What's the Most Absurd Medical Bill You Have Ever Received?
As many know, politics and debates of those politics have been in full swing for the 2020 election for the last few months. While this is primarily happening on the Democratic side of things, there has been a lone Republican that has challenged the sitting president for the GOP nomination.
Last Thursday, on September 13, was the third 2019 Democratic Debate, which featured the top ten candidates that could qualify. Of the multiple topics discussed, such as climate change, national security and gun control. However, it seems as though one of the biggest conversations that has been thrust into the national spotlight in recent years has been health care. In his 2016 presidential run, Bernie Sanders made the argument that the health care system within the United States should transition to a single-payer system. Commonly referenced by Sanders as his "Medicare for All" plan, this plan would essentially guarantee "health care to all people as a right, not a privilege" and allow the United States to join every other major country on the planet in this recognition.
To shift the general population's perspective on the issue, Bernie's Twitter sent out the following tweet:
What’s the most absurd medical bill you have ever received?— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) September 15, 2019
This has inspired a massive response spread across many different walks of life.
I think this is a perfect example of our country's more fortunate coming in contact with stark reality—the privileges granted to some are not universal and oftentimes, much of our population falls through the cracks. There is no excuse that citizens of the wealthiest country in the history of the world should have to choose between paying their rent this month or receiving the medical care they deserve.
— 🌹Becca 🐾🌲👣🌎 (@Becca2400) September 15, 2019I'm not sure about most people, but I know that myself, my family and many other families could never realistically afford a bill that's an average of $100,000.
Another unrealistic possibility for almost anyone in the middle class.60k for an appendectomy - the hospital was in my insurance network but the surgeon they assigned to me wasn’t. https://t.co/iNJ32Kv9ya— Helena Price Hambrecht (@helena) September 15, 2019
Perhaps one of the most moving responses that I've personally seen from Bernie's tweet, this is the epitome of problems within both the health care industry and the insurance industry. Unknown, ridiculous fees for a person which lived a total of three minutes. This, of course, would be eliminated by adopting a Medicare for All plan.It was from my own department too. Ha! You asked for absurd.— Jennifer Gunter (@DrJenGunter) September 15, 2019
When I got home this $600 bill came for Aidan. It was addressed to “Parent of Aidan XXX”...and for a second I thought his death was a dream and I got very hopeful he was alive and then confused.
And then very sad.
I think this is a perfect example of our country's more fortunate coming in contact with stark reality—the privileges granted to some are not universal and oftentimes, much of our population falls through the cracks. There is no excuse that citizens of the wealthiest country in the history of the world should have to choose between paying their rent this month or receiving the medical care they deserve.
Love him or hate him, I feel like Bernie Sanders cares about the country and believes in his solutions. HealthCare is definitely a touchy subject for anyone who has fallen through the cracks in the system and hopefully the next president will make efforts to solve those holes.
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