Just was thinking about this the other day while looking at my insurance. How do people in the U.S. accumulate huge bills without hitting their max out of pockets? Are cancer treatments not usually covered by insurance? Are the doctors that provide the treatment just happening to be out of network?
I guess I’m wondering if there is anyway I can plan to not be in a situation of me or my husband rejecting treatment and dying or having huge medical bills cripple us. We’re relatively healthy now, but the future is near.
I’d like to understand better how it seems to be so *common* for people to not be covered by their out of pocket max.
Thanks.
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I developed an autoimmune disease a few years ago.
I pay $280 per check to have insurance. My out of of pocket max is $8500.
I’m on year 4 of hitting the out of pocket max each year. $15,220 per year. $60,880 over 4 years. And it’s January 13th. I hit my max at 11:30AM on the 1st.
I make $75,000 per year. That means 20% of my pretax income is for health care. Every year.
If I ever decide to switch employees, I’ll hit my out of pocket max twice that year.
If I lose my job, my monthly treatments are about $14,000. Without them I’ll lose my ability to use my arms properly. My eyes won’t work right. Probably won’t be able to walk. Sure as fuck can’t drive. I don’t think I’d be a top candidate to be hired at a new job.
Long story short, with my medical bills it’s not if I’ll get fucked. It’s when I’m going to be fucked, and how hard.
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