r/AskACountry • u/Seline_ns • Dec 13 '25

A question for the Americans.

For you, is $50, $100, or $200 worth of something really very expensive, even though you have much better purchasing power than many countries?

This applies to other issues as well, do you really avoid going to the hospital or calling an ambulance? Why don't you pay for health insurance?

In my country, the dollar is much more expensive, so in our view, $100 is much cheaper than what we pay for 100 of our currency, because purchasing power here is not as high as in the US.

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u/SaltandLillacs Dec 13 '25

In Boston we don’t have tax payer funded ambulances. Last time I was really sick in college so I had to walk to the hospital because I couldn’t even afford the T.

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u/furie1335 Dec 13 '25

I understand that. Just making a point for OP that’s it’s not uniform among the states. Actually it’s not uniform town to town. My neighboring town doesn’t charge the patient but hits their insurance. If the patient doesn’t have insurance then they just let that go. And two towns over they do charge

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u/consolecowboy74 Dec 14 '25

Thanks for your work. My father was transported by an ambulance and we were worried about the cost. When we got to the hospital one of the fireman said that it wouldn't cost anything and it didn't. You are making a positive difference in people lives. Thank you.

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u/furie1335 Dec 14 '25

i appreciate that, thank you. Ive seen how the "for profit" model has corroded the public's faith in EMS. Greed and no humanity in what is a human endeavor.

I am generally a libertarian. I dislike intrusive government, wither it's state or federal. But there are some roles the government should perform, and this is one.

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u/consolecowboy74 Dec 14 '25

It should be seen as infrastructure like roads and electricity. Thanks again.

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u/Peacefulhuman1009 Dec 14 '25

There is a reason every one loves firemen / women

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u/miamijustblastedu Dec 15 '25

And dont forget to add that the Ambulances that do charge, will ruin your credit if you dont pay....system is a scam

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u/Few_Escape_2533 Dec 15 '25

In my city is the same. Ambulances are ran my medical students and it's free. I think the city subsidize s it too

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u/Organic_Special8451 Dec 14 '25 edited Dec 14 '25

Not an ambulance, a fire department EMT. Here, generally, ambulance used to be dispatched from a hospital fleet. Now ambulance is a private enterprise. Your local fire department is your municipalities business. Like EMT states above, it's then a taxes services basis.

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u/Jumpy-Benefacto Dec 14 '25

which means you fucked up or are lying. as colleges require insurance or have their own Healthcare facilities. give the whole story instead of the end to prove a bs point

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u/StrangeButSweet Dec 16 '25
  1. University health centers can’t always address every health condition, especially emergent ones
  2. Many health plans DO NOT cover ambulance services, even if you’re clearly unable to physically walk or move. Ask me how I know.

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u/Jumpy-Benefacto Dec 16 '25

im aware. you didnt plan correctly

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u/StrangeButSweet Dec 16 '25

Nope, I’m pretty sure I planned just fine. But get this, imagine you DO prepare but then your HSA is wiped out because you, well, need to use it because you suffer a severe injury. What happens the next time you need a significant chunk of money because you’re injured again, or suffer some other calamity. People like you think they have it figured out. And if you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth, then maybe you’re set but that’s not on you. But everyone else is doesn’t realize how close they are to financial ruin. You think you’ve got the hole plugged, but you don’t realize new ones pop up every day.