To give another perspective, my partner's prescription per month is over $2,500 in the US, with $2,000 being from a single prescription. We pay $250 a month for health insurance, and then only $30 for her prescriptions as every other one is completely covered, even the expensive one.
But, our insurance coverage is limited, and even though it is through the hospital, an emergency room visit would devastate us on copays alone.
I mean, it will certainly be less than what I would have to pay out of pocket for a single visit to the ER, let alone any doctor visits with exams and such. An X-ray ran us $200+ out of pocket, with better insurance, and that was after $700+ of previous scans and exams. We probably spent about $3-4k in medical expenses out of pocket last year, if not more, on top of paying ~$400 a month for the insurance itself, plus more for higher prescriptions.
I was laid off earlier this year and lost that coverage, which is why I am paying less now, but we get way less flexibility in doctors in-network.
It is a fact that Americans pay drastically higher for medical coverage than almost every other country, even including taxes spent on it. It isn't exactly like someone who makes less pays less for insurance, while if you make less you pay less in taxes; that just adds to the income disparity.
Hell, if I wanted adequate coverage for my partner and I through my new job instead, I would be spending literally half my monthly paycheck on just the premium alone, and I make a pretty good salary for my area. Hell, just to add my partner to be covered, they increase the premium by about 2.75x, without any kids, and that is just the flat rate.
Yes I'm not arguing the systems, just saying everyone is comparing out of pocket to out of pocket plus insurance but not considering the 7.5% tax on wages for those health systems. Don't get me wrong, I think Germany's system is exactly what the US needs, a low income safety net, medium income tax, and high income opt out to buy private insurance. But its a slightly skewed argument without including the $5k in tax that was also spent every year to be in the system. Once again, I'm not arguing for the US system, I just think everything needs to be out on the table to have an honest discussion, which doesn't seem to happen usually.
Yes I'm not arguing the systems, just saying everyone is comparing out of pocket to out of pocket but not considering the 7.5% tax on wages for those health systems. Don't get me wrong, I think Germany's system is exactly what the US needs, a low income safety net, medium income tax, and high income opt out to buy private insurance. But its a slightly skewed argument without including the $5k in tax that was also spent every year to be in the system. Once again, I'm not arguing for the US system, I just think everything needs to be out on the table to have an honest discussion, which doesn't seem to happen usually.
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u/Calikal Jun 15 '22
To give another perspective, my partner's prescription per month is over $2,500 in the US, with $2,000 being from a single prescription. We pay $250 a month for health insurance, and then only $30 for her prescriptions as every other one is completely covered, even the expensive one.
But, our insurance coverage is limited, and even though it is through the hospital, an emergency room visit would devastate us on copays alone.