[dbhattar]

I know it is politically correct nowadays to diss US healthcare system. But in the current pandemic, it is more about government preparedness. If you let an exponentially infectious pandemic run wild without any curtailing mechanism, no matter how sophisticated the healthcare system is, it is bound to get overwhelmed.

[happytoexplain]

I absolutely can't stand the notion that describing or warning against the very real, awful scenario many Americans face with their healthcare is first and foremost a "diss", as opposed to something that must be said loudly and often until the problem is eliminated. This is human suffering we're talking about.

[tabtab]

Many in the US have no healthcare insurance, or watered-down plans, recently permitted by GOP.

[dbhattar]

My point is no matter whether you have insurance or not, if hospitals are overloaded, you will not be treated. Just look at situation in Italy.

[pmontra]

Italy here. I agree with your point. Luckily despite the rumors of war like triage we're still treating everybody because we increased capacity. There is a little slow down in new cases today. Still a race between setting up new capacity and hospitalizing people.

[tabtab]

Until it all runs out, I'd rather start with a situation where I have health insurances versus a situation where I don't.

In other words, I'd rather try to escape the encroaching fire in a Toyota than a Yugo.

[dbhattar]

It is good to have insurance. I have one. But when I was trying to reach a doctor during the weekend because I had bad cough and was very worried, I couldn’t get through. The line was overloaded. At that time it hit me that, in case of emergency, different set of rules apply. Having insurance becomes almost irrelevant.

[tabtab]

Corona has swamped a lot things.

[aksss]

I’m not sure it’s accurate to say/imply that “many” have short-term plans, which is what were reauthorized. Those plans make sense for some but certainly not many.they Are edge case solutions. There are, as you say, many with no health insurance.

[diob]

You're right that it's about government preparedness, but how do we expect a government that's all about protecting the profits of the insurance industry to have the best interests of the citizens in mind?

We're in the midst of a crisis and we still can't imagine giving away tests / vaccines for free. Even though economically it would be the best course of action, we're so opposed to anything that even slightly resembles a handout here. Even when those handouts have drastically positive effects on the economy.

The USA needs to end the whole "crabs in a bucket" mentality, or we'll wind up wondering why this is happening again just a few years from now.