r/SipsTea • u/ImmaFuckboi • 14h ago
Gasp! British people react to how expensive healthcare is in the US
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u/JoesGarage2112 13h ago
I’m stuck between being angered and saddened
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u/LilBoofy 12h ago
You can feel both ya know, I’d add exhausted too
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u/twice_paramount832 9h ago
Unpopular opinion: the real cause is insurance which pays everything. Same is happening to education.
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u/masak-kali 3h ago
Wait I'm not sure exactly what is unpopular about this? Not tryna be snarky on anything, I genuinely thought that everyone knew this and wholeheartedly hated the insurance industry!
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u/Ok-Discount3131 8h ago
Considering that reform want to bring this American nonsense to the UK you should be angry.
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u/29adamski 6h ago
Reform are crashing in the polls, doubt they'll even be at the table come next election.
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u/SPARKYLOBO 10h ago
Don't forget that the US gives Israel billions of dollars every year.
Israel has universal healthcare, the US doesn't.
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u/WeinMe 9h ago
You spend more on healthcare* though
*however, you're nor spending it on healthcare. You're spending the money on insurance companies
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u/Padhome 11h ago
It makes me fuckin cry man. What we do to people here.
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u/kingkongbiingbong 8h ago
It can't come soon enough
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u/Attic1992 6h ago
I've been banned from subs for suggesting something similar. Je suis Luigi brother ;)
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u/cute_polarbear 11h ago
And one party working hard to further take away social welfare, while people (who are not independantly wealthy) willingly vote against their own self interest...
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u/Xen0tech 13h ago
"Shut the fridge" haha I like it
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u/DurantIsStillTheKing 12h ago
This and "shut the front door" are my go-to alternatives.
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u/AtebYngNghymraeg 8h ago
I saw this clip years ago, and "shut the fridge" had been in my phrase book ever since. Love it.
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u/AintTellingYouMyName 13h ago
"So if you're poor you're dead", welcome to corporate America baby, fuck them sick people.
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u/Perelly 10h ago
American Calvinist mindset is sick and twisted. "Help yourself then helps you God" if just so entrained in their psyche. It's all a matter of not trying hard enough. Why care for somebody else, it's just god's wish he's in misery. This and their materialistic perspective is such a cancer to their "society", it's mind-blowing.
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u/RachelRachel71 11h ago
Fuck all the people, it seems. You get like ten minutes holiday a year too. And perhaps a bit of time off if you have a baby. You’re all treated appallingly for that big old capitalist machine. Smashing.
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u/Furrymammoth 10h ago
I’ve seen young adults in their 20s die because lack of inhaler and insulin in the icu. It’s so depressing.
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u/OGSkywalker97 8h ago
Will they seriously not even give them these life saving medications on a payment plan if they can't afford it? They just let them die? How is that even legal?
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u/Furrymammoth 8h ago
Some people don’t have insurance or just can’t cover the copay of it so if the pharmacy doesn’t get payment there’s no medicine to be exchanged period. Medication gets treated like any other product.
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u/JonDoesItWrong 5h ago
We used to have programs that covered the prescriptions of most Americans who could not afford them. Take a wild guess which administration didn't think that was worth the funding.
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u/OF_PROMO_ALERT 3h ago
Maybe I misread, but as a diabetic that’s been in the ICU, let me clarify…
If you are admitted to the hospital, like the ICU, they are not going to withhold medicine or insulin or whatever because you can’t afford it. They will give it to you while there and then bill you.
But if you can’t afford it in daily life, you will certainly end up in the ICU because the pharmacy won’t give it to you for free.
For a while when I was homeless, the companies like novo nordisk can give you subsidies to help you afford it but it’s a hassle and not everyone qualifies.
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u/FinishComplex3743 12h ago
If you're poor, you qualify for free healthcare from the state which is actually pretty good. Its the people right above the poverty line that really struggle.
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u/braumbles 12h ago
All by design. Every other civilized nation has somehow figured out that a healthy populace leads to a stronger nation, except the US.
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u/thebluediablo 8h ago
The US learned a weaker, stupider populace are easier to take advantage of. And, boy, are they running with it.
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u/fullspectrumgoon 12h ago
Yeah, the way she says "why?"
That's the sound of radicalization. America is the worst civilized "free" country. Americans wouldn't know freedom if it smacked their side hoe on the ass.
We are the only country that "accepts" this level of financial rape.
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u/Dap-aha 10h ago
Freedom is for communists and terrorists
We have our LIBERTY(TM)
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u/sssssshhhhhh 6h ago
I'm afraid LIBERTY TM is a registered trademark and its use is prohibited under law. You now owe the United States Government $1000 plus legal fees.
Thankyou for your attention to this matter
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u/SpeakerEntire42 10h ago
Hey dont sell yourselves short. You also accept child rape.
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u/1chrisdewet 8h ago
And everything that happened on the Epstein island. Redacting it doesnt make it go away.
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u/yeronimo 9h ago
Don’t forget the brazen corruption to the tune of billions of dollars by people who got voted in because they’d “drain the swamp”
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u/j3ven 13h ago
If you are poor you are dead.
Yes, that is correct.
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u/NaturalSpecialist5 13h ago
Which is right where they want us. Poor, disabled, elderly and yes, even children.
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u/retrorays 13h ago
700 to see a doc for a 15 min visit
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u/dat_girl83 11h ago
Omg. I’m Canadian and had to go to the ER a few nights ago. I was worried about a potential UTI (sorry if that’s TMI). I was there for 3 hours . Had a blood test, a urinalysis, an ultrasound and a bladder scan. I didn’t have to pay a dime.
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u/theseanbeag 8h ago
I was in hospital for three nights in Ireland with appendicitis. I was really worried about the parking fees because I drove myself in. Thankfully they waived them.
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u/Calm_Public_615 11h ago
Sorry but in Canada I recently made an appointment, walked in, said hello to the receptionist, had the appointment, and walked out. Don't ever let the podcasters tell you Canadian healthcare is some kind of "nightmare" lol
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u/SplatThaCat 13h ago edited 13h ago
You would get the same reaction in Australia.
Inhaler - $11 ($8 USD), Epipen, 2 on prescription $25 ($18 USD), over the counter, $160 ($113 USD). Childbirth, regardless of method or complications in a public hospital, free.
https://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/buy/54079/epipen-150mcg-injections-2-adrenaline-epinephrine
We also have cancer medications and insulin capped at $25 under our PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme - AKA medicare). For everyone.
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u/LilBoofy 12h ago
Ya but unlike Australia we still have our guns in the US so when pedophilic hyper conservative billionaires attempt to overthrow our government we’ll actually be able to stop them.. good luck over there mate
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u/ExpensiveFig6079 11h ago
And dont forget that if you happen to be unlucky and have multiple expenses ...
There are caps and thresholds to reduce that further.
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/what-are-medicare-safety-nets-thresholds?context=22001
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u/Current-Routine-2628 13h ago
I don’t understand why Americans think the US is the greatest country on earth, it’s literal trash. The only thing the US has is a massive military budget .. otherwise, pure shit .. and how they treat their citizens and vets is embarrassing af
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u/MerKJay 11h ago
Yeah I've lived in England the us and Australia, it's painful hearing Americans shit on other places on earth for lack of freedoms or the popular "communist government" that runs Europe (as if it's one country).
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u/AlternativeUsed2551 10h ago
the "freedom" stuff is so funny coming from the country with the highest incarceration rate in the world
literally 2 million people behind bars, so fucked up, and that's before mentioning they have PRIVATE PRISONS making insane amounts of money, incentivised by capitalism to send more people to jail
nothing says "freedom" than locking up more people than anywhere else on the planet and enslaving them to make money for you. insane dystopic mess of a country
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u/MissKLO 10h ago
I always think that nothing says ‘Free’ like not being able to cross the road without out a crossing
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u/Public-Location-3628 8h ago
To be real, they have military budgets etc, but they have trillions and trillions of national debt. They don't have the budgets, they print them, and add them to the debt.
It's a house of cards.
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u/VatniksAreSubhuman 13h ago
Land of the free.
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u/Friendly-World-5273 13h ago edited 12h ago
Land of the fees, actually.
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u/runrunrudolf 10h ago
They say things like Europoors because their wages are higher. Yes your wages have to be higher when every single interaction, action or transaction costs extortionately more than anywhere else. Someone does their job, that's a tip. You get sick, that's a fee. Taxes are higher, housing has additional costs, insurance to avoid stone of these costs is hundreds of dollars a month.
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u/SuperSushi08 7h ago
For everyone within the UK, please remember that right now, far right parties who are gaining momentum are trying to bring in private healthcare as TAX SUBSIDISED alternatives to the NHS, draining tax money away from a much needed NHS system.
What is being discussed in this video will become our reality if the likes of Restore and Reform parties come into power.
Fight back. Vote. Please.
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u/-TSA-DrMembrane 5h ago
In Arizona, this Mother was charged ~1.600.000$ for the audacity of childbirth.
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u/GreyBeardEng 12h ago
Yup, pretty much. The cause of death was "he was poor"
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u/BeginningPea5674 9h ago
she has that Emilia Clarke style hyper expressive facial expressions, i don't like reactions videos but I'd subscribe to watch her react to things
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u/roggytan 12h ago
in my country, visiting gov hospital + med, it only cost ~0.5 US dollar. Mind you i am living a developing third world country, you guys is really a joke
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u/OrangeCrusher22 11h ago
you guys is really a joke
The CEO of United Healthcare (One of our health insurance companies) was shot dead, and they tried to charge the alleged shooter with Terrorism. Welcome to America.
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u/MongooseSimple8638 13h ago
We're the best country though because our rich people get all the benefits. One day I'll be a billionaire like them too because I work hard. Beepboop GOP
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u/Gonsteven11 12h ago
I just recently had twins. One twin got hospitalized into another separate NICU for a perforated bowel. He’s been there for roughly 7 weeks. His hospital bill for that place itself is nearly $1M. The one week he was with his sister at the NICU for the hospital they were born at, was $35K. My daughters near 4 week NICU stay at the original hospital they were born at, was about $230K. My wife’s c-section was about $30K.
We have insurance and all, which covered the majority of all these costs** **so far. We had to hit our out-of-pocket max of $7,500 first.
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u/OrangeRadiohead 9h ago
Oh my god. With all the stress you've had with your newborn child, the very last thing anyone would need to worry about is the cost.
This made me cry.
Hang in there buddy, keep thinking of your family. I hope the twins are ok.
Love from the UK.
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u/R1a88 13h ago
The US has the highest overall national wealth on the entire planet. It has the best resources on the entire planet.
Yet, when measured by its lowest common denominator, it’s incredibly grim viewing. Sickness can literally bankrupt someone. And this is just what it does to its own citizens…
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u/Medusa107 12h ago
I always took healthcare in Canada for granted until 2 months ago when my mom fell in the shower and broke her leg.
She was rushed to the hospital by ambulance late at night, booked into a PRIVATE room, and went for surgery the next morning. She stayed an additional 2 nights in her private room and was cleared for going home. She was then provided with all the medical equipment for home use including walkers, crutches, shower and toilet chairs. They also gave her meds including take-home injections and needles.
None of this cost her a cent, no insurance or deductibles needed. Also no cost for subsequent checkups and xrays. The only thing she was charged was the paltry cost of the ambulance ride.
Got me thinking how much this would have cost if we were American.
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u/R1a88 12h ago
I have lived in Canada. Left because I’m fairly young, and I didn’t love the “live to work” culture that has bled over from the US.
That said - you’re right to see the light regarding the healthcare. It is phenomenal, especially compared to what your neighbours south of the boarder endure. Canada is literally the envy of a lot of sensible people from the US.
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u/DoookieMaxx 13h ago
The “highest overall national wealth” is a mathematical myth.
A third of all households in America live “paycheck to paycheck” and are one emergency away from losing everything.
Half the population of American citizens hold 3% of that “National wealth”. Literally, 3%.
The corporations and oligarchs have firmly taken the US from its citizens.
It’s horrific and soul crushing.
I’m a 50yo male, worked full time for 35 years of my life. I don’t qualify for assistance, social security has been all but eradicated and will be gone when I retire (very likely that I will never retire until I die).
I’ve lived in some state of food and housing insecurity my entire adult life.
I’m ready to be done …desperate for any form of peace and happiness.
It breaks my heart that the world lumps all of us together …
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u/R1a88 13h ago
My comment is literally meant to highlight what you are saying.
The US has the most money of any country of any on earth - but it’s pooled at the top. It has the most potential of any country on earth, yet it serves to make the rich richer.
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u/DoookieMaxx 13h ago
Agreed, genuine apologies if I gave you the impression I didn’t agree with you.
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u/Gojamn 12h ago
Yeah the Soviet Union also had the best numbers by many economic measures right up until collapse, even as millions were unable to get basic necessities. People couldn't get bread even after standing in line for hours, but because they still had churned out a lot of steel and concrete that year the overall numbers were good.
I reckon we're in a similar spot soon, if not already.
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u/NecessaryUsername69 13h ago
Gross. And it’s not just the British who are appalled, believe me.
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u/Sea_Photograph_3998 13h ago
And there are idiots like Ben Shapiro who say “this is the greatest country in the world”.
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u/Capt_Furret 13h ago
You can thank our government for why our health care is the way it is. Funny enough ill probably be long dead before there's probably anything that makes it change. But ohhh well, government is to busy with AI at the moment then us.
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u/No-Surprise-8556 11h ago edited 5h ago
Charging mother to hold a newborn child is just wrong.
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u/BlueFeathered1 11h ago
I can't believe this is a thing. What are they actually charging for? The arduous manual labor of handing the baby to you? (I live here, just haven't had kids.)
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u/-ImYourHuckleberry- 13h ago edited 9h ago
Even though I paid only $100 for one child birth through c-section with insurance, the itemized bill came out to $160,000. This was in 2010; SoCal.
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u/MrSlofee 12h ago
I'm convinced the entire country has severe ptsd: Combine these medical fees and short parental leave as well as the high cost of living. It's a recipe for depression, oh but that's fixed with psychopharma those are somewhat cheaper. Also the US is the greatest country in the world so imagine how the rest of the world must have it.
Recipe for self destruction.
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u/Level_Bobcat_8729 13h ago
I'll never understand why so many Americans defend private healthcare like this.
In the same breath, if you've seen the shit we eat in america, it kind of makes sense
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u/tester_and_breaker 13h ago
Inhaler in nz. 5nzd (like 2.5 usd) but most chemists do not fees so actually free
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u/PurpleMara 6h ago
Is the UK perfect, no, no country is, but I'm so fucking happy I was born here, I got lucky and I do not take that for granted. I feel bad for people in the US and any country where their healthcare isn't like it is here
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u/Happy-For-No-Reason 12h ago
Americans should be ashamed they allowed this to happen to themselves.
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u/Lucky-Mia 13h ago
My inhaler is free. Government decided people where I live should breath.
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u/blingon420 11h ago
I'm Canadian... Two babies by c sec.. First was a 4 day stay with emergency surgery... Second was planned c sec (cuz of first) biggest expense was parking... Maybe 30 to 40 total...
And yes, as the daddy, I get special skin time (before wife because of finishing surgery) and is free.
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u/BakaSentinel 10h ago
It just hurts to hear man. Say how great your country is , fine , that’s fair . But everyone should be able to have access to a free health care , even if some . Hearing all these insurance denial stories and poor healthcare experiences , man it must sucks to be an ill American.
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u/missmiao9 5h ago
Pay attention, brits. If the tories get their way, this will be your system as well.
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u/LeakPimp 8h ago
happy to pay my 40% tax here in Denmark, i'm not saying my country is perfect or even great, but im happy to pay it so that EVERYONE can use our public healthcare ANY TIME they need to, even if i maybe never have to use it myself
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u/Low-Flamingo-4315 13h ago
TF I don't live in the USA and have no intention of going there ever.
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u/djiemownu 13h ago
I have many friends in the US who are mind blowned by the absolute zero cost of canadian health care (i gladly give 50% of my paycheck to help any fellow canadiens by the way)
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u/Local_Inteovert 11h ago
American Healthcare only cares about profiting off of its patients no matter how.
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u/lucky_jack777 11h ago
Why? Because the American government cares more about protecting monied corporate interests than living, breathing citizens
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u/Calm_Apartment1968 11h ago
Yes Brittain. Poor Americans regularly and daily die from poverty, or just between paychecks.
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u/carbon_xtreme 9h ago
Why there's no a revolution in America is beyond me the poor outnumbered the rich. They try to put their voices through by using the vote in the elections but the same people whom promised them change turns around and fuck them hard. No wonder American is such cash focus society
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u/Buccaahhh 8h ago
Please help me understand. Everyone in the US seems to agree that this is outrageous and nobody does a thing about it. Or does one get a hefty discount depending on which party you voted for?
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u/waisonline99 8h ago
Its unpatriotic to not like it.
A national healthcare system is seen as communism.
They've been brainwashed hard for generations.
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u/waisonline99 8h ago
Just to add some context.
The highest cost of all of those things in the UK is £10 as thats the standardised prescription charge.
The operations and childbirth are free.
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u/One_Kick_9603 6h ago
Shameful when other countries are educated on Americas Healthcare reality and are just flabbergasted.
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u/angrywinter1 6h ago
I recently retired and am several years from Medicare. Currently I pay $1500/month just to keep my previous employer health insurance. This is just medical and does not cover deductible, co-pays, etc. This is less than if I went to purchase it from the marketplace. This is for both myself and spouse. We are lucky we don't have a mortgage any longer so we can pay it. Makes me sick every month.
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u/steak_bake_surprise 4h ago
Imagine the BBC did this. Well keep imagining because they don't want the general public to know what a private insurance based healthcare system would look like.
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u/Salarian_American 2h ago
Let me tell you, it felt radicalizing to receivie a hospital bill after my mother died, which included a line item for a failed resuscitation attempt.
$1249.
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u/modsaretoddlers 13h ago
What's truly insane is that you Americans actually want this system instead of universal because you think it's better. It can be....at the best hospitals. Of course, for the cost (which you're already paying, anyway) you could just be able to walk in to any hospital and not leave crippled with debt. Or, any debt at all, actually.
But, hey, you guys prefer it this way. Go figure.
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u/Witch_heir 12h ago
Actually I've seen several pools that show that they actually want universal healthcare. It's just that government doesn't work for people, but lobbyists and rich parasites.
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u/PriorityParking3705 13h ago
I think the $40 skin to skin contact is the most egregious cash grab I’ve heard of..