Covid 19 test is $3000!! - South Korea offers free testing, WTF is wrong with America?

[tulipsandroses]

It was mentioned on MSNBC tonight that a man returning from overseas, I don't remember which country, one of the ones affected by covid 19. He went to get tested to make sure he did not have it and would not spread it if he did. His bill is $3000.00!!!

Meanwhile South Korea is doing free testing and has tested over 100,000 people. WTF is wrong with America?? Seriously. Why is it that other places can get these things right when it comes to healthcare and we can't?

The thought of being hit with a $3000.00 bill might stop people from getting tested.

[dalton99a]

1. This is fucked up.

[MontanaMama]

2. Should we thank Alex Azar?

My deductible is $4500.

[abqtommy]

3. tRUMP has to get his Corrupt Cut...

[FoxNewsSucks]

4. Because the American government

is owned by corporations and billionaires.

That, and ignorance, really is the root of our problems.

[Luciferous]

5. This is exactly the kind of thing Bernie is trying to end...

[area51]

6. +1

We need comprehensive Medicare for All.

The issue with a public option.

[SunSeeker]

15. Trump gutted the ACA, allowing sale of junk policies. The ACA under Obama would have covered it.

Biden pointed that out tonight on Lawrence O'Donnell.

The reason this guy got nailed was because he bought a junk policy that didn't cover jack shit, a policy that was illegal to sell under Obama.

A cautionary tale also sprung onto the public eye. Earlier this week, the Miami Herald reported that a local resident named Osmel Martinez Azcue had recently returned from China with flu-like symptoms and decided to test himself for the coronavirus at a hospital. He tested positive for the flu, and not the virus.

But his prudence came at a cost. Azcue had a skimpy short-term health insurance plan which critics deride as a "junk plan." As a result, he racked up a substantial bill for being tested. Azcue received a claim from his insurer for $3,270 and will have to pony up at least $1,470, the newspaper reported. He's on the hook for more.

https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-vaccine-free-for-patients-result-of-obamacare-2020-2?amp#aoh=15832214150779&csi=1&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s

[tulipsandroses]

19. Thanks for the info. I think the govt should be picking up the tab

As this is a health care crisis.

I wonder if this guy knew what he was getting when he got that plan?

[RestoreAmerica2020]

7. South Korea is offering drive thru Cov19 testing, y U.S.? Not even

sufficient amount of test kits at any given hospital as NY physician mentioned this am. Why the delay by this administration/cdc?

https://crooksandliars.com/2020/03/if-only-trump-administration-was-competent

[Hoyt]

8. I think the test kits are coming from CDC and local health departments. I doubt there is any

cost/charge to patients related to those.

I don’t doubt there are hospitals, doctors, and others lying to people and profiting from fear.

I hope some officials address this before people go nuts.

[frazzled]

9. Vaccine would probably be free for most under ACA provision

Same would likely apply to testing (like for mammograms, etc.)

A little-known provision of Obamacare would likely make any coronavirus vaccine free for most people with health insurance.

Under the ACA, health insurers must cover federally-recommended vaccines at no cost for most people, according to John Cogan, a professor of health insurance law and financial regulation at the University of Connecticut.

"Everyone under Obamacare would be covered under this vaccination without cost-sharing," Cogan told Business Insider. That would extend to the health insurance people get through their employers, as well as to most health insurance programs like Medicaid for children and people with low incomes, he said.

President Obama's signature law — passed in 2010 —bans insurers from applying co-pays, deductibles, and co-insurance to vaccinations recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ensuring they're basically free for patients covered under those plans.

https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-vaccine-free-for-patients-result-of-obamacare-2020-2

[moondust]

10. Brainwashing.

And MSM appear to be working as hard as they can to make sure Sanders does not get the nomination or the WH where he would have more leverage to drag the U.S. out of its stupor.

Corporate profits über alles!

[Lars39]

11. That's not all...

iirc, you get the initial test, and 3 more tests 24 hrs apart to see if you’re over it.
And of course more money is involved if you were hospitalized.

[budkin]

12. GREATEST HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN THE WORLD!!!

Bullshit.

[LastDemocratInSC]

13. It's called "the bucks go into my pocket".

[KY_EnviroGuy]

14. This is what an America in love with unfettered capitalism gets....

from the GOP and their ultra-wealthy supporters.

I feel for migrants, immigrants, refugees and the poor that have no insurance. They are the ones working for low pay in our restaurants, hotels and resorts and that process much of our food supply.

The sad irony is those folks could be the ones to keep this virus active for many more months than if we had universal health care.

KY..........

[SunSeeker]

16. No, this is what happens when Republicans gut the ACA.

Trump gutted the ACA, allowing sale of junk policies. The ACA under Obama would have covered it.Biden pointed that out tonight on Lawrence O'Donnell.

The reason this guy got nailed was because he bought a junk policy that didn't cover jack shit, a policy that was illegal to sell under Obama.

A cautionary tale also sprung onto the public eye. Earlier this week, the Miami Herald reported that a local resident named Osmel Martinez Azcue had recently returned from China with flu-like symptoms and decided to test himself for the coronavirus at a hospital. He tested positive for the flu, and not the virus.

But his prudence came at a cost. Azcue had a skimpy short-term health insurance plan which critics deride as a "junk plan." As a result, he racked up a substantial bill for being tested. Azcue received a claim from his insurer for $3,270 and will have to pony up at least $1,470, the newspaper reported. He's on the hook for more.

https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-vaccine-free-for-patients-result-of-obamacare-2020-2?amp#aoh=15832214150779&csi=1&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s

[SunSeeker]

17. What is wrong with America is Republicans gutted the ACA.

Trump gutted the ACA, allowing sale of junk policies. The ACA under Obama would have covered it. Biden pointed that out tonight on Lawrence O'Donnell.

The reason this guy got nailed was because he bought a junk policy that didn't cover jack shit, a policy that was illegal to sell under Obama.

A cautionary tale also sprung onto the public eye. Earlier this week, the Miami Herald reported that a local resident named Osmel Martinez Azcue had recently returned from China with flu-like symptoms and decided to test himself for the coronavirus at a hospital. He tested positive for the flu, and not the virus.

But his prudence came at a cost. Azcue had a skimpy short-term health insurance plan which critics deride as a "junk plan." As a result, he racked up a substantial bill for being tested. Azcue received a claim from his insurer for $3,270 and will have to pony up at least $1,470, the newspaper reported. He's on the hook for more.

https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-vaccine-free-for-patients-result-of-obamacare-2020-2?amp#aoh=15832214150779&csi=1&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s

[Chainfire]

18. What would the point be

If someone didn't make a buck off the disease.

[Crunchy Frog]

20. I think he just got a flu test that came out positive

and the bill is probably all hospital assocated expences not covered by his insurance.

In my state, NYS, apparently all testing related expenses not covered by insurance will be covered by the state, so there will be no charges to patients.

I imagine that many people will die unnecessarily because of our country's fucked up health "system".

[Initech]

21. Two words: Greed and profit

[Iggo]

22. Capitalism: Killing Itself To Make A Buck.

[Bettie]

23. One correction: WILL stop

people from getting tested. Maybe some really rich people can afford that, but most of us can't spend 3k without some serious planning.

[bullwinkle428]

24. Fantastic point. I'm fortunate enough to have a good job with a relatively

decent health insurance plan, but I would be very much on the fence about spending that kind of $$$ on a coronavirus test if I start experiencing respiratory symptoms very much along the lines of bad colds I've dealt with over the years.