When my grandson was three, he picked up a raisin that someone had stepped on. It was flat and round. He held it by the edges with the tips of his fingers, turned it like a steering wheel, and said, “Dwive, dwive, dwive. Dwive, dwive, dwive.” He was annoyed at how long he was going to have to wait to be old enough to get his license.
When my Writers Guild year ended, I could have kept the coverage going for another eighteen months by paying for it myself, under the terms of the federallaw, but the premiums were higher than we could afford, so we went back to the policy we’d had before—which I’d actually kept paying for, because I was afraid of losing it. A couple of years later, I did lose it: the insurer stopped offering individual plans to anyone, and we were on our own.
Not long afterward, I learned that negotiation has its limits. Ann had hand surgery, performed by a doctor who, amazingly, either had an agreement with American Republic or was willing to operate for what it was willing to pay. A few weeks later, though, the doctor’s office manager called to say that, because we hadn’t met our deductible, he was going to ignore the negotiated fee and charge us full retail.
Republicans’ many efforts to undermine the Affordable Care Act have been depressingly effective, and I assume that those efforts were at least partly responsible for the premium increases that Ann and I received during the next few years. Our combined monthly Obamacare premium in 2014, for a Bronze policy, was a little less than a thousand dollars; by 2020, it had doubled.
My identity questions, I figured, must have been based on information from one of my credit reports, which I’d never looked at. I was easily able to download two of the three, from Experian and TransUnion. But I couldn’t download the third, from Equifax, because its Web site wouldn’t let me in unless I correctly answered questions that were eerily similar to the ones I’d got wrong at ssa.gov—proving, I guess, that Equifax was the government’s data source.
It's like this week's episode of 'no shit Sherlock'
People on Medicare with supplemental plans are still subject to outrageous copays for prescription drugs and health care. It's harmful and the result of profiteering. Why? Because our 'representatives are beholden to the profiteers not us.
The idea of freelancing is romantic. In reality, only the tiniest minority of any cohort of freelancers support themselves via their freelance gigs alone. If your steady job has health and union benefits, only then is freelancing a sustainable path.
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FreePalestine IsraeliTerrorism IsraelCrimes
Even with good insurance you still get ratfucked paying for a bunch of shit out of pocket
But you are worth it.
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navigating? even people WITH benefits can't afford healthcare.
980,000 Covid deaths later, the U.S. remains the world's only developed economy (literally the only one) without health care, paid medical or family leave, child care, living wages, or a basic income. U.S. minimum wage is still $7.25. YayCapitalism
universal health care.
Will Smith should slap some appreciation into them
yet another data point on why the US is the best country in the whole of America.
It’s not fun being in that position to be sure. But it is a freely made choice. Everyone has the same choice to make. Choices have consequences. What is it that gives one the feeling of entitlement to another’s labor?
I can't believe the U.S. still live in such a misanthropic system. For many people it's like one accident, one illness, and no matter how hard you've worked, you are financially ruined for life. Just because you need health care. Cant't even imaging what that must be like...
Navigation of the american healthcare system is a full time job. Snd for the self employed nearly impossible.
30 years here!!
Fyi... Germany has a freelancers union with healthcare and pension plans. I know. My American daughter is in one.
Yes we do. That’s why we take jobs with benefits. That’s why we offer jobs with benefits. It’s too scary and expensive to go without.
this generalization is more apt: 'the American bourgeoisie insulates itself in a comfortable bubble that leaves them unaware and out of touch with the daily hardships faced by 90%+ of their fellow Americans.'
The American healthcare system is an embarrassment. Even with insurance many people can't afford to have a serious medical condition.
Switching jobs and having to change insurance (and often PCP as well) is stressful enough.
So no one then?
I think we do because we have given up,our freedom for those benefits. You must continue or loose your health insurance.
Oh good. A reporter pretends he’s the first person to experience something.
This is a large reason health care reform is so tough in US. Most people, particularly those making decisions, have decent benefits.
If coverage would begin at conception; that means you would consider a fetus a human being and abortion would be considered murder… Unless of course, a fetus to you is like a cancerous type disease that may need removal or not depending upon your circumstances.
“In any other OECD country than the U.S…” Fixed that for you.
Sounds like a nightmare for US citizens.Really should be better in the US- how could proper & affordable health care be a bad thing?Think we have it pretty close to right in Australia. If you can afford private insurance, you opt in. If not,our public system is there (for free).
Click bait.
maxmhouck Europe. You're talking about Europe.
This article is an important read, and testament to the fact that our healthcare system is a disaster - now ranked 40th, globally. How are we “free,” as Americans, when we are forced to work full-time because we can’t afford health insurance as a consultant or freelancer?
In a sane country, we would be helping our people combat obesity - the driver of exorbitant medical and Pharma costs that also greatly reduces the quality of life
I'm 46 years old and I haven't had health insurance since the day before I turned 18 years old.
🏳️🌈👇🏼🏳️🌈
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The stories I hear are frustrating and heartbreaking!
This is so accurate. After navigating Medicare myself a few years ago, it's not simple or easy. After becoming disabled with no insurance & no income for a couple of years & finally getting Medicare, it astounded me how happy I was to get so little while paying so much.
Even with Medicare you need a supplement and pat for part B as well...then copays, deductibles and percentage of care...health care costs are out of control and still increasing...you can't afford an illness even with coverage...
Would love a spotlight on the alarming increase in boomers struggling financially as their retirement plans run out due to living longer than expected. So many based retirement on dying before 75. Crippling cc debt among the 75+ is real thing.
Read this with interest - and gratitude for the NHS where we pay nothing. But am confused by author’s freelance status when it says he has been a staff writer at the New Yorker since 1990? Does that job not come with health benefits?
For all the noise about the great resignation, there are many millions more with 'golden handcuffs', because their families need the benefits.
Easy solution. Go get a real job and work harder!
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