The truth about health insurance

We still don’t have anything that approximates a single-payer healthcare system, unlike every other first world country.

Applied on the level of a New York taxpayer, that means appreciate the Affordable Care Act.

If you work for a shitty newspaper chain defrauding the Alabama State Teachers Retirement Fund, you will pay $1200 or so monthly out-of-pocket for a high deductible plan before a  $5,000 deductible.

Meanwhile, our Canadian friends with money come across the border and pay cash because it’s better than waiting months for a simple procedure.

For those who own small businesses and report income on Schedule C, Profit or Loss from Business, times are good because the subsidy that comes from the NY State of Health.

Of course it’s not that easy. The less income you show, the better the subsidy. Consider it like front end staff making $14 hourly for 2 6-hour shifts weekly at Walgreens. Work 8 hours and the man cuts your SNAP or Belmont subsidy so you need to manage things or work off the books.

Health insurance subsidies work that way too - show too much income and you are screwed.

It’s not all flowers however. Fidelis is a nightmare because some offices won’t accept it.

I thought it was a case of medical redlining with some patients excluded because of economics.

A physician I shared that theory with set me straight.

“An ultrasound costs $15 but requires preapproval,” she explained. “It takes more than $15 of time for my staff to request it.”

I didn’t have a comeback, but the system remains broken. President Obama tried to fix the problem. No one since has done a thing and we are now at the point we don't even talk about it.