[godelski]

Since there's a non-zero chance that America does get single payer healthcare in the next 5-10 year how would your company adapt? Or are you gambling that it won't happen (I would understand this gamble, because if it doesn't happen then this could be extremely useful to consumers/patients and is really needed).

[systemtest]

I'm from the Netherlands and I like this website. For us it can take months before you know how much your hospital visit will cost you. I broke my arm a couple of years ago and it took 6 months for the bill to arrive. I maxed out my €885 deductible, an additional €65 for uncovered medicine and €20 for the sling. I sort of knew this so I could save up for it but knowing this up front would have made me less nervous.

[Hydrick3232]

At this point the gamble is that Single Payer won't happen. There's a chance but we think it's slim. Our bet is that we're positioned well to take advantage of the recent Executive Order.

[godelski]

I don't see single payer as a likely outcome either (even if Sanders, Warren, or Yang wins). Thanks for the quick response. Even though I wish we didn't need this kind of company I'm glad someone is taking the gamble.

[Hydrick3232]

Thank you so much! It's hard to know what's going to happen but something has to happen. The system is broken.

[claudeganon]

I’m just curious, from a moral perspective, how does it feel to bet against many of the poor being lifted out of death and medical bankruptcies for the sake of your own profit?

[sidlls]

Your question is a bit harsh, but it strikes at one of the more insidious truths in this space right now: most if not all these health tech companies' business models simply wouldn't work if we had a functioning health care system, and they end up participating in the negative feedback loop that further entrenches the problems they claim to want to solve.

[Dpalm]

Whew... Loaded question ;) I understand where you are coming from. One way to look at it is that in the world that we currently live in there is much to be done to increase transparency and affordability. One of the statistics that propelled us to work on this problem was a survey that showed almost half of Americans avoid or delay care despite illness or injury because they don't know the cost. By at least starting that conversation about finances up front we hope to alleviate a lot of those fears, and the good news is that about 5% of patients have responded to our partners with messages saying "I can't afford this." and 100% of the time we have been able to connect them to a payment plan or to charitable funds to help them get the care they need. To us that seems better than not having the conversation and sending people to collections when they could never have afforded the service to begin with.

It's definitely not perfect, and there are many that are suffering, but we do feel strongly that our solution is a force for good in the current environment.

[surfmike]

Most candidates still support keeping private insurance and making Medicare 4 all one of the available options.

[godelski]

When someone says "non-zero chance" it topically means "low chance of happening". There are a few front runners like Warren and Sanders than push single payer. But it also requires more than them getting elected at president for such a thing to pass.