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!

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[–] 10 points 1 year ago (4 children)

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.

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  • [–] 13 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    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.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    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.

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