Maryland, recalls that after a serious car accident in 2002, her insurer initially denied coverage because the care wasn't pre-approved and occurred outside California.
"Health insurance in the US is a constant battle. You're always trying to get stuff covered, you're always told that things are being denied," she tells The Guardian.
The situation appears to be worsening in 2024, with patients reporting increased coverage denials and mounting bureaucratic hurdles. Liz, a Minnesota physician, despite having "good" insurance costing $10,000 annually in premiums, faced additional charges when her son broke his arm.
"The exploitation of our system has been so consistent and universal that most of us have long ago settled into a kind of learned helplessness," she explains.
The corporatization of healthcare has intensified these issues. According to researchers at UC Berkeley, nearly a quarter of US hospitals are now operated by for-profit entities, with physician practices owned by private equity increasing dramatically from 816 in 2012 to 5,779 in 2021.
Stephanie Maughan, 68, from Boston, represents countless Americans burdened by medical debt despite having insurance. "We're not poor, but as far as I'm concerned we have no health insurance, despite paying about $400 a month for a premium policy. It didn't used to be like this. This country is in big trouble," she states.
Many patients report insurers using automated rejections, ignored correspondence, and arbitrary rule changes to avoid paying claims. The situation has become so dire that some Americans are sacrificing their careers just to secure health insurance. As Thesia from Houston observes, "It's a bit like the story about the frog in the water, and someone slowly bringing up the temperature while the frog doesn't notice."
While the Affordable Care Act has improved access for some, particularly those with pre-existing conditions, many argue it hasn't gone far enough. Patients continue to face high costs, limited provider networks, and complex billing systems that often result in surprise charges months after receiving care.
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