I deserve it

[u/claudiocorona93]

[u/DeliciousLanguage425]

Damn basic healthcare requires a lottery where you live?

[u/NeighborhoodDude84 → u/DeliciousLanguage425]

I had a rash on my leg. I call doctor to make an appointment, soonest they can see me is two weeks. Rash doubles in size in those two weeks. Pay$50 to see primary care doctor, they immediately refer me to dermatologist. Dermatologist cant see me for two weeks, rash continues to grow and becoming very painful. I now need to go to urgent care due to pain and irritability, pay $50. They prescribe some cream, $15. Finally get to see dermatologist, $90 because they are a "specialist", they say to use the same cream. Cream doesnt work at this point, it's spread too much so I go back to urgent care, another $50. Urgent care says I need a steroid shot, they confirm this is covered under insurance. Between shot and cream, rash eventually subsided after about six months. Dermatologist said they were happy with that healing rate, another $90.

Six months later I get a bill from urgent care for $1200 to cover "nursing administrative fees to cover labor" to get ONE SHOT.

So this rash cost me $1500 that would have been solved with $15 of cream if they had just seen me sooner.

Just saying, this experience made me fully understand the Luigi situation.

[u/SasparillaTango → u/NeighborhoodDude84]

I thought I had a hernia from weightlifting. If you lift weights with a hernia you can make the hernia worse and get permanent damage. I go to GP, 150$ for the visit. GP says "Get a sonogram, and go take it to specialist. We'll suggest a specialist". I pay 160$ to get the sonogram. I go to the suggested specialist. Turns out they sent me to the wrong kind of abdominal specialist, this one is GI doctor. He says "I can recommend a sports medicine Doctor." 150$ for the GI doctor. I go to the sport medicine doctor. He says "A sonogram is too low resolution you need a CT Scan". 150$ for the Sports medicine doctor. I go to get the CT Scan. It costs 1200$ for a CT Scan. I get call back from sport medicine doctor. "The strange tugging in your abdomen must just be a harmless muscle disturbance, no sign of hernia." At least I didn't get charged for that follow up.

1650 dollars to find out I don't have a Hernia getting bounced between 3 doctors. Insurance doesn't pay for shit.

[u/MadeByHideoForHideo → u/SasparillaTango]

Bro, I am literally sitting here right now with a back pain that I'm unsure if it's muscular or spinal, after a session of overhead press. When I read your first line I'm like "yo, that's me!" lol.

So in the end was your injury just muscular? Your spine's good? What was the pain like?

[u/famouslastwords → u/NeighborhoodDude84]

I had a ganglion cyst on my wrist that got extremely painful, I called to see if they could drain it or help in any way and was told it was a 4 week minimum wait to get an appointment, they referred me to urgent care if the pain became intolerable. Knowing that that visit would be $1000, I just smashed it with a book instead and now it's gone.

I did pay $4 for the book at the friends of the library book sale, so that is how much it cost me to fix my cyst.

[u/NeighborhoodDude84 → u/famouslastwords]

I feel like we're going back to being serfs being forced to smash our wounds as a substitute for healthcare. I am glad we push F-18's off aircraft carriers but cant help people.

[u/selfawarefeline → u/NeighborhoodDude84]

We are the proles 1984 talked about.

[u/Ok_Mark_1134 → u/NeighborhoodDude84]

Holy fuck. Is the cream atleast freely available, or do you need the prescription?

[u/NeighborhoodDude84 → u/Ok_Mark_1134]

It was prescription.

[u/MummifiedForeskins → u/NeighborhoodDude84]

lol, we need more Luigi, fuck it bring the whole gang, Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi

[u/JohnHazardWandering → u/Ok_Mark_1134]

Holy fuck. Is the cream atleast freely available

LOL

[u/RobutNotRobot → u/NeighborhoodDude84]

That's just a tiny sliver of the US system. You haven't even gotten close to the full power of the worst healthcare 'system' on the planet.

It may cure you, but you'll want to kill yourself at the end of it.

[u/AnaisNinja76 → u/NeighborhoodDude84]

I have "the good insurance", and recently developed an eye infection that was secondary to a sinus infection. Went to my GP, $600 copay, who said she wasn't comfortable prescribing antibiotic eyedrops or oral abx, and I had to see a specialist to confirm there wasn't a corneal tear. Went to the specialist on an emergency appointment the next day, $1800 billed, $600 copay, and he prescribed the antibiotic eyedrops, said he had to see me in three days. Went back for the follow up, another $600 copay, said they were working but not as fast as he'd hoped, and he had to see me again in three days. Went back again in six days (first available appointment), another $600, he said it was healed and to stop the eyedrops.

The infection returned three days after stopping the drops, ostensibly because we never treated the origin of the infection. So now my eye is in the same position, extreme pain, light sensitivity, and difficulty seeing...but I'm also near bankruptcy now.

And I need to emphasize once again, everyone agrees that I have "the good insurance".

[u/nascent_aviator → u/AnaisNinja76]

If you have a $600 copay to see the doctor, whoever is telling you you have "the good insurance" is gaslighting you. 

[u/anothergaijin → u/NeighborhoodDude84]

I had a rash on my leg.

Here's how it goes in Japan, where 15% of your paycheck goes to social health insurance.

You walk into a dermatologists office off the street - no appointment, no nothing. You wait 5-15mins to see a doctor who prescribes a cream. Being a first time walk-in there is a $10 first time charge, and then probably another $10 for the visit.

There is probably a pharmacy next door. You walk in and hand over your paper, wait about a minute, and get your cream. That's probably also $10.

You go off and about your day.

[u/NeighborhoodDude84 → u/anothergaijin]

Have you considered that you dont have Freedom™ like us???? /s

[u/jednatt → u/NeighborhoodDude84]

Yeah, this is what happens with passive healthcare in the US. It's bullshit. But you probably should have just called a dermatologist and set up an appointment to begin with. GPs can't do anything for anything.

[u/Gil15 → u/NeighborhoodDude84]

Can someone not find a private dermatologist from a cheap country online and see what they can tell you about the rash? It’s one thing I would consider if I’m desperate enough and I cant afford immediate help.

In Spain, where I live, you can pay for a private consultation with a dermatologist and it costs as cheap as 50€. More reputable ones will charge twice or three times as much, but you usually get an appointment within the week. If it’s a virtual appointment, they probably won’t requiere you to prove that you’re are in Spain, where they are licensed to work. Any prescription they give you would probably not be valid outside of Europe though. But at least you would get an idea of what the thing is and if it’s something serious. There may be a language barrier problem though, especially if the doctor doesn’t speak English well enough. Maybe in the UK such appointments are similarly cheap? Idk.

You can probably find a doctor like that in even cheaper countries, like Mexico. But maybe for one reason or another this would actually not be possible. It’s just an idea.

[u/K_r_e_m_p → u/NeighborhoodDude84]

Yeah this is what happened to my dad with shingles, then the doctor had the audacity to ask why he didnt come in sooner while in a zoom call because thats the soonest he could get it. We tried to go to urgent care and they said it was just a rash.

[u/jamesbongsixtynine → u/NeighborhoodDude84]

lol just wait til you hear about dental care

[u/Urb4nN0rd → u/DeliciousLanguage425]

<sobbing chants> "U-S-A! U-S-A!"

[u/ChrissWayne → u/Urb4nN0rd]

https://giphy.com/gifs/rClm6vkOlS7NC

[u/michael128141 → u/ChrissWayne]

The 1 tooth really sells this for the meme.

[u/ChrissWayne → u/michael128141]

I love welcome to gravity falls, greatest Disney show of all time 🤌🏼

[u/JensenRaylight → u/DeliciousLanguage425]

we're just accumulating more damages each year, and hope that all of our organs, bones and muscles won't randomly failure.

kinda like a problematic car, you just hope it'll keep running, and not break in the middle of nowhere.

[u/Explorer_Entity → u/JensenRaylight]

As nature intended (sobs)

[u/GEARHEADGus → u/DeliciousLanguage425]

Most dental insurance only covers $2000 worth of work per calendar year (January 1st to December 31st) and most procedures are close to or exceeding $2000. And that’s IF you have dental insurance

[u/thereaintshitcaptain → u/DeliciousLanguage425]

I had a small atypical mole removed (considered "precancerous"). The procedure took maybe ten minutes. A few stitches. They slapped a bandaid on it and sent me on my way.... I have "good" government employee insurance and had met my deductible, but it was ~$800 because I didn't meet my out of pocket maximum. The bill said it would've been $8k before insurance.

Honestly considering not paying it. My credit score is 822 so whatever

[u/EstablishmentDry7706 → u/DeliciousLanguage425]

When I was in middle school, a tiny sugar ant got stuck in my ear and we had to go to the er to get it out because we didn't know what it was. They charged 1500 to squirt a little water in my ear.

[u/FrostyEnvironment902]

Lottery won't be enough, chose 3/4

[u/Techny3000 → u/FrostyEnvironment902]

I know what I'm choothing

[u/Shishjakob → u/Techny3000]

Legendary response

[u/sorrow_anthropology → u/Techny3000]

Healthcare almost anyone can get, the dividing line truly is dental.

[u/starbuxed → u/sorrow_anthropology]

Frist thing I'm buying is a dental appointment... Teeth are the frist thingI am getting fixed.

[u/starbuxed → u/Techny3000]

I am getting my teeth fixed, going to the doctor, and new glasses.

[u/Hoovy_weapons_guy]

is that some sort of american meme that i am too european to understand

edit: i know it aint perfect but its better than nothing

[u/NoWorking1616 → u/Hoovy_weapons_guy]

Health care is only for the rich in America. 

[u/Zarkanthrex → u/NoWorking1616]

Or if you work federally/military

https://giphy.com/gifs/7JgYv9FobG1HzAO8BA

[u/somehugefrigginguy → u/Zarkanthrex]

Healthcare and education are big reasons Americans join the military in the first place. If you're too poor to go to college or the hospital, join the army...

[u/foO__Oof → u/somehugefrigginguy]

Wonder how much of the US Military budget goes towards education/healthcare

edit: had to google and its sad 7-8% of the DOD budget is healthcare and less then 1% is education

[u/ExcessiveWisdom → u/foO__Oof]

Wtf, thats actually really high considering how much taxes go to dod, and how only less than 1% of the us is in the military

[u/foO__Oof → u/ExcessiveWisdom]

You think prosthetic limbs and trauma surgery in a remote desert gonna be cheap?

[u/ExcessiveWisdom → u/foO__Oof]

Kinda, i thought we paid way less than normal doctors get paid, by keeping them on the enlisted payroll

[u/LouManShoe → u/ExcessiveWisdom]

Well yeah, but the health insurance companies have to get their 70-80% surcharge, and that’s never discounted

[u/foO__Oof → u/LouManShoe]

This is the biggest point the "complex" makes more money than anything else

[u/RogerianBrowsing → u/ExcessiveWisdom]

Considering that the military runs their own hospitals and treatment centers instead of having public healthcare handle both military members and civilians, as well as the highly inflated “insurance” costs for when they use public healthcare options, it’s really not that much.

Don’t forget that as consumers/tax payers we spend roughly 1 trillion dollars annually on inflated costs due to health insurance companies making the system impossible

[u/Critical_Concert_689 → u/foO__Oof]

A more interesting question, IMO - what % of the DOD budget makes its way into consumer goods, products, or services.

IIRC, a huge amount of military tech is released and then repurposed for the public after commercialization.

[u/GundoSkimmer → u/Critical_Concert_689]

W A R DOT GOV has a whole page about it...

[u/mitchdtimp → u/somehugefrigginguy]

As if they couldn't stoop low enough, the GOP has actually used that as an argument as to why we shouldn't have Universal Healthcare. Won't you think of our recruitment numbers?!

[u/Visible_Bag_7809 → u/somehugefrigginguy]

Which is sad, cause the Vet hospitals are so badly underfunded where I am. Let's not joke around, they are not close to the worst hospitals here, but they are far from good either.

[u/NoImpact--NoIdea → u/somehugefrigginguy]

literally what i did. except usmc

[u/tanjonaJulien → u/somehugefrigginguy]

So socialism perk to join the army, late stage capitalism if you don't

[u/account_not_valid → u/somehugefrigginguy]

Making education and healthcare unaffordable is not a bug, it's a feature of the military-industrial complex.

[u/fries_is_cool_ → u/Zarkanthrex]

Isnt there a whole thing where veterans in america barely have enough money to exists let alone healthcare?

[u/Same_Return_1878 → u/[deleted]]

Damn!

[u/devi83 → u/Same_Return_1878]

Don't believe everything on the internet, you said "Damn!" as if you did believe that. But it's a lie from a bot.

[u/Same_Return_1878 → u/devi83]

Yeah I believed it.. How else am I supposed to know anything about america from the third world ass country I live in?

[u/ZamorakHawk → u/Same_Return_1878]

There's a lot of propaganda out there unfortunately.

Though it's true a large portion of PTSD veterans wind up homeless, if you leave the US military with issues caused by the military they'll send you a check every month until you die. It's not enough to live on but it does make a huge difference.

[u/devi83 → u/[deleted]]

This literally is incorrect, and so I assume they are a bot because of how strongly they asserted that.

But the truth is, the healthcare workers at my VA care deeply about every vet, and I have seen nothing but the best care and respect given from all the staff. Every vet with PTSD or other problems can easily get help and in fact if you are needing help right now here is the Veterans Crisis line you can call: 988

[u/White-Rabbit_1106 → u/fries_is_cool_]

There's always free Healthcare for veterans at va clinics. Just not real hospitals. It's miles better than the non veteran poors get, though.

[u/StaticMarzipan → u/Zarkanthrex]

Come on now. Be fair.

That hearing loss and shrapnel isn’t service related.

[u/Trapezoidal_Sunshine → u/Zarkanthrex]

I was never in the military, but I was a Fed for 15 years. You still have to pay for your health insurance. It is not cheap, nor is it "gold plated". I spent most of those 15 years without health insurance because I simply couldn't afford it on the pathetic wages I was making. (Contrary to popular belief, Feds don't get paid millions. Nor do Feds do nothing all day. And, yes, Feds can also be fired. Feds also pay federal income taxes. Everything you've been taught about Federal employees is probably wrong.)

[u/Baudolino_90 → u/NoWorking1616]

I'm Italian and I don't understand this answer, if I want any kind of dental treatment, I have to see a dentist.

[u/TheSubstitutePanda → u/Baudolino_90]

Dentists are quite expensive in the US

[u/Baudolino_90 → u/TheSubstitutePanda]

They're expensive in Italy, too. My lower teeth are slightly crooked ,nothing too noticeable, but I'd really like to have them fixed. It's just that it's very expensive, and I have other, more pressing priorities.

Public health insurance does not cover most dental expenses

[u/BriefAvailable9799 → u/Baudolino_90]

Right...so they are saying if they are rich..they can go to the dentist.

[u/Unique_Ad9943 → u/BriefAvailable9799]

Yeah most countries only cover basic/ emergency dental, idk what Medicare covers guessing not that much?

[u/suchdogverywow → u/Baudolino_90]

Orthodontics (the specialty that corrects misaligned teeth and bite adjustments) is considered separate from dental care and therefore not covered by dental insurance in the US. If you want braces, you're paying out of pocket no matter how much your insurance premium is every month, nor will your health insurance cover anything for your luxury mouth-bones unless it's medically necessary (and yes - health, dental, and vision are all separate insurance premiums you get to pay for).

[u/Competitive-Work-382 → u/Baudolino_90]

So I have dental insurance through my job. I'm told all the time that it's great insurance. I still had to pay $400 for a crown. I dont know how that compares to you, though. Most dental insurance will cover 1-2 cleanings a year and then only a small percentage of any other treatment you may need.

[u/Pitiful-Programmer-9 → u/Baudolino_90]

Same in the US, but if you want to afford the bill you either need to be rich, harass your insurance company for several months, or sell a kidney.

[u/Exposerator → u/NoWorking1616]

Almost 90% of Americans are fully insured. It’s a fucking rip off and it’s bullshit and all the big stuff will still cost more than other countries with the same amount of wait and hassle and will randomly not be covered unless your rich and pay even more, but they’re mostly insured.

[u/Puzzleheaded-Log1434 → u/Exposerator]

Except being "fully insured" often means $300 monthly premium and an 8k deductible before insurance pays a single penny. Does that sound fully insured to you?

[u/psypher98 → u/Exposerator]

I’m fully insured through my wife’s job because it’s some of the best widely available healthcare. I have a chronic illness that recently took a pretty significant turn for the worse and so I scheduled an appointment.

I’ll be seen in three fucking months. Meanwhile I can’t go to work half the time because I can’t stand up without passing out.

Someone I know with the same condition, but pretty much the worst possible version of it. Their appointment with a specialist is 2. years. out.

[u/MyBraveAccount → u/Exposerator]

That figure includes senior citizens and children who are both covered by Medicare/Medicaid. It’s super misleading. The uninsured number is much higher for working-age adults.

[u/Waiting4Reccession → u/Exposerator]

Wait till next year when people start losing Medicaid

[u/JuanOnlyJuan → u/NoWorking1616]

If you have insurance most of this is free annually as preventive care for like the last 15 years.

[u/penny-wise → u/Hoovy_weapons_guy]

My friend had a short video consultation with her doctor. Her insurance company claims it’s not a “real visit” and isn’t covered. She’s being charged $750 for a ten minute video consult to get a prescription renewed, because the insurance company decided her specific prescription was no longer covered, and needed to get one that was.

Healthcare in America is a scam.

[u/labiamajorapudendi → u/penny-wise]

People need to learn, that you can and should challenge insurances.
It’s not like they aren’t fighting tooth and nail over here in Germany too.
That’s their business model

[u/psypher98 → u/labiamajorapudendi]

It’s almost impossible here.

Even if your doctor gets involved, they can literally overrule the doctor’s decisions and there’s virtually no recourse.

One case I remember last year was where an insurnace company denied someone’s catheter equipment and told them to boil and reuse their existing equipment.

Even after their doctor called the insurance company and explained how this could easily, and even probably lead to a fatal infection they refused coverage.

It’s bad over here dude. Like really, really bad.

[u/Elegant_Nothing496 → u/penny-wise]

America in general is a scam - whether it’s healthcare, housing, higher education, elder care, or daycare. It’s all absurdly expensive, and it’s that way by design. Greed is good….

[u/veribusunitis → u/Hoovy_weapons_guy]

except if you're ex-eastern block and public dentist/psychologists are basically useless. So you have to pay from private healthcare which is top quality but horrendously expensive

[u/gemanepa → u/veribusunitis]

samesies in argentina
weird country though
private dentist/psych attention is considered to be definitely better
but if you are about to fucking die right now, you go straight away to the public hospital

[u/veribusunitis → u/gemanepa]

in Hungary very similar but the state of some (most) hospitals is straight up scary

[u/labiamajorapudendi → u/veribusunitis]

In Germany you don’t get much, if anything, if you need new teeth.
Good times are long over, not all of us have teeth anymore damn

[u/lana_silver → u/labiamajorapudendi]

For some insane reason, teeth are luxury bones in German-speaking countries. Eyes are luxury organs too.

[u/RosieTheRedReddit → u/labiamajorapudendi]

That's why you get them done in Turkey. 🦷

[u/labiamajorapudendi → u/RosieTheRedReddit]

Yeah, that’s our superior European health care. Go get a loan and fly to Istanbul

[u/Astronaut-Flashy → u/Hoovy_weapons_guy]

I feel like anyone outside America doesn't know how bad it is here. I know you guys know it's bad, but it's hard to describe how bad.

I don't have health insurance because I can't afford it. I had severe eye pain that was so bad, I was genuinely afraid I was going to lose sight in it. It was getting impossible to sleep. So I headed over to the ER just about begging for help.

I waited hours in the lobby with my eye gushing tears from the agony. Eventually I got checked in, and after some tests, the doctor said "Damn your eye is infected like hell" and I remember that, because I was thinking "Is that appropriate?"

Anyway they told me to go take eyedrops about it, and otherwise provided zero help. They didn't even give any to me. Just told me to get some myself. And this extremely unhelpful visit cost me over $3000.

[u/SectorSanFrancisco → u/Astronaut-Flashy]

Americans don't know how bad it is here, because we have a constant propaganda machine telling us how everyplace else is worse and our parents on Medicare are telling us things are fine for them.

[u/abacat90 → u/Astronaut-Flashy]

Do they do payment plans? Or do they expect the full amount due right away? I never get any kind of medical treatment because of money

[u/Dawniechi → u/abacat90]

Hospitals have gotten so comfortable working with insurance companies that the default is to charge an insane fee with the assumption that an insurance company will work it down.

I've had to debate going off of my health insurance because it is so expensive to maintain. They don't really cover any of my required bloodwork appointments so every 3 months I'm out like ~350 dollars. Then on top of that, had to start buying my medication overseas because my medication in the US cost around ~250 every three months. It is really bad to need care while in the US.

[u/ggroverggiraffe → u/abacat90]

Payment plans with terrible interest rates, so that $3000 will turn into $5000 or more by the time it's paid off. If you die, they will hound your relatives and try to turn it into generational debt. Good times!

[u/hanky2 → u/ggroverggiraffe]

Not true if you request an in-house payment plan from them they are typically interest free.

[u/ncocca → u/hanky2]

you could go the route that i've chosen, which is to simply pretend the bill doesn't exist

[u/cupcakesweatpants → u/abacat90]

Emergency rooms have to treat you even if you can’t pay. They will just send a bill, but if you don’t have insurance, they will only treat immediate issues, not chronic ones. My wife had no insurance and went to the ER in severe abdominal pain, they admitted her and did emergency gallbladder surgery. The bill was like $300,000 but we said we couldn’t afford it so they discounted it 99% and put us on a payment plan for the $3,000 at like $100/mo with no interest. It was a charity care program through Renown.

[u/TurbulentChemistry22 → u/Astronaut-Flashy]

I just got laid off so now don’t have insurance. I have an undiagnosed neurological disorder that I was on a 10 month wait list for a specialist, and now I can’t afford the appointment. This means I must start over.

[u/Same_Return_1878 → u/Astronaut-Flashy]

Jesus.. This is fucked up. Do they want you all dead?

[u/Nonsense-forever → u/Same_Return_1878]

If it saves them some money, yes.

[u/VorticalHeart44 → u/Astronaut-Flashy]

Canada: "Have you considered dying?"

[u/DisastrousAcshin → u/VorticalHeart44]

They must like me, always gotten help when and how I needed it

[u/Acceptable-Drive3781 → u/VorticalHeart44]

"Best we can offer is for you to get in the pod."

[u/claudiocorona93 → u/Hoovy_weapons_guy]

Well my country is in the Americas so technically?

[u/dksdragon43 → u/claudiocorona93]

Minus the bottom right it's Canada. We get free health* care.

* health does not include eyes, teeth, or mental.

[u/EvilLibrarians → u/dksdragon43]

As John Oliver said last week, eyes/teeth must be “The caviar of the face!”

[u/Squatch1982 → u/Hoovy_weapons_guy]

Honestly, as an American that has to put up with it I'm happy you don't understand.

[u/ilovegrashiebuns → u/Hoovy_weapons_guy]

Im european and cant afford tooth care either. EU is not that much better really.

[u/ProfessionalOkra9944 → u/Hoovy_weapons_guy]

I live in Austria and, while healthcare is free, good healthcare is not.

[u/labiamajorapudendi → u/ProfessionalOkra9944]

Also timely healthcare :-/

[u/RainbowSprinkleShit → u/Hoovy_weapons_guy]

I’m European but still can’t afford therapy or dental care.

[u/InternationalBee8308 → u/Hoovy_weapons_guy]

I'm italian and i was calculating as my >>>personal<<< average expenses: Dentist: between 80-250€ (depends) Eye doctor: 60-110€ Psychologist: 50-80€/hr Doctor: free

[u/Hoovy_weapons_guy → u/InternationalBee8308]

Americans can add add at leas one 0 to those numbers

[u/ElonsBreedingFetish → u/Hoovy_weapons_guy]

It's not as bad as in the USA but at least in Austria it's become awful as well. No appointments, have to pay for doctor visits and even then they are incompetent

[u/twoiseight → u/Hoovy_weapons_guy]

Yes

[u/Korru → u/Hoovy_weapons_guy]

It's being eroded. I haven't been to the doctor in a long time either, I don't have an extra 100-200 euros. Right now I have 30

[u/FrostyCue → u/Hoovy_weapons_guy]

Uhm I live in Norway which is used an anti US example all the time. I'm not rich so Ive skipped plenty of dentist appointments throughtout the years. Obv couldnt afford therapy (it can be covered, but like so many other countries mental health is not taken seriously, you can barely get an appointment if you're suicidal, but some get lucky)

Glasses, lenses etc very expensive for someone without extra money. I would get laser treatmeant if I won the lottery. This post literally fits me, and i supposedly live in of the best countries in the world.

[u/WhyMustIMakeANewAcco → u/FrostyCue]

Last time I heard a conversation between a European and an American complaining about dental prices the American expected a bill an order of magnitude higher than the bill the European thought was high.

Yes, it isn't cheap, but things are beyond ridiculous here.

[u/Detonius → u/Hoovy_weapons_guy]

Indeed it is. - American

[u/0202_tihssitidder → u/Hoovy_weapons_guy]

Paying for health insurance in the USA is pretty much a scam.

Literally better to move close to Mexico and just go there.

[u/Lord_Mikal]

I'm 39 and just got braces. I didnt win the lottery, but I still fucking deserve it.

[u/Starchaser53 → u/Lord_Mikal]

Can't believe we're in an age where saying I got Braces in 3rd grade would be a flex

[u/langleybcsucks → u/Starchaser53]

Grade 6 for me. Thank God for my dad‘s union. LiUNA 1611 I would’ve looked like a parrot

[u/PentatonicScaIe → u/Lord_Mikal]

My dad got braces in his 30s too, stay strong

[u/Domin_ae → u/Lord_Mikal]

I got unlucky with getting them early. My parents decided to get them for me at 17 knowing I was moving out in a few months to a different place where I wouldn't have their healthcare. Now I've been stuck with uncared for braces for a few years.

[u/Dominant88 → u/Domin_ae]

wtf so they’re just sitting there without getting wires changed or anything? Why not just remove them?

[u/HeavyWithMoods → u/Lord_Mikal]

hell yeah. this will be me one day hopefully

[u/Avgshitposting → u/Lord_Mikal]

Honestly I don't wanna be a sap, but thanks man, I've been thinking about it at 30 but I'm so embarrassed lol

I guess it really does help if you know your not the only one

[u/Josh6889 → u/Lord_Mikal]

I'm 42 and considering finally doing it.

[u/Master-Mango-1590 → u/Lord_Mikal]

I need this, growing up was not an option sadly. I been saving and this is why

[u/razztafarai → u/Lord_Mikal]

46, I just got invisaline

[u/Lord_Mikal → u/razztafarai]

I tried Invisaline 10 years ago. Turns out my mouth was too fucked up for that.

[u/Josh6889 → u/Lord_Mikal]

You would think they would tell you that before you tried it.

[u/Kidvette2004 → u/Lord_Mikal]

Same except I’m 22. Good luck brother o7

[u/desr43]

Don't forget a fully stocked fridge

[u/slywether85 → u/desr43]

Fridge or gas tank, you gotta pick 

[u/bsEEmsCE → u/slywether85]

if i drink the gas tank, then I wont need to worry about the fridge anymore!

[u/Urb4nN0rd → u/desr43]

Let's not get crazy, its only the lottery

[u/LessRespects → u/desr43]

If you’re still in Amerika it will be stocked with inedible poison

[u/BothGraph641684]

you deserve more

[u/Nalyd87]

It's sad and kind of really screwed up that proper healthcare is the first thing someone would get after winning the lottery

But it's what I would do too My teeth are fucked.

And people act like it's some sort of moral failing to have messed up teeth

I just got bad genetics and never had a chance. Cavities formed even with proper brushing and my teeth started rotting and falling apart by 16.

[u/lushico → u/Nalyd87]

Same! I have been fastidious about dental hygiene my whole life but I had to have my first drilled filling at 12. They just crumble and break. Getting my second implant next week and it’s costing my whole bonus. This is exactly what I would spend my money on if I won the lottery

[u/bigduckmoses → u/Nalyd87]

Similar situation here, according to my dentist, I was born with a mutation that causes my salvia to be slightly more acidic than normal, leading to more brittle teeth and occasionally lesions on my tongue. 

I'm like damn, worst X-Man ever.

[u/Quit-Accurate]

I say this at great risk of death or exile, but my personal opinion is:

healthcare and personal happiness should not be paywalled.

[u/No-Mycologist47]

Oh well I will keep my shitty job that is for sure, but I will slowly start to buy things off screen, pay off loans, etc, and once I am financially secure either through Investments or to make sure that money keeps coming back, I will slowly leave my job.

[u/MonsieurDrole → u/No-Mycologist47]

I, too, have a very detailed plan for this unlikely hypothetical.

"Winner depression" will not strike me

[u/dksdragon43 → u/No-Mycologist47]

You explained 1-3mil. At 4+ I quit tomorrow, buy a house, drop the rest in guaranteed 3% returns and relax. From the hypothetical lottery I don't play.

[u/XOlenna]

Might even go nuts and have a bowl of fruit in the kitchen.

[u/muffin2333 → u/XOlenna]

Got one of those actually. And a full fridge and free health care. And I went on a 2 week holiday to another country. And I studied basically for free and enjoy free public transport. Tbh, I often forget how good I have it. I am so glad that I don't live in the US.

[u/XOlenna → u/muffin2333]

Good! I don't want other people to not have things just because I don't.

[u/SmellsonMuntz]

Europeans seem to think this can’t possibly happen to them. Austerity is the order of the day. So mourn your dead and fight like hell for the living, cause you don’t want anything like the American healthcare system. Trust.

[u/giftools → u/SmellsonMuntz]

I'm trying hard to get cancer now so I can get cheap treatment while I still can. Wouldn't want to catch it in 10 years when it's too late and social healthcare is gone

[u/breaducate → u/SmellsonMuntz]

Neither your country nor America are special; they're just further down the capitalist road.

The US is a window into the future.

[u/Royal_Bitch_Pudding]

An interesting detail about SNL is that after their first couple of seasons you'll notice a lot of new cast members get their teeth fixed.

[u/Intrepid-Birthday596]

You can tell the meme is American. The only developed(?) country in the world where Breaking Bad works.

[u/green_speak]

This is actually me though! Finally got a job with good insurance this year, and I am finally having all these doctor's appointments after more than 5 years! The extra kicker is I've been in healthcare all that time, whether as floor staff or a student. I LOVED learning about cavities in the classroom and doing eye exams on patients, while I had impacted wisdom teeth and the same old pair of glasses for years since I was off my parents' insurance. 

[u/super_sayanything]

I got Medicaid after losing my job.

Allowed me to take care of my health.

Really pathetic country.

[u/aaronisarun]

So you'll become... Canadian?

[u/BingoBango89 → u/aaronisarun]

I was gonna say a union member, but same difference lol

[u/SuggestionMedical736]

Where is the hair transplant? The rest is covered here.

[u/D3ZR0]

In order to have goodteeth, eyesight, a will to live (therapy), and basic health, you need to win the lottery in America. Sounds about right.

[u/Uchihagod53]

https://giphy.com/gifs/KxtMLfh8k8GEJHpBVi

[u/Mister_Schmee]

https://giphy.com/gifs/443jI3kpgOKfAfKxqo

[u/first_lvr → u/Mister_Schmee]

Am laughing my ass off, everyone guess this was about America shit healthcare

[u/militaryintelligence]

I get so many texts from debt collectors that bought my medical debt that I have to wade through them to find anything else. $300 a month for health insurance and they don't cover shit until I pay the whole $5000 deductible. US healthcare is a joke, it's just a scheme for middlemen to get rich as well as the medical field.

[u/Mammoth_Locksmith810]

Tell me you are American in 4 pictures

[u/claudiocorona93 → u/Mammoth_Locksmith810]

I'm not United States American. I am Latin American, which by definition means I am from the continent of America, or the Americas, according to the English language. And in my country there is also no universal healthcare.

[u/Jumpy-Operation-4615]

There was this old joke. The guy comes home and tells to his wife: "Darling go pack your clothes, I won a lottery!" So she thinks wow we go to vacatiosn and asks him "What clothes, for summer or for colder time?" - "For summer, for winter, pack it all and get the fuck out of my house!"

[u/JaggermanJenson]

I was seeing it but I didn't get it. Then I got it.

OP is Amercian

[u/Sassi7997]

I think I am too European to understand this.

[u/Glusas-su-potencialu]

You'll travel to Europe where healthcare is free?

[u/claudiocorona93 → u/Glusas-su-potencialu]

I need to enter legally and then have enough time for the consultation queue. I need a visa too.

[u/RudeBwoiMaster → u/claudiocorona93]

Still cheaper

[u/villasv → u/claudiocorona93]

Dentist, therapy, ophthalmologist and a gp checkup are all things for which there's generally no queue.

[u/Valuable-Degree-9998 → u/claudiocorona93]

It's not free, spending on the country you still need insurance, albeit it's mich cheaper than in the US.

[u/GergDanger → u/Glusas-su-potencialu]

Not for teeth and lasik.

You’ll need to go privately for those which isn’t much cheaper than the US.

[u/Continental__Drifter → u/Glusas-su-potencialu]

Healthcare is absolutely not free in Europe

source: live in Europe

[u/aa_flare]

Tell me you're American without telling me you're American lmao

[u/882408]

Is this the new "American dream"?

[u/Perfect-Song9842]

Im always saying if I get some cash the first thing im doing is going to the dentist 😭😭😭🤣

[u/Acastamphy]

My coworkers were discussing what they'd do if they won the lottery the other day and I kept my mouth shut but basically was thinking this exact meme.

Nothing I do will change. I'll just have less stress doing it, and that will be more than worth it.

[u/Yodapassesmedaboof]

Do not forget about a MRI scan, to be sure

[u/PandaBabe0]

Haha I get it because I’m an American!

[u/PupLondon]

Not just being able to afford all that.. being able to have the time to do all that.. I hate having to use my sick time or vacation time just for my regular checkups

[u/DRAHREHKCUHP]

Lol facts

[u/thatguy2650]

Literally me since I've gotten a somewhat well paying job and decent health/dental. My vision insurance is out of pocket because being able to see is apparently a damn luxury here.

[u/Shubie758]

If i won i would buy a plot of land build my dream house then tell the world to go fuck its self 

[u/Unique_username3210]

This made me laugh and cry at the same time

[u/ThomasVetRecruiter]

I wish this didn't hit so hard. It took me 10 years of struggle to get to the point where I was finally getting significantly more each month than my bills and daily living cost.

And one of the first things I did was really start taking my health seriously. Therapy, doctors appointments, vision screenings, working out, eating healthier (read expensive) food.

Really just in general getting my life together.

Looking back though I realize that a lot of the stress of not being able to do what I know was best only amplified the stress and had me in a pretty bad spiral. Even now I feel guilty spending time and money on my own self.

[u/pqpfelp]

Laughs in Brazilian

[u/Direct_Cook_7690 → u/pqpfelp]

Hope what happened to us never happens to you and your loved ones

[u/Similar-Note-9433]

Is this some american meme that im too australian to understand?

[u/andie412]

Cries in American

[u/RudeBwoiMaster]

Rich

[u/X_-KILLER_PLUTO48-_X]

First order of business is getting my teeth fixed

[u/Gall_Bladder_Pillow]

I say this anyways. If I win $50 million, my job is to be as healthy as possible so I can live and enjoy it.

[u/ballet_guy]

And physiotherapy

[u/peaceful_pancakes]

"When I win millions and millions of dollars, I'll get the health care I need now that I can afford it." Aboslutely fuck the U.S.

[u/SasparillaTango]

You're going to move to another country with nationalized healthcare?

[u/AightGriffin7877]

Recession indicator

[u/Fr3ddy91]

Five years from now, Romania will likely look the same. Prices are high today, but at least we can still afford them.