[nnwright]

And that sort of begs the question doesn't it? why isn't buying healthcare basically the same as buying groceries? both are large complex industries with lots of moving pieces that rely on vast networks of distributors. what makes healthcare so special that a person could see a 200x increase in the amount they were quoted for a service vs what they paid?

From my own anecdotal experience, my domestic partner had to be hospitalized for a suicide attempt. The ambulance took her to the hospital in my neighborhood which was in my network. By law they had to place her on a 72 hope suicide watch in the intensive care unit. I called my insurance company to relay all this information and was assured that it would all be covered by my insurance since a) the hospital was in network and b) the treatment was legally required.

Fast forward to 6 months later when I finally get the bill. For $40,000 ... because the insurance company only authorized a 2 day stay in the hospital when state law said the hospital couldn't release her until after the third day and despite the fact that this information was provided to the insurance company both by myself as well as the emergency room staff before she was admitted (I was sitting right next to them as they called, so there is no question they were aware of the circumstances).

The insurance industry is an absolute nightmare and a parasite, providing no value to the ecosystem at a dramatically inflated cost. The sooner it is abolished and healthcare is made a fundamental human right and socialized the better off we will all be.