mslLUKEWARM
88812
1579
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Spinraza, the first drug created to treat my disease, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is now available. It’s a day I never thought I would see. Unfortunately, I may never get to reap the benefits of this miracle drug because most insurance companies won’t cover Type 2 patients, like me. They say it’s “not a medical necessity.” I’d love for them to spend a day with people that have SMA and then look them in the eye and say “sorry, it’s not necessary.” The treatment is affordable, if you’re Bill Gates or Warren Buffet, but if you’re pretty much any other person in the world? Good luck.
Cost of treatment:
Year 1 - $750,000
Every year after - $375,000
Please, raise your hand if you could afford that. Thanks, Oprah.
So you might be wondering, “what is this drug?” Spinraza, by all indications, appears to be a wonder drug. The treatment is a series of injections of a synthetic DNA into the patient’s spinal fluid. It tricks the patient’s body into forgetting about its DNA mutation, and allows the body to produce more of the protein required for motor neuron function. A large percentage of patients have been able to build muscle back, meaning they can live out a full life and not always have that question lingering in the back of their mind asking “when is it going to get bad? When is it going to get really bad?”
This drug, for me, means things can just stay the way they are. I love the way things are. Or, hell, they could maybe get even better. I’d be alright with that too. But I, and too many others like me might never see that opportunity here in the United States because of a completely broken healthcare system which produces record profits for pharmaceutical companies while at the same time making it increasingly difficult for people to gain access. It begs the question, what is the point of inventing a life-saving drug that isn’t accessible to the people that need it?
We have to find a way to reign in these completely outrageous drug costs. How is it possible that in 2017, your life depends on how much money you have? I’m looking at you, lawmakers, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, doctors, researchers, really anyone that will listen. Please, find a solution to this problem.
My life depends on it.
Further reading:
http://www.curesma.org/spinraza/
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/30/business/spinraza-price.html
http://www.biospace.com/News/like-it-or-not-heres-how-much-biogens-spinraza/442890
https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2017/01/24/should-seize-patents-biogen-drug-that-starts-year/AvFCPo8gB6dsyDawPcTOdL/story.html
http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/vancouver-miracle-child-undergoing-promising-new-treatment-for-rare-genetic-disease
^ Fancy, super serious pic of me, for dramatic effect.
madeofcancer
my buddy has this. I hope it becomes cheaper soon
LlamaCarnage
What? Things cost money? Hundreds of Brilliant Scientists who developed that drug don't work for free? The People Have to Know!
randomonotony
Not as severe in price as your med @OP, and I feel angry about your situation. :-| http://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/07/epipen-prescriptions-jum
chumdawg
Unless you can produce more than 750k that year, utilitarianism says your life isn't worth it...
heyitsfred
A lot of emotional comments. Solution -State funding for something medically NOT necessary? I'm not sure that's the answer either?
ChiefBeefyBoner
The problem is Obamacare never took care of the actual problem with the Healthcare system.
hwatL4bloopy
Move to canada?
Zellacat
Do they offer that drug? They don't allow their people the one that I need to live. I would die there.
Dougshontz
I don't want to shit on everyone's points but this is more of a patent issue not healthcare.
ValoryFox
True but part of the reason single payers pay less for the same is their negotiating position as a larger market bloc.
Attacker732
We already spend more of our taxes on medicine than defense, if you include medicare & medicaid...
rocketturttle
seriously, call the company, tell them your insurance won't cover it, ask the cash up front price & if they have financial aid
RonMimnaugh
A drug that people can't afford to take is useless even if it works. I hope you find a way to get it
ImgeneralBennet
Are you Uma Thurman's long lost brother? I hope so so that way SHE can buy your medicine. But seriously, fuck our health care system.
Zellacat
If other countries don't have our system to steal medical developments from & they don't exist for anyone, will that help?
mslLUKEWARM
Best compliment ever? Was that a compliment? I'm taking it as a compliment. And yes, fuck our healthcare system!
ImgeneralBennet
Well it wasn't an insult! So hell yeah I guess it was a complement!
bananaranch
I always feel so bad for people who can't get coverage for a medication. I have chronic hives and my benefits covered the cost of my (1/2)
bananaranch
2/2 $1,500/month treatment without batting an eye.
Corgibuttnubs
As a pharmacy tech I see this shit DAILY. Then I watch someone on Medicaid get 10 non life saving meds for $2. It makes me sick.
damspam
this is maddening
darksquall69
This is everything medical in america. Lots of money and time. Took me over a year to get approval for heart surgery.
darksquall69
But I hope you get what you need. Feel better!
mslLUKEWARM
Thanks! I'm glad you were able to get your heart surgery.
shhep
I mean maybe not a year, but you gotta wait, sometimes a long time for NHS funded surgeries. But my 80 year old poor neighbour can get one
shhep
without selling her house, so that's nice.
RelevantNameIsRelevant
My older brother died of SMA at 5 and a half months old. I'm glad to see this day has come but I'm sorry you may not get to see the benefits
mslLUKEWARM
I'm sorry to hear about your brother ????
RelevantNameIsRelevant
Thanks. He was my older brother so it was before I was born, but it was how my family found out about the illness and that I am a carrier.
S1t0nMyFac3
1/2 You have to remember that there has to be incentive for these drugs to be invented in the first place
S1t0nMyFac3
2/2 I don't see other countries with government sponsored healthcare coming up with miracle drugs like Spinraza
TrueItaliano
Honestly your best bet is to emigrate to a socialist country that offers this drug. It will take years, but at least it's a solution
Zellacat
Do they offer that drug? They don't have a system that developed it & they do need to spend what they have carefully.
Zellacat
DO any of them offer this drug????
noctynight
Pharmaceutical companies are some of the biggest lobbyists ever known.
TrashPandaJames
Thank fuck for the NHS. This bullshit needs to stop.
rick2g
Will the NHS spend 750k + 350k/year on experimental treatment?
TrashPandaJames
They do back clinical trials. So why not.
DrSparken
The NHS will negotiate to get that down and refuse if it's unreasonable, so the manufacturer has to lower it to get any sales in the UK 1/
DrSparken
at all. In the US, insurance companies and hospitals and such don't negotiate, so you can sell for whatever price you want, so why care 2/
DrSparken
about one little individual who's not covered? Is their logic. 3/3
CGriffo124
Shame the Tories are attempting to fuck it over.
FridayNightRamen
They are busy fucking the EU at the moment.
Imayormaynothavethesolutiontoyourproblem
the good news is that europe won't have to deal with their shit for long
CGriffo124
You mean fucking us over about that also?
FridayNightRamen
Who do you mean with “us“
CGriffo124
Anyone who lives on the island who doesn't make a substantial amount of money?
redjayhawker
I'd pick the head of an insurance company or big pharma and just Stalk to to remind them our system is fucked up.
3dfeldt
It may be a little extreme, but moving to a different country and trying to get a citizenship there is an option.
[deleted]
[deleted]
[deleted]
[deleted]
RHFiesling
are you american? Only have a highschool diploma? Come to Germany and see if you can even get a Work Visa
[deleted]
[deleted]
RHFiesling
ah, pardon me, yer just trolling. Well, take your pick of 1st world countries, same rules apply. let me know how it goes
Datdudez
Serious question, outside of the US is there any place that actually has the drug available? Everything I'm seeing says not yet.
Zellacat
Shhh! You are ruining good propaganda & America bashing.
ValoryFox
Others have commented elsewhere that it's available under different brand names.
itsnoteventhatbad
It's still in clinical trials here in the UK. I think same for Ireland too.
KnewestKnight
India tends to ignore patents on drugs internationally so they can make it cheap. But they don't make new drugs. Search Indian sources.
DidNotIntendToBeHereThisLong
Serious question.. why don't people just move to another country that will actually cover the cost of the treatment?
imonewiththeforceandtheforceiswithme
Folks have those statements about poor neighborhoods and bad states. Moving is difficult and stressful and should be a plan B or even like F
DidNotIntendToBeHereThisLong
Obviously it's not ideal but has to be better than paying hundreds of thousands of dollars per year or dying..
imonewiththeforceandtheforceiswithme
And some folks do that, but moving also can cost thousands, especially international moves. And in the meantime you're still sick
Xandraelle
It's really hard and costly to immigrate to another country, not to mention most 1st world countries only want americans if they have money
Zellacat
I really want to know if this drug IS given to patients in any other country.
anicyril
It's actually really hard to immigrate to those countries. We tried, but we can't move the whole family.
WhySoSirius
Leaving friends and family-your support system? To go to a place where you don't know the ropes or how youll be taken care of or who to call
hwatL4bloopy
If I move to UK or Ireland will automatically qualify for medical stuff?
DidNotIntendToBeHereThisLong
It's better than dying of a treatable disease?
WhySoSirius
if something happens? Plus remember many Americans have never left the US and the idea of moving abroad wouldn't even occur to them
WhySoSirius
For the record I'm an American currently living abroad. But that was b/c I wanted to. Many of my friends&family think I'm crazy.
LeadByBadExample
Maybe you are... Would you know if you were?
WhySoSirius
haha maybe I am crazy! But I like to think I'm just very interested in learning about the world!
Debauchery
The logic behind the pricing makes little sense to me. How will they make money from it if it is too prohibitively expensive for most people
CheshirePhoenix
Insurance covers most of it, by agreement with the pharmaco. Most of that 750k will be written off, then insurance pays portion of remainder
Debauchery
As well as being morally shite, It seems more or less guaranteed to generate little revenue, as very few people will be able to afford it.
Martecles
This is one theory. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_empire If demand is high, and supply low, they we charge exorbitantly.
imonewiththeforceandtheforceiswithme
They get the money from insurance. Pharma and insurance negotiate high prices so they basically just trade money back and forth
LarsYB
What is the production cost for it?
darksamus8
Years of research tends to add up in price... still doesn't justify the cost. Means all the research goes to waste.
IWishPeopleWouldStopStealingMyUsernames
As someone in Big Pharma (but outside the US), they basically go for max price and then capture minimum patients. Barbaric in my opinion -
whyteraven74
BTW the company that makes this drug didn't develop it. They paid a licensing fee to make it and then covered some of the final approval...
whyteraven74
costs, but given they got involved once it was clear Stage III clinical trials would have positive outcomes, it's not like there was...
whyteraven74
much to cover financially.
IWishPeopleWouldStopStealingMyUsernames
in the EU (where I work), we charge a fraction of the price for the same drug, but rely on volume of patients to make up the costs.
deng35
Thing is, some diseases are incredibly rare, so the volume of patients is very low. Idk if that's the case with this drug though...
IWishPeopleWouldStopStealingMyUsernames
Funny thing is that this is then reflected in the ROI for health care systems US pays the most for the worst outcomes in the developed
rainbowgravy
I’m considering moving to Europe simply to get mental health care. Way too expensive here, and too many terrible mental health hospitals.
IWishPeopleWouldStopStealingMyUsernames
world, where the true one payer national systems pay the least per capita for the best outcomes objectively. But 'Murrica thinks it's commie
JPre35
Im not sure how I feel about it. Knowing nothing about the drug does cost time, money, and supreme intelligence. Where that happy medium
JPre35
Is idk, but the inventors ( and the company) do deserve to get a level of financial benefit. Just my thoughts
whyteraven74
If you make it too expensive for everyone who needs it to be able to get it, you don't deserve to make money on it. Period.
JPre35
I hear you, but rarely do people dedicate their whole lives solely for the benefit of humanity. Also financial backing of some sort is need
JPre35
For the initial research. Also we really need to clean up how they do human trials, its disgusting. Thats takes money as well.
mslLUKEWARM
Completely agree. There needs to be an incentive to invent new drugs. But if they aren't accessible then what's the point of inventing them?
JackalopeElope
Htpothetical: Would you be willing to buy a drug that is not FDA approved but showed promise in animal trials? Is the FDA too restrictive?
JPre35
great points. i agree with you, sometimes they are just stored because they cant make a profit. i dont know how you regulate that, do
JPre35
you make companies release a product they cant make a profit on? it gets murky.
pinkcarnation
it could be, depending on the number of patients' that the price reflects the cost of the people and parts needed to make it. Additionally,
pinkcarnation
if OP does not medically need the med for anything but continued stability, the ins might be financially/medically correct that the cost
pinkcarnation
does not make sense for this type of patient. People complain about drug costs in the US, but we're the only ones paying for the research
whyteraven74
Bull fucking shit. Many drugs are developed entirely outside the US so no we are not paying for the research. Also US spending on basic...
pinkcarnation
because other countries are refusing to, so our costs are even higher. It's not fair but it makes sense.
J2wooly
Economics 101: Supply and Demand. If you have a small supply (i.e. new drug) it does not matter how large the demand is. The drug will be 1/
J2wooly
heavily priced because the company needs to make ends meet. R&D is not funded directly by its product. Now, here's the kicker, if demand 2/?
[deleted]
[deleted]
J2wooly
Yes, but is it specific to the drug or is it R&D in general?
S1t0nMyFac3
This is 100% false - most of R&D comes from private investors who take the major risk that comes w/drug development for major reward
Xandraelle
Depends on the drug
J2wooly
is high, the initially high price will fund production for more of the drug. This will lower the price naturally, thus the drug will 3/?
J2wooly
become affordable. As for the high price itself, that easily translates into more batches and more R&D. 4/4
Caramster
Economics 101 but you are forgetting something important: patents. The price of a new patented drug will not drop unless the patent expires.
J2wooly
How so?
Caramster
Then copies of the drug will be available and competition will lower the price of the drug.
raykwondo
It makes sense economically, but people's lives should not be subject to the whims of a capitalist economy
J2wooly
What do you propose? The company give their drug away and go bankrupt?
raykwondo
No. the govt can foot the bill and taxpayers subsidize. If they can spend billions on unused military equipment, they can spend $ on this.
JackalopeElope
UNUSED?!?!?! I'll have you know that local police really enjoy their armored vehicals and often drive them at the slightist provication.
J2wooly
Read our constitution. It states that congress has the power to fund a military for protection against foreign threats. It does not state1/2
BrowncoatDruggist
1/2 This is inaccurate. American healthcare, specifically drug manufacturing doesn't rely on basic economic principle. US incentivizes drug
BrowncoatDruggist
2/2 companies to make drugs for rare diseases, b.c demand isn't high. Its the lack of price regulation that allows for this prices to exist
J2wooly
Source?
BrowncoatDruggist
I'm a PharmD that works in the industry. Exhibit A, US does not have pharmaceutical price regulation...
J2wooly
Your article states there are no federal regulation. What about the self-regulating nature of the fair market?
BrowncoatDruggist
http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9412.html
BrowncoatDruggist
Exhibit B: Insurance companies are an intervention on basic consumer (patient) demand. Not a great source but a good overview:...
Jak3Barnes
I live in a first world country with state funded healthcare..... We don't even talk about how much things cost, because we never know.
doompixie
I had a Dr once say another Dr would get a telling off because he prescribed me an expensive med (£100 a box).
CraftedLine
Higher taxes?
spinbutton3
I don't think your making the OP feel any better by rubbing his nose in it
SecretaryNotSure
Someone is paying for it...
CorvusBelli
Which is what is meant by "state-funded healthcare"; an acknowledgment that taxation pays for a superior healthcare system.
lama00
Oh hi Captain Obvious, how are you doing?
SecretaryNotSure
Not bad, but please addressed me appropriately. It's Secretary Obvious Notsure. Obvious is my middle name and I never enlisted.
LeadByBadExample
Omg, really? Medicine doesn't just magically appear when I vote for universal healthcare? It must be a bad thing, then.
pres2pond
Yeah but this drug won't be available to you until 10 years later and will have an 8 year queue time for 1 month treatment.
JustAnotherFurry
German here, it is already available and in use here, fully covered. The name here is Nusinersen but it is the same drug. Inform yourself 1/
JustAnotherFurry
before you post crap. It is right now onl available for "Härtefälle" so people that critically need it, but once the paperworl is done it 2/
JustAnotherFurry
will likely become a drug like any else here way before @OP can afford it. sorry for you @OP I will try to look up prices here. 3/3
Jidgeasmudge
Woot go australia?
Jak3Barnes
NZ, fuck off cccuuunnnntttt!!!!! Xoxo
Jidgeasmudge
;) we love yah nz
wotemer
we germans have to pay 10%, up to 10e per medication. so you know that if you pay those 10e, shit got really expensive :D
AmArschdieRaeuber
€ you can copy&paste this if you like
BitchButcher
If he's really German and using a German keyboard ... there already is a € sign on a German keyboard!
AmArschdieRaeuber
He obviously doesn't know how to use it. Just trying to help
wotemer
gotta flip through 2 sets of symbols on mobile and everyone know what's meant, anyway.
AmArschdieRaeuber
I was in a bad mood when I wrote this, sorry. I don´t really mind it at all.
AwkwardKeming
In starting to question whether we can really call America a first world country anymore.
imminentloudness
It's a third world country with sparkles
JustAnotherFurry
First world country for rich people.
zeddwolf
You've never been to a third world country have you?
IAlwaysUpvoteRickAndMorty
There's such a think as second world too
zeddwolf
Second world refers to the Communist Bloc countries.
IAlwaysUpvoteRickAndMorty
It has in the past. It is now used for economic situation though.
Zellacat
Do any of these countries give this drug to patients there? Or are you just bashing the US because they developed it?
Jak3Barnes
It's approved for use in NZ and available.
Zellacat
So they DO give it to patients there? That is what I wanted to know. Thank you.
Raisehellpraisedale
Right. I'll get downvoted but it costs ~10b to develop a new drug and only 1/10 of those goes to market. They have to make back the $somehow
Zellacat
If they are going to support the lab, & research more drugs to help people, they do need to spend money to do it, Or return to slavery.
Zellacat
I think the question in many minds is how much profit margin is required& is this much necessary or obscenely excessive.Few understand costs
Macynist
Instead, people talk/complain about the taxes that fund this. (~40-50% income tax and 20% VAT (for my country)
FireBeams
USAian here. I would gladly fork over 50-60% of my income to make sure that everyone around me was taken care of ( and hopefully educated ).
Sininenn
I live in DK. The thing is that you see the difference the tax makes in your everyday life - from roads to libraries and events
YallNeedMises
You know what lets you see the difference even more clearly? Deciding personally how you wish to spend your money. Taxation is theft.
Sininenn
You think that because you pay less taxes, the gov's budget is smaller? In some countries, the taxes I pay here are paid by the employer
Sininenn
You think that because you pay less taxes, the gov's budget is smaller? In some countries, the taxes I pay here are paid by the employer
PabloLozano
As another citizen from a civilized country, I think we should know how much it cost in order to fully appreciate we haven't the US system
MrCrzy
i laughed at this comment then cried on the inside. I live in the US...
ShouTuckersGhost
The US is a civilized country too. That joke is getting old
BattleBorn84
Bankrupcies by cancer say you are wrong
krapmyself
Yeah... that's kind of the problem... its not really a joke anymore.
illegalacorn
A civilized country wouldn't elect this man to be president
dandelionwino
Same could be said for Brexit. Same dynamic different choice.
LeadByBadExample
Explain to me how a country led by a lunatic, with a corrupt body of legislators and virtually no universal healthcare and plans to remove>>
LeadByBadExample
>> what universal healthcare it does have, is civilized? Oh, the citizens? The infrastructure? I don't think that quite cuts the mustard.
chiefs86
Here's the fun part. Damn near ALL of these drugs are made in the United States, including this one. Unfortunately for the US, we...
PreciousPotato
Still, this is such an extreme case. I'd be really worried if I lived in country where even more common medical issues like cancer or /1
PreciousPotato
having a accident can easily bankrupt you.
CaptSheffield
Considering that they're multinational,bullshit.
chiefs86
(2) typically bear the brunt of higher costs for a lot of these medicines or treatments to ensure the company recoups R&D costs before...
UsuallySpecial
Nonsense - they get sold on global markets as soon as possible (many markets need to do their own safety testing)
chiefs86
(3) the medicines get shipped over to countries with socialized medicine at a drastically cheaper, far more affordable rate.
johnMouse99
(1)The reason it can be purchased for less when a countries healthcare system buys it is because of there size.
WhatzitTooya
You make it sound like you like to get ripped off.
theFIRSTroman
That's not even close to how that works. The companies producing them are private companies and foreign countries pay to buy them with the1.
FishingForConversation
I haven't had health insurance since 2014. I might get a fine on my taxes this year for being unable to afford insurance.
BrutalQuasar
Same case here. My fine would have gone up this year so I had no choice but to opt for $140 a month barely useful insurance this year.:-/
spaceymonkey
That sucks! Sorry hombre :(
FishingForConversation
It's a good thing i rarely get sick
DoughSlayer
That sounds reasonable
J2wooly
Obamacare. When Pelosi next tells you to pass a law in order to read it, smack her with the full 20,000 pages.
CaptSheffield
Puleeze,I keep getting told by those in the know that this isn't a problem.
FishingForConversation
How is it not a problem? My parents pay more for the two of them than now they did for our family of 5 before it came into effect.
CaptSheffield
Was being sarcastic. It was fucked up to push it through,but just saying,oh, we repeal it,will leave the whole shooting gallery a mess.
FishingForConversation
Oh ok. My bad
Blaised
They could waive it if it were truly unaffordable for you. Look on the healthcare.gov site to see if you qualify for an exception
FishingForConversation
That's what happened last year, i dunno if I'll be so "lucky" this year.
Blaised
Good luck, I'm trying it for the first time this year
spaceymonkey
This is what pisses me off about America. You bitch and moan about paying taxes for someone else's treatment, but you are fine with 1/2
LBot1
Flying out of Knoxville, TN is highly expensive. Main reason because of government contractors & employees use this airport. 1/2
LBot1
Now imagine if the Feds regulated medicine. The cost would go up. You see companies raise their prices when their sole client is the governm
aclarko
Do some research on single-payer healthcare and the cost of drugs.
humansareshit
Crazy right?.. We dont want taxes paying for healthcare but a 70 dollar aspirin is okay because atleast im helping a CEO get rich. Murica!
shanfyr
but the american dream...
MyNameIsJesusAndIStealHubcapsFromCars
the problem is though, aspirin is like $3 for a 24 pack. the people who are against UH here don't have health expenses. so they don't care.
Dokramuh
Nothing says "healthy, functioning society" like apathy to your neighbour.
humansareshit
Aint that the truth. Plus insurance only works if youre healthy. Its not meant for sick people. At that point its not insurance anymore.
spaceymonkey
Fuck yeah!
spaceymonkey
2/2 paying a butt load of money for basic medical expenses into corporate pockets. Fuck you American Medical system. PS I'm Canadian. Sorry
StatistNo1
The medical system is why I don't have respect for America as a whole. They would rather let people die than pay money.
JackalopeElope
People's happiness is not my burden. If you think that it is you are welcome to donate time and money how you see fit.
rick2g
This post isn't exactly describing "basic" health care.
TheGodlySka
Basic healthcare should be any non-elective healthcare. If you need it to live, then that should be basic free healthcare.
rick2g
You haven’t spoken to me for 5 years and you show up to say this?!
KinkExpert
The fun part is we already pay as much in taxes for medical care as Canadians. Then we also pay for insurance AND medical care.
Gdan79
I don't mind paying more taxes, as long as it also means my treatment is taken care of. Current system doesn't do that.
IAlwaysUpvoteRickAndMorty
Not at all okay with it. Voted in favor of a universal health care bill in Coloradolast year.didnt even come close to passing though..
IAlwaysUpvoteRickAndMorty
Can i just become a Canadian? Our country is going downhill fast.
fallennights
No. Fight for it.
MyNameIsJesusAndIStealHubcapsFromCars
we are fighting, but six decades of defunding education here are winning.
SmackDaddyD
Except Canada's Healthcare isn't perfect either. Sure it's free, but only if you can prove it's a medical necessity. OP wouldn't have much..
Ruhig
HUGE difference between an insurance company not covering it, and medical necessity in Canada. It's not perfect, but IMO it's a better way.
Ruhig
That said, like everything, it could be better, and I think we should never stop trying to improve it.
SmackDaddyD
Luck there either if they won't deem in necessary in the US either. My aunt had cancer and needed to wait 6 months for treatment because of
SmackDaddyD
Canada's Healthcare system. Sorry but I prefer my mom's life being saved because when she found out they put her in surgery the next week.
MechaGandalf
The problem with paying our taxes is that the money ends up not going where its supposed to. Last year we had to vote in illinois to 1/2
MechaGandalf
ensure money for our road upkeep was actually being spent on fixing the roads.
AOSUOMI
Y'see, everything seems to be a moneymaking in there. Schools, medical care...
caunphety
Y'see, this is capitalism...
Ruhig
BUT IF WE RUN IT LIKE A BUSINESS, WE'LL ALL MAKE INFINITE MONEY! THERE IS LITERALLY NO DOWNSIDE!
AOSUOMI
I'm kinda worried that this is a common perspective nowadays.
PajamaStripes
Schools are the only thing I can somewhat understand. School funding is severely fucked. My district had to up lunch prices just to stay...
PajamaStripes
Open and not close programs. Yet, when they wanted to raise the tax, people were furious.
AOSUOMI
This, THIS is what I mean. Fucked up price of learning necessary things. That's not how life should work in modern day society. Yet it does.
PrincessDonaldTrumpBANNED
If you have health insurance generally your medical bills max at 500$ to 2000$ per year.
YourButtIsSpatulaShaped
$5,500 from my PREMIUM over this year. $2,500 in bills on top of that. $300 for psychiatrist visits over the year... there's more.
PrincessDonaldTrumpBANNED
I pay almost 2000 for a family of 5. With an out of pocket max of 500 per person 1k per family. Its tax deductible, so its closer to 1700
YourButtIsSpatulaShaped
Per month, right?
YourButtIsSpatulaShaped
$5,500 from my PREMIUM over this year. $2,500 in bills on top of that. $300 for psychiatrist visits over the year... there's more.
Xandraelle
Yo mate, when imgur says your comment could not be posted, its a lie, don't click it 20 times or youll post 20 times
illegalacorn
hahahahaha the only insurance I can afford has $6,000 deductibles and if I have to pay that much why bother paying insurance
PrincessDonaldTrumpBANNED
2/ to afford decent healthcare. Or that you can't find a job with decent benefits
PrincessDonaldTrumpBANNED
(Devils advocate) which falls in line with, why should I have to help foot your bill? Not my fault you didn't make good choices to be able
illegalacorn
Because it is cheaper for you if I see a doctor outside of the emergency room. Which is where the poor go, as the only place that won't deny
TheGodlySka
First, not all treatments are covered by insurance. I pay ~400 per month to a medical care facility that does not accept private insurance.
LeadByBadExample
Shit, I've spent nowhere near that. Years in which I personally spend more than $100 are outrageous. Feels good being not American.
LeadByBadExample
Also, it helps being healthy and always having been fed good and nourishing food by my parents all the way through my upbringing.
LeadByBadExample
Oh, and keeping those healthy habits while being active, sports, etc, into adulthood.
PrincessDonaldTrumpBANNED
You just spend it in taxes. Its not free healthcare, its just paid by different means.
simsom4343
the thing is, everyone giving a little bit in taxes vs some spending a huge amount in hospital bills, id gladly take the taxes everytime
simsom4343
the thing is, everyone giving a little bit in taxes vs some spending a huge amount in hospital bills, id gladly take the taxes everytime
DrSparken
Americans pay more tax money as % of GDP towards healthcare than any other country in the world, and then you get nothing for it.
simsom4343
the thing is, everyone giving a little bit in taxes or some people spending a huge amount for medication... I'll gladly take the taxes
simsom4343
the thing is, everyone giving a little bit in taxes or some people spending a huge amount for medication... I'll gladly take the taxes
LeadByBadExample
Oh, I know that. I'm not a retard. It's free at the time of consumption because I pay to have access anytime I want and for any malady.
simsom4343
the thing is, everyone giving a little bit in taxes or some people spending a huge amount for medication... I'll gladly take the taxes
simsom4343
the thing is, everyone giving a little bit in taxes or some people spending a huge amount for medication... I'll gladly take the taxes
simsom4343
the thing is, everyone giving a little bit in taxes vs some spending a huge amount in hospital bills, id gladly take the taxes everytime
simsom4343
the thing is, everyone giving a little bit in taxes or some people spending a huge amount for medication... I'll gladly take the taxes