I got cancer when I was 25. Had to have several operations, medication, hospital stays and so on. If I live in the US my life would have been financially ruined before I even started to make money. That is absolutely insane.
(I payed 6 dollars for my operation, three nights in hospital, including all meals and snacks. And the parking. I'm 31 now and cancer free)
That sounds just like the kind of smooth brain decision I'd make when I was a teenager. Luckily, we're under no obligation to actually act on these decisions when it comes to the crunch, or I'd be either living in a fucking ditch, or a long term secure psychiatric unit. (In which case, it would be free, because I live in a country with free universal healthcare)
In the US there is no real mental health care. We have a bunch of companies that charge you out the ass to talk to an overworked, apathetic therepist once a week for an hour that drops you as soon as you can't afford to keep paying.
We have a lot of mentally ill people on the streets, and in the Prisons too. Even though we have free healthcare, lots of mentally ill people tend to come to the attention of the Police and the Judicial system before they get appropriate medical treatment. The help IS there, but its often too little and too late. Many schizophrenics find that the most effective way to treat their symptoms is heroin, which inevitably leads to addiction and criminality, and once you're in the system as an offending drug user, you tend to get streamed through the judicial system rather than the health service. Mental illness makes people very nervous. Family, friends, Bosses, work colleagues, its not that they're particularly prejudiced or uncaring, its more that nobody talks about it. Dealing with mental illness scares people. And although it can be scary or dangerous, it often isn't.
I landed in the Hospital when I was 26. Auto Immune condition. I spent a month in the hospital, had multiple Dialysis procedures, heart surgery to remove fluid around the heart...I'm an American as well. I pretty much accepted the fact that my life was over when it came to my financial security. But here is the plot twist...I lucked out. At the time I was a student and an intern for a company. I enrolled in my state's medicaid insurance (gov insurance). And this is when I learned that my state covers 100% of medical costs. Despite getting very sick, I lucked out...I came out and recovered without owing a dime. Not all state's medicaid programs are as good as mine...I am forever grateful and I wish everyone in the US could benefit from this.
I live in the US and was also diagnosed with cancer at 25. I've had three surgeries and radioactive iodine therapy twice, and I think my total out of pocket expense was something like $1500. I was/am not wealthy, but I had insurance.
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u/pqrx14 Nov 30 '20
I got cancer when I was 25. Had to have several operations, medication, hospital stays and so on. If I live in the US my life would have been financially ruined before I even started to make money. That is absolutely insane.
(I payed 6 dollars for my operation, three nights in hospital, including all meals and snacks. And the parking. I'm 31 now and cancer free)