How the fuck are the upcoming generations supposed to afford to pay for housing, food, and essentials when half of their paycheck (or more?!) is going directly to health insurance?

That's the cool thing! They aren't!

Republicans want health care tied to employment so that you are forced to choose between your job and your life.

If you want a slightly based view on how this system got developed, the Acquired episode on Epic is a great listen.

The US system of healthcare was invented around the same time as the UK's and we got a choice on how to handle it.

TL;DL: there was a salary cap on many jobs due to WW2 and companies offered health insurance as a way to make their jobs more attractive. Back then most people didn't have health insurance nor was it needed so this was considered a fringe benefit. Labor unions, frustrated by the lack of political movement on salary cap, fully supported private health insurance.

It appears that the choice many are going to opt for is to simply forgo insurance. Which is really extra fun because that means even if they're injured in an accident they didn't cause, they can still be on the hook for thousands of dollars if they are taken to a hospital.

Added bonus: Less people on insurance means higher rates for the rest as the pain can't be spread around any more.

I'm not in the US so any comparisons are pretty much worthless, but 30k/year sounds just ridiculous. Myself and my wife make slightly above average by local standards but if we'd need to cough up another 2k/month for insurance that just wouldn't happen. With mortage and other living expenses with kids there's practically nothing left from what we make. Sure, we could cut our expenses a bit, we're living pretty comfortably, but there's no way we could squeeze 2k/month out of our "non necessary expenses".

But, again not being in the US, that's taken care of via taxes. 30+% is a lot out of salary but at least I don't have to save for college fund nor worry about visit to hospital/doctor.

That bites. I had insurance offer to pay 900$ for my 4k ambulance ride (involuntary) , despite my insurance clearly stating 50$ co pay. I signed the check to the ambulance company from my insurance and they kicked me a bill for the 3k$ and change remaining. Send that to BCBSRI, they denied it. I had to appeal and remind them of the policy I had where JT clearly stated 50$ co pay for ambulance and they finally coughed up the rest as a "one time exception". Fucking racket this shit is they were just hopeful I wouldn't go through the 3 months or so of bullshit and being harassed by collections companies to pay. Never gave the collections a penny and medstar ems can SUCK MY DICK fuck those guys.

I’m getting charged over $1000 for taking an ambulance to the hospital

It's $5000+ here.

they can still be on the hook for thousands of dollars if they are taken to a hospital.

And the only way out of that is to never give your name if you go to a hospital. The problem with that plan is they have no records to work from like medical history, allergies, etc, so the outcomes will be worse.

I suggest all people who voted to raise our premiums by 3 times should have their health insurance taken away.

In a sense that is precisely what is happening. Just with a lot of collateral damage.

My partner also has epilepsy and has to take anti-convulsants every day. If it weren't for subsidized Canadian Healthcare, I don't know if he would've been alive to meet me when he did.

Because universal healthcare is socialism and you don’t want to pay too much taxes.

I'm self employed. I haven't had health care in nearly 7 years. It's idiotic for me to pay 700$ a month for something I rarely if ever need. It would be nice to have for the occasional use, but it's far cheaper to pay cash then bother with the scam.

It's honestly starting to look like your better off without insurance. When the hospital kicks you the bill, pay 20 a month max so they can't kick it to collections and ruin hr credit and just do 5-20 a month untill you croak. Fuck em theyll never get paid in full this way but u don't have to financially ruin yourself in the process.

But by God we can carry a gun, puh-raise JEE-zuz-ah!

Oof. Remember just a few years ago when saying "the Jews control the country" would get you labeled as an insane conspiracy theorist and you would get banned on every social media platform?

Things certainly flip flopped quick!

I think that's called 'war budget' nowadays. . .

Isn't it nuts that the USA spends over twice that on Healthcare and its still shit?

That nap sounds like a great idea :D

Did you figure out what it was? I'm experiencing the same symptoms!

Uhhhh no?

REPUBLIANCans are too complicit to even riot, they almost never do. they make up alot of the recipients for medicaid/care, and aca. having just DEMS , progressives do it, is not enough, unless both sides actually protest together, which is unlikely nothing will change. which is why the protests were largely ineffective.

Even with the bread part beginning to fail, the US populace is still too complacent from bread and circus to do anything about it.

Most Americans will either have no idea why their premiums skyrocketed or reflexively blame Democrats

Americans will never take the action necessary to remove bad politicians who are destroying their lives. Never. The politicians will allow them to vote, only because they can manipulate the narrative during elections using excessive campaign contributions, making the public blame their neighbors instead of the corruption at the top.

Won't help.

2028: "Oh, I just can't vote for [candidate]. They're not a True Progressive. I'm voting Green to feel real clean!"

Just like at the hospital!

https://archive.is/1TJ32

Worked fine for me.