I spent half that time in Critical Care (much of that on a ventilator, a small amount sedated), and most of the rest in a specialist neuro-rehab unit. I would have died otherwise.

Fortunately it cost me nothing - Thank Bevan for the NHS - but if I were in the US I imagine I would be financially crippled!

  • TauZero
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    12 days ago

    On the order of hundreds of thousands to over a million dollars without insurance, on order of $50k-$100k in copayments with insurance. Either way will wipe you out financially, effectively forcing you to go through medical bankruptcy and resetting any savings you have to $0. In addition, the equity in your house and car can also be seized, above some personal homestead exemption ($250k in New York for example, where the average house price is $2M, and $5k for vehicle). Not sure if they kick you out of the house immediately, or put a lien on it that comes due when you die/move out and house is sold. The only savings that are safe from bankruptcy are retirement savings in IRA and future social security payments.

    • kbotc@lemmy.world
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      12 days ago

      If you’re on a plan that qualifies for the ACA (basically any real health insurance plan), your out of pocket max per year is capped at $9,200 this year.

      • TauZero
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        12 days ago

        Good to know! Still have to watch out for that every service you receive is counted as “in-network”. I’ve read horror stories where somebody with an emergency goes to a hospital that their insurance promises them is “in-network”, then later receive a surprise bill because one of the doctors that attended them at that hospital was “out-of-network”. Why was the doctor at that hospital then? It’s just something they do apparently.

        • kbotc@lemmy.world
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          12 days ago

          To the best of my knowledge, that’s all covered by the “No Surprises Act” that was part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 passed during Trump’s first lame duck period to give more COVID stimulus.

          • TauZero
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            12 days ago

            Ah! Guess my memories are a few years out of date, from before r***it still existed.