[BadCookie]

I’m not sure if “difficulty accessing healthcare” captures the whole problem. Even if you live next door to a hospital, you still don’t know how much it will cost you if you check yourself in. Sure, there is some theoretical maximum out of pocket, but are you certain that the hospital is in network with your insurance? Are you sure that every provider you will see and every test or scan you have done will be treated as in network?

I once had a doctor order a test at a hospital that he assured me was in network. The hospital got pre-authorization from my insurance company for me to have the test done. I had the test done. My insurance company then denied me any benefit because they said afterward that I went out of network … and there are millions of stories like mine.

Not to mention that even if you manage to stay in network, lots of people cannot afford even the max out of pocket that creeps up faster than inflation every year.

I have had some family members decide that they will just accept that they are going to die in an emergency situation because “if it’s my time, it’s my time” and they don’t want their life savings to get vacuumed up by some hospital administrators. This is not merely theoretical… one person in my life is dead now who probably would have lived if he had felt comfortable seeking medical care.

[soperj]

You're saying the same thing.

[BadCookie]

“Difficulty accessing healthcare” brings to mind doctors and hospitals being too far away—a real concern for lots of rural Americans, especially the ones who cannot drive. Or perhaps doctors are nearby, but wait times are too long. This is also a real issue. I have seen wait times for primary care doctors creep up to 4+ months in my area.

So I just wanted to highlight that even if those problems don’t exist, you still have the scary unknown cost question that might be the largest impediment of all.

[nicoburns]

The thing I find most scary about the American health care system is people not going to the doctor (/hospital) (/calling an ambulance) because they're concerned about the cost. Often even if they have insurance. And I definitely think if you can't afford something then that counts as having difficulty accessing it.