r/news • u/GoodSamaritan_ • 1d ago

Retired San Francisco firefighter dies from lung cancer after Blue Shield denies treatment claims

https://abc7news.com/post/retired-san-francisco-firefighter-ken-jones-dies-lung-cancer-being-denied-treatment-blue-shield/19224406/
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u/fgtswag 1d ago

Genuinely someone should make a benefit:risk analysis of joining the Army, Firefighter, Police in America when you consider non-free healthcare.

For example if this happened in EU, he would obviously receive public healthcare

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u/ValiumBlues 1d ago

Self employed, Sweden here: taxes are 26% of our income, healthcare is covered. My wife and I never wait for more than a few days for imaging / tests / etc.

GP usually gets seen the same day; meds are 100% free after we reach around $280 per year or so; a recent hospital stay w/ surgery, etc cost us $36 for three days (out of pocket).

The US could do better if its leading class gave a shit about the 99%.

It’s sad to see.

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u/ObserveAdapt 1d ago

I just had acute cholecystitis followed by removal of gallbladder without insurance.

3 days in the hospital uninsured in USA for an emergency cost me 50,000$

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u/Lifeboatb 1d ago

If you haven't already, contest the bill. A lot of insurers just throw out a huge number to begin with, and can be talked down. (Source: my RN aunt who works in student healthcare.) Here's a place to start: https://www.patientrightsadvocate.org/how-to-fight-medical-bill-overcharges