How Much Does Your M.R.I. Cost? Buy It First to Find Out. | NYT Opinion

[@jonah_kessel]

Hi, I'm Jonah, the Deputy Director of Opinion Video at The New York Times. Opinion Video has tried to bring to light the many ways in which our profit-driven hospital system is failing both patients and those that care for us. In January, nurses set the record straight on what’s actually causing the hospital staffing crisis (kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqOnqpyfZbVnerc). The previous summer, we spent time in covid ICU’s showing the sad intersection of death and vaccine politics (kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppWbgWRod72YmNE). Earlier, a short film offered a firsthand perspective of the brutality of the pandemic inside an I.C.U. (kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYOXmpmbfN2Xh9k). Today, we bring you another hidden injustice: hospitals across the country are ignoring new laws that require them to list prices for services - and you're paying the (literal) price. Have you been impacted by the lack of pricing transparency? Let us know in the comments.

[@LoveAlwaysAlwaysLove]

YES !! YES !! YES !! And I have insurance. The copays are $100 $200 plus more. When I expressed my distress, I've been met with, 'well Ms Higgins, it's a $5000 blood lab and you only have to pay $250". Which in no conceivable way helps assuage the impact. Even the MRI required a $110 copay and those 2 were a day apart. I was recently in the hospital for 2 1/2 days. Not only did they not feed me or allow me to have water, only ice chips for 1 1/2 days - only to find out the nurse had me mixed up with another patient! No apology, no acknowledgment. I can only pray for whoever they mixed me up with. Meanwhile, the copays on the many tests and services rendered, have kept arriving since May 24th. If most anyone knew ahead of time the high costs, they'd probably lose 3/4 of their business. It's tragic really. Canada, UK and Australia are looking pretty good lately. If you'd like me to offer you the name and location of the hospital, I'd be happy to tell you. I want to lodge a formal complaint with the hope of having my humongous bill reduced. Maybe you can help or advise me? Either way. 🙌✌🙌

[@christinesavage725]

Great! Can you also cover how COVID-19 is man made by Peter Derrick and Fauci? just ask Major John Murphy at DARPA - he has all the details!

[@dn844]

@@LoveAlwaysAlwaysLove My husband has cancer. The doctor he sees is originally from Canada. She reassured my husband that his survival is much better than the patients she saw in Canada. She said by the time they were seen; the cancer had spread and for many, it was too late. I will ask her why they waited at his next appointment.

[@LoveAlwaysAlwaysLove]

@@dn844 Love & Healing to you & your husband. I recently had surgery on my wrist too, I fell walking my doggy & fractured it. I told the hand surgeon about my time in the hospital, his eyes got saucer big & he nodded that nothing is the same at present. Again, Blessings of Love to you both. It helps to imagine ourselves healthy and happy, it has me anyway to move through everything. ✨🙌✨🌟✨🙌✨

[@dn844]

@@LoveAlwaysAlwaysLove thank you very much. It's going to be up to us to change it, you, me and anyone else who believes the way we do about what they are doing. I thank the people who put this together, awareness is key. Working together, we can change it. They don't stand a chance against all of us.

[@specialtramp]

It's inexcusable that 86% of hospitals aren't complying with federal law but even if prices were transparent, you can't shop for lifesaving care. When I got hit by a car thankfully I didn't lose conscious so I was able to direct myself to an in network hospital ER. Health care is a human right not a consumer product. It's absolutely insane that we don't have Medicare for All. No it should never be prices first - it should be CARE first.

[@homewall744]

There are not rights to consume other people's wealth for your needs. Insurance protects from big bad outcomes.

[@sarysa]

You can't shop for lifesaving care, that's why catastrophic coverage exists. They can charge whatever they want if actual prices are hidden from everyone, that's why comprehensive coverage exists.

[@nomore3816]

thank god we have that in germany. Couldnt pay so ething like that myself.

[@eduardorodriguezsanchez8743]

@@homewall744ancaps they're does not shoulding comment without adult supervision

[@donaldducko6580]

Be treated is the right. Care is not. Same as an oil change. You can get fancy or do it in your yard. That’s reality. A trial free being in big dependent on anyone else for survival. Only when it’s injured or hurt should another step in to help - morally. Leave the government out of healthcare. That’s the issue. Nothing else.

[@matisseny2923]

i have been living in the states for about 6yrs now and received a medical bill for the first time in my life. i have lived in Australia, UK, Singapore and Hong Kong and have never paid or seen a medical bill, ever. it was a huge culture shock to get a $200 bill for a simple consult with an in-network GP.

[@geoengr3]

I hope this never comes to pass, but if you are ever a patient in a US emergency room, you will feel the business end of the medical-industrial complex. When you see the bill it will likely feel like a combination of rage, a heart attack and deep depression hitting you all at once.

[@matisseny2923]

@@geoengr3 exactly, my mind went numb trying to imagine oh god what if i had to have surgery or something in the US and then it hit me this is how people with good paying jobs and savings end up living out of cars, all because of a medical emergency. i didnt get it before but i do now

[@ALifeofLearning]

As a Dutch person I have never even had to think about spending more than 400 euros out of pocket for essential medical care. And that system is far from perfect too but the US healthcare system is truly a hoax. Healthcare should NEVER be expensive enough to send people to bankruptcy.

[@DianaandherGuitar]

What’s bonkers is that even a max if 400 euros is a pipe dream for us USians, 40% of US citizens cannot afford a surprise US$400 emergency expense.

[@worldserpent731]

MRI usually can cost from 5k -7k or more. You can fly to Thailand and have it done and have a nice vacation for less.

[@teamginger9134]

You are paying dearly. You live in tiny apartment and drive tiny car because gov is soaking up your wealth. In America, nobody lives in tiny apartment and drive tiny car and we have better healthcare!

[@powertothepatients838]

This is an incredibly important film, which showcases the tragic financial hardship we face as patients in this country living with a healthcare system rigged against us, top to bottom. Hospitals across the country continue to illegally squeeze patients for their shameful corporate greed while the government ignores the fact that they are breaking federal laws to do so. Thank you Martin and thank you New York Times!

[@GoAsCloseAsYouCan]

Film? You mean video.

[@shadowguard3578]

When a person is ill ‘shopping’ for medical care is an absurd notion. The sick (or the family of a sick child) should not have to worry about how much treatment will cost and or whether their health insurance will cover the expenses. It’s heinous that the medical insurance industry is in control of healthcare and who has access to it.

[@mr.p438]

Yes

[@janemorra9147]

The idea of "shopping" just means that there is a free market, where people have "choice" based on prices and quality as to which hospital they choose. The basic economics of a free market economy guarantees that if/when hospitals post their prices, that consumerism is created and that puts immediate pressure on all prices to be competitive and keeps all prices in check across the board... aka fair, consistent, and reasonable prices (versus the immense corporate greed currently in the system). Certainly, there are emergency situations where price doesn't matter, but forcing hospitals to post prices (like every other industry) means we will have a much more sensible system where patients won't get buried in medical debt because hospitals can charge whatever they want.

[@daihunter3524]

My mother-in-law [in the US] passed [in 1988] from cancer but for some time afterwards the bills kept comming. Then I noticed several that appeared nearly identical as to the services or materials [IV's, procedures, dressings, consulations, etc] rendered on particular days. When questioned the hospital, and without the least bit of shame, admitted that the insurance company didn't compensate them sufficiently in those instances so they simply double or triple billed them for the same stuff or procedure. Absolutely disgusting. Probably unlawful as well.

[@stevejette2329]

The American "health care delivery system". hahahahaha I just retired from 37 years as a sole practitioner, never associated with networks, corporations, etc. Treated LOTS of homeless, lots of people on very reduced rates. Now 75, I have almost no money. No mansion, no yacht, no airplane. Greedy healthcare business makes me sick.

[@shadowguard3578]

Thank you for making treating patients your priority and not profits and lifestyle.

[@stevejette2329]

@@shadowguard3578 It has to do with the ability to look into the mirror and be OK with the image. Thanks.

[@DLKUNATHIII]

My wife and I had a stillborn, one month away from his due date, a couple of weeks later to get a 9,000 bill was a tough pill to swallow, americans needs to wake up and stop letting corporations run our lives, people first profits after, and we had good health insurance

[@DianaandherGuitar]

I’m uninsured. If my choices are either have a lifetime of debt or die, I’d rather die. What quality of life can I possibly have if I’m saddled with tens upon tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands, of dollars of debt?

[@katetranscribes]

Maybe healthcare should just be free then. Having prices be public wouldn’t be so contentious if patients never needed to worry about the bill in the first place

[@grmpEqweer]

Single-payer FTW. Canada uses a single-payer system. They get better public health results, for less money per Capita. The USA spends more on healthcare than any other country, per person, by a wide margin. For that, we get health outcomes about as good as some poorer eastern European countries. Yeah.

[@sew_gal7340]

Its so nice to be generous with someone elses money, i assume you hardly pay taxes but want everyone else to pay it for you.

[@shanacarter9816]

I have been talking about this for years. Finally someone speaking on this matter. I am blessed to have medical yet, I have received my 6 concussion yet from a bank. And I can’t receive any compensation due to having Insurance. When my Mother passed they kept Billions and made use pay over 100k to social security for them giving her redux-phen-phen. Thank you for having the courage to report.

[@m0llux]

This makes me so glad to live in a civilized country. Yes, I am describing the US as uncivilized, here. I live in Germany. When I need healthcare, I go to te doctor, who will admit me to hospital. I get treated, I get referred to one or more specialists, if need be, and then I go back to normal life. How much does it cost me? 10€ per day, capped at 28 days per calendar year. And yes, that includes "room and board". You can't even afford to pay these 280€ right now? OK, no problem, interest free payment plans are readily available. And if you would have to pay more than 2% of your annual income on these co-pays (this can be lowered to 1%, in certain cases), you are exempt from any further medical co-pays for the rest of the year. Do we have to pay more in taxes for this healthcare? No. We don't. Healthcare is a separate insurance premium that's proportional to your income. Currently, that premium sits at 14.6% of your gross wages. Sounds expensive, but many, if not most American "health insurance plans" are similarly priced. All this to show that the US is a third world country, at least concerning medical costs.

[@sneauxone]

How much is the coverage for a child?

[@herrklugscheiser2330]

@@sneauxone it’s included in their parents healthcare until 25

[@m0llux]

@@sneauxone Free until the age of 18 (no co-pays, either). After that, if they are in full time education, until 25.

[@karenmack2005]

Unfortunately right now we have thugs in control of our government. This is why many Americans do not support letting the govt take over healthcare. If we did that right now, no way would it look like what you are describing.

[@whymewhynot2002]

@@karenmack2005 Thugs in control due to media being controlled since the telecom act of 1996.

[@grmpEqweer]

Single payer would actually be cheaper than for-profit insurance (studies back this), and we could stop having roughly 500,000 people a year going bankrupt due to medical debt. ...Not to mention the estimated 68,000 per year who die from preventable causes due to lack of insurance. Single-payer means that care would be free at the point of service. It means you'd have more taken out for taxes every month, yes. But you would have no insurance premiums. ...If your employer buys your insurance, you could wind up with a bigger paycheck, because the employer would no longer be on the hook for your healthcare. ...If you want to change jobs or start your own business, *you would never have to worry about your healthcare!* Single-payer, y'all.

[@beachgirlful]

Deep socialism, no access to medical care keep the Clinton agenda out of our medical care, what happened to choice of doctors and how you are cared for..single payer is a no access way..I beg to stop all this and being a 3rd world country! The people that choose this for us are the one's getting top notch care that we the taxpayers pay for, what happened to medicare..it's a crime.

[@teamginger9134]

Now that medicaid/medicare is the biggest customer of healthcare, prices will never ever ever go down! There is no attempt at fiscal responsibility from government and hospitals know it! Yeah, and all you get to see is the dr's nurse! The doctor doesn't have to look at you! You are not paying the bill, nobody cares about you! You voted for this. Your congressman requirement is 51% of the vote, where lobbyists are paid solely on performance. Enjoy the increasing costs and decreasing quality!

[@CDN1975]

I am Canadian, so I don't pay for an MRI (have had many for a bad knee and kidney stones). So glad I live in a country with universal health care. Capitalists will argue that we pay higher taxes for "free" health care. They are right and I will gladly pay higher taxes to benefit all my fellow citizens.

[@pahis1248]

indeed same from Finland

[@teamginger9134]

USA is crazy awesome! We have best doctors and hospitals, rich people from Europe come here for it! And when they get here, they are surprised to see that they are among poor people getting the same treatment! And get this, poor Americans live in big houses and drive big cars and eat like kings!! You know this! You gawked at it on TV!! You don't get 1st place in obesity being skimpy!

[@teamginger9134]

@@AspectStudio No you don't!

[@moroaica3660]

No, you don't have to pay. You just wait 1+ years, if you get it at all. If your condition is bad enough though, the government will happily give you MAiD within two weeks. What value for your taxes!

[@Lisa-mb4nw]

Oh my gosh, this 100%. It's now come to the point that I don't go for medical care unless I absolutely have to. You feel as though your health is being held hostage. It's horrible. Predatory. The stress of the bills inhibits your recovery at times, creating a vicious cycle. There's no real regulation to prices. I don't take my car to the mechanic and have them perform work without knowing the prices.

[@janemorra9147]

You are spot on.

[@kevinmorra2674]

Thank you Martin Schoeller and New York Times!!! We need action and enforcement from the government to protect patients.

[@YoRAHeem]

It’s crazy that medical and healthcare technology improves at the cost of these patients and the prices never go down.

[@homewall744]

It's not crazy, it's by design when you get rid of free people in free markets. Prices only come down in free markets.

[@YoRAHeem]

@@homewall744 it is bc these companies and people creating these advancements are doing so with the pretense to help people.

[@stix409]

@@homewall744 no in "free" unregulated markets, it always leads to corporate consolidation and a totally fixed marketplace between cartels who are totally unaccountable and buy off the loyalty of elected Representatives. People have to organize and use their numbers to leverage their best interests, we need a strong regulatory body to actually work for the people and do trust busting, maintaining a fair marketplace with healthy competition, you can't have healthy free market without healthy competition.

[@stix409]

And if you truly think the Titans of whatever industry, the major companies that succeed are going to respect healthy competition and not engage in corruption if left unchecked, you're sorely mistaken and this type of naivety needs to end. Company's like ExxonMobil or Nestle are too big to just "vote with your dollar" and try to get rid of, it's just not the way it works ever. Without regulations, the most corrupt have the greatest advantage.

[@teamginger9134]

Now that medicaid/medicare is the biggest customer of healthcare, prices will never ever ever go down! Yeah, and all you get to see is the dr's nurse! The doctor doesn't have to look at you! You are not paying the bill, who cares about you?!!!!!

[@jenesoleil3922]

I was hospitalized by a local hospital when I didn’t need to be. I came in with dizziness and heart palpitations, and when they couldn’t find anything wrong, they insisted that I be hospitalized overnight to “find out what’s going on”. Everything that they did could have been done outpatient. I was there only one night, and the care was absolutely dreadful. I checked myself out the next morning against their wishes. The bill was $5,500 of which I was responsible for $1,200. I know that’s much less than what many people pay for hospitalization, but I absolutely didn’t need to be there and I’m certain the staff knew that as well. It was just a money grab, a complete fear mongering con job by an institution that we should be able to trust, but can’t.

[@sneauxone]

And they are also protecting themselves from a malpractice lawsuit in fear of missing something by just letting you go home.

[@jenesoleil3922]

@@sneauxone not true. How can they be liable unless I’m under their direct care?

[@quacker998]

$1.3m for emergency cardiac, cabg, icu and subsequent recovery and pacemaker/defibrillator installation. $20k out of pocket after insurance and I’m a lucky one. America needs a single payer system of healthcare not controlled by lobbyists or drug companies

[@teamginger9134]

It is expensive because the people getting the treatment are not the ones paying for it. Eh, it's medicare/medicaid/private insurance take all the money you want, do any procedure you wish, it's not my money, take more! In 25 years, we have seen healthcare expense quadruple, and now you only get to see your doctors nurse. Who cares about you? You are not where the money comes from!! And don't complain, you voted for this!

[@quacker998]

@@teamginger9134 I didn’t vote for this healthcare system but I would vote for a single payer system because access to decent healthcare should be a right in the ‘richest country in the world’ 20k of deductible’s wasn’t easy to pay btw so it was ‘my money’

[@savvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvva]

I love the US but it’s sooooo messed up. Hopefully you guys will figure it out! I wish you all good health! Peace & love from Europe!

[@karenmack2005]

We are in a mess right now and we can't fix it because our electoral system is completely dysfunctional.

[@teamginger9134]

USA is crazy awesome! We have best doctors and hospitals, rich people from Europe come here for it! And when they get here, they are surprised to see that they are among poor people getting the same treatment! And get this, poor Americans live in big houses and drive big cars and eat like kings!! You know this! You gawked at it on TV!! You don't get 1st place in obesity being skimpy!

[@christianloser5038]

Why aren´t there demonstrations about this billing practaces all time all around the U.S.? I have seen now so many videos about this topic. I really do not understand it.

[@alberthjaltason8152]

Unbelievable. Even drug dealers and hitmen will inform you of the price of services. I live in Norway and there is an annual roof of about 300 dollars. Anything over that is covered by the state and you get a "free card". Not dental though.

[@sneauxone]

Dental insurance in the US is usually pretty bad and rarely covers more than 50% of the charges.

[@alberthjaltason8152]

@@sneauxone well, if you're unemployed and receiving support as your main income, you do actually get everything for free. Got myself a free one about fourteen years back, during my "formative years". How about grinding the teeth down for putting in veneers? Can't get that done here.

[@teamginger9134]

In America dental is still cheap! For the most part, insurance doesn't cover it, thank god! Because Dentist would then be charging $6000 to pull a tooth, not the current $200.

[@geezygee]

I'm currently trying to fight at 14k bill for 6 hours in the ER, and i informed them when i walked in, i would need financial assistance, and wanted to speak to a councilor - it was never an option. After the fact, i tried to apply for FinAid; the offices they have listed on their website do not exist IRL; their web portal doesn't fucntion; and there is NEVER a financial aid councilor on site EVER. How do i hold this hospital accountable for breaking the law?

[@chasedave]

Price-gouging when people are in health hurricanes (aka hospitalized) reflects a deep moral failing by hospital leadership. In actual hurricanes, price-gouging is illegal. To begin with, no hospital receiving any taxpayer funds (medicare, medicaid, etc.) or that is tax-exempt should be allowed to do this.

[@powertothepatients838]

Great analogy and very true!

[@teamginger9134]

Medicare and medicaid is now the target of healthcare. Prepare to be passed around by doctors, to doctors in the scam. While only ever seeing the doctors nurse. Now what is the business of government??

[@word42069]

me: a hard-working 27yo being harassed by a debt collection agency out of the blue during a work call on Monday for some crazy bill that is nowhere in any of my EOBs from my previous health insurer. This is all because I had to have emergency surgery when my appendix ruptured ..a year ago.. and after I thought I had finally paid off all my debts. The medical and insurance industries in this country are absolutely a**backwards and just downright criminal from my experience. Everything down to the hospital not even having my proper address on file and thus not properly sending documentation to my address and probably also not giving individual physicians my correct address hence why I already had to fend off another debt collector asking for money for services I literally never received a bill for. I could go on and on about how miserable and stressful it’s been. All i’m saying is if you find yourself having a medical incident requiring an emergency room visit or surgery… be relentless in your demands for information even while in the hospital, extensive records of who did what, triple-checking all information on file is complete and correct, and then after fact riding your insurance company’s a** for updates, & records. You will think everything’s resolved then suddenly be at risk of your credit report being permanently damaged because some random nurse in an ER doesn’t actually take your insurance this doesn’t go through insurance and then sends your bill to a debt collector a couple months later all while you have absolutely 0 knowledge of the debt.

[@Turdfergusen382]

Thank you for opening people's eyes to this problem

[@baldpipesmoker1]

It's unbelievable and outrageous how much medical care costs!

[@jdeljones]

@4:34 It shouldn't be prices first. You shouldn't have to decide whether or not you're going to have the shrapnel removed from your leg or get reconstructive surgery or PT for an amputation. The price of health care costs way too much in this country. And if insurance can't cover you completely for injuries sustained during a terrorist attack (or during a pandemic like the individual with COVID bills) then what is it good for?

[@thomasfholland]

Why would you call this opinion when you’re presenting facts? And 86% of the hospitals are not providing any price information is totally insane, disgustingly greedy.

[@powertothepatients838]

Agreed 1000%!

[@sew_gal7340]

Since when does NYT ever present any opinions that isnt the most popular , most safe views?

[@craigkeller]

Thank you NYT!

[@juanbancalero609]

When the American dream becomes the American nightmare. What atrocity!

[@teamginger9134]

USA is crazy awesome! We have best doctors and hospitals, rich people from Europe come here for it! And when they get here, they are surprised to see that they are among poor people getting the same treatment! And get this, poor Americans live in big houses and drive big cars and eat like kings!! You know this! You gawked at it on TV!! You don't get 1st place in obesity being skimpy!

[@michaeldendy6971]

The hospital pricing issue is much greater than most believe. Crying for government help finds deaf ears as the big insurance companies and the hospitals are huge political contributors from the local political level all the way to Congress. Not only do the hospitals price gouge, they send out grossly flawed billings almost always to the detriment of the payor. Those "mistakes" are added atop charges that are marked up 500% to 1100% over what Medicare (basically a cost plus reimbursement program) pays. The big insurers, Blue Cross, United, Aetna, and Cigna pretend to represent employers and individual payers via their PPO "discounts" which are typically 50% off of the hospitals gross billed charges. Post those discounts, most employers (regardless of their size) are paying about 300% of what Medicare would pay AND the employer is paying a hefty charge of about $20 per employee per month for this privilege. The billing errors of hospitals are conveniently overlooked by the big insurance companies to help keep their monopolies in place and to force employers and their employees into the price gouging web. Don't believe it when hospitals cry that they are not making or are even losing money. Hospitals keep two and sometimes three sets of books so that no one sees their actual financials. There are opportunities for employers and individuals to pay much less for hospital services through cash pay discounts or Reference Based Reimbursement. If you consider Reference Based Reimbursement (which pays hospitals about 150% of what Medicare would pay) be very leery of service providers that charge a percentage of the hospital's gross billed charges as their fee.

[@janemorra9147]

Agreed 100%

[@Mark_Chandler]

some hospitals put their prices up in excel files. The problem with that is this type of minimal compliance makes it hard to compare prices. What we need is searchable website listing prices of comparable procedures at different hospitals. This could be the state, federal or private company providing this service. Maybe it's already out there and I just can't find it.

[@powertothepatients838]

100%

[@teamginger9134]

If that price list exists, or ever exists, it will be like that invoice the car dealership shows you, in other words, complete nonsense. It is too late to even consider controlling costs, medicaid and medicare are now the biggest customers. You are just the warm body that healthcare uses to generate income. The healthcare business model is now medicaid/medicare and there is no attempt at controlling costs!!

[@TheLegendUSA]

The hospital price transparency rule is irrelevant in our current system. It doesn't make sense for hospitals to comply if patients don't know true costs until insurance bills for the procedure AFTER it's performed

[@mbas-patientbillingadvocat1851]

I agree and who's shopping for prices if they are sick enough to be in the E/R? All they want is treatment at the time to feel better and to get well. No matter what prices they show them, they will be like ok just make me better.

[@sarysa]

It took until 2022 for NYT to realize lack of price transparency might be a bad thing? I've been complaining about this since the 2000s, and I'm not especially old.

[@marabookstagram]

I wish we as Americans realized how ludicrous this is. It's not like this in other developed countries!

[@teamginger9134]

USA is crazy awesome! We have best doctors and hospitals, rich people from Europe come here for it! And when they get here, they are surprised to see that they are among poor people getting the same treatment! And get this, poor Americans live in big houses and drive big cars and eat like kings!! You know this! You gawked at it on TV!! You don't get 1st place in obesity being skimpy!

[@ldkellandshaw]

How can you POSSIBLY say that 86% are non-compliant when only TWO (2) have been fined for not doing so?

[@powertothepatients838]

The government is not enforcing their own rules... that is how.

[@ldkellandshaw]

@@powertothepatients838 Of course... that's why they recently fined 2 hospitals a million dollars. Silly me.

[@shadowfoam3491]

You assume a 1:1 ratio of hospitals getting fined for not complying; you also assume justice works with any urgency whatsoever.

[@weber247]

Big business includes ems, police and lawyers. I was given an ultimatum recently and it says get in the ambulance or back of police car.

[@Pepper212]

Every time is a good time to invest! Investment is not a game of chance or luck like the lottery, rather it involves critical reasoning, planning, and diligence and focuses on achieving the major goal (PROFIT). Notwithstanding, one should put into consideration that various externalities may occur during the investment period which could result in a high yield in profit or loss.

[@ilmarimakinen2904]

You're Right!!✅️

[@ilmarimakinen2904]

Investing in cryptocurrencies means facing great volatility. But that is exactly what makes trading cryptocurrencies interesting for certain trading instruments, such as CFDs (Contracts for Difference).

[@Sir.sergeev6342]

"Success usually comes to those who are too busy looking for it,"- Henry David Thoreau

[@sewerynszulc8155]

If you believe in the future then you will know that indeed Bitcoin is the future

[@EmilOrlowski370]

@@sewerynszulc8155 Yeah very true. I think it's something that could apply more in the future as Crypto becomes more of a currency.

[@james.telfer]

Rest of the G7: sorry, medical what?!? At most, it's a tiny charge, not something worth risking death for...

[@aaronthecameraguy]

Really great work, thank you.

[@OhNoNotFrank]

I am unable to pay more than $350,- in medical expenses a year. If I forget, and for instance pay for prescription drugs at the pharmacy, or an MRI at the hospital, the money is refunded to my account before I get home. I have no medical expenses for my children, even their annual appointment at the dentist is free. For this I pay *less in taxes* than the average American, while I don't have to worry about having medical insurance.

[@TallyRocky]

Thank you for this presentation. Things must change.

[@silverXnoise]

I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when I was 18-years old. I am turning 40 next year, and still have not recovered financially as my ability to seek credit and loans was ripped from my grasp before I even had a chance at adulthood.

[@HiFiInsider]

Because if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it. And insurance don't have to pay the listed price but personal payment has to.

[@ldkellandshaw]

Wrong. The law states that a hospital charges no more to a self pay patient then the average of what insurances pay. My hospital immediately removes 60% off of charges for a self pay patient, because insurance only usually pays around 40%.

[@BestFitSquareChannel]

Well done. Thank you.

[@violetmarinaayis]

My dad has been in hospital many, many times. Heart surgery was 6 digits before insurance. ER bill (no diagnosis) was thousands. I knew someone who had a scan and it was 18k after insurance. To me it's insane. I can't stand that healthcare is a business.

[@petitgarcon]

In Thailand, our developing country, has universal health care coverage since 2002. Although some expensive drugs (such as immunotherapy etc.) are not in the coverage but basically most of the essential drugs, investigations, and treatments are in the coverage. It’s one of the few good things in this developing country.

[@alk6225]

paid €240 for an MRI of my spine in Portugal including consultation in a private hospital. In the UK even cheaper -£0! Doctors here in Europe are not on the breadline either.

[@Thuhuong0705]

In my country, the medical bills in public hospitals are so much cheap. And they paid a very cheap salary for doctors and nurses in public hospital. We even can't afford for the basic demand in our life.

[@holgor87]

Late stage capitalism at its worst… that combined with your polarized political landscape. It’s just a ticking time bomb if you ask me… I hope you find solutions that have people in mind and not focus on profit and financial enrichment. greetings from Germany.

[@teamginger9134]

Quite the contrary, it is actually because it is not capitalism. Now that medicaid/medicare is the biggest customer of healthcare, prices will never ever ever go down! There is no attempt at fiscal responsibility from government and hospitals know it! Yeah, and all you get to see is the dr's nurse! The doctor doesn't have to look at you! You are not paying the bill, nobody cares about you! A congressman requirement is 51% of the vote, where lobbyists are paid solely on performance. We enjoy increasing costs and decreasing quality! But speaking of capitalism, you can not argue that it is not totally awesome. In America poor people are obese, drive big cars, live in big houses, yeah! Like that! That is capitalism baby!! In Germany, people are sorta not happy, live in tiny apartment, drive tiny car. Almost like they live with a rock in shoe.

[@vamshik]

I just visited PCP for annual exam today, I was absolutely shocked by the way doctor was pushing me to get a surgery for DNS done here in U.S, in spite of a specialist in the area (ENT) specifically recommended not to, back in India. We went back and forth debating, I gave several references and informed other doctors opinion. However, it didn't hold much weight as the other doctor's recommendation was from outside the U.S. What she did was a bit outside the line, a doctor who is suppose to be relied up on is absolutely treating patients by putting patient's health at risk over profits. These corporates/doctors have gone too far.

[@EGF1000]

Civilised countries should, and do, provide free health care and education.

[@lilianwoo2997]

There’s a hospital in network just 3 miles from a hospital completely out of my network. If I where to have some kind of accident I’m afraid I won’t be able to choose my care and possibly become bankrupt

[@fuffoon]

The actual MRI cost 110 euro. With the doctor's referal and the specialist's diagosis plus tax it was 246 euro.

[@timshippam3906]

Cheaper for the hospital to pay the fine then comply with the law. I am glad that I live in the UK but even our services are definitely not far from great that's for sure!

[@LoriFeldmanTheDatabaseDiva]

It’s not just hospitals. The insurance companies must also share the blame. They set rates they’ll pay for procedures which are under the “going rate.” That just creates miscoding and lack of transparency in healthcare pricing. Then they each point the finger at the other claiming they’re the greedy party. So many of my docs have just gone into concierge practices or retired in the last 5 years. We’re in an escalating crisis. One solution: put your healthcare dollars to work in functional medicine to stay well and only use traditional medicine for 911s.

[@EpicMishap]

This gives me the willys. Here in Europe it's WAY better, but the general trend to privatize public goods and to commercialize every aspect of life takes place here as well.

[@beaubiden3244]

He was great in P.O.D.!

[@iamdmc]

F living in the US Canada is better in almost every way - especially health care

[@teamginger9134]

Ok, wanna tell the class why Canadians go to USA for healthcare?

[@markuseberlein3394]

Don't tell me that it is about freedom to have any price tag, freedom to be insured, freedom to chose to get medical treatment...

[@LuisPJ]

what I learn is that even if we did have Medicare for all, it will still be meaningless if there isn't funding or enforcement based upon this video and the video on Mental health from LastWeek Tonight

[@XDCherylLi]

It’s an important topic but why is there so much focus on that photographer…. Do we really to see ten different angles and zoom-in shots of him shooting the subjects when we should be focusing on those subjects

[@AethiCal]

Price transparency has many ethical topics that are very important. The first one being patient autonomy. By having price transparency, this allows the patient to have more information they may need to make an informed decision about their healthcare. Hospitals should not only see this as a legal right to the patient but also a moral right. Patients need to know the prices of certain procedures so that they can make the decision of whether or not they want to undergo the procedure. I can understand how explaining the risks and benefits of a procedure is a huge factor of allowing the patient to make an informed decision. But the cost of that procedure should also be included. Some procedures may not need to be done right away so this would allow for the patient to make financial plans. They will know what to expect and not be overwhelmed with a sudden large hospital bill. But what if the patient is not able to know of the price due to it being a medical emergency or what if the patient must make the decision to go through with the procedure because it will save their life? I agree with what was said in the video that with price transparency, this will promote competition and help lower costs of procedures. The competition and, more importantly, the regulation of prices can also help with healthcare disparities. Because hospital prices can vary in different regions, some patients have no other choice but to pay for whatever the closest hospital to them is charging. So again, with the price transparency will allow the patient to know they are getting the best price for their care or make arrangements to travel to a hospital that they can afford. I’m sure there are many other complex considerations that must be made. However, I still think it is important for hospitals to have price transparency for their patients, especially, if it is a federal law. That must then come down to the transparency being enforced.

[@AethiCal]

Lo, B. (2020). Resolving ethical dilemmas: a guide for clinicians. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

[@whymewhynot2002]

We are out of our minds to give all the money to insurance companies, who then control the care (and cost) of the services we receive. Get the government and corporations out of medicine.

[@teamginger9134]

Now that medicaid/medicare is the biggest customer of healthcare, prices will never ever ever go down! Yeah, and all you get to see is the dr's nurse! The doctor doesn't have to look at you! You are not paying the bill, who cares about you?!!!!!

[@echoybyte42]

When I got my covid shot I had a complication... my free covid shot wound up costing me multiple thousands of dollars after an ambulance ride. I had no choice but to pay when I got collection calls.

[@teamginger9134]

THat covid shot was not free. If you pay taxes, you incurred $7,800 dollars in your share of national debt for that non imunizing vaccine. That is after stimulus collection, so more if you didn;'t get a stimulus check.

[@williamshaw5388]

In England and Canada they are free.

[@MK-jn9uu]

Hospitals gouge bc insurance lowballs. I had to pay $1500 for collarbone X-rays after insurance “paid” a $35,000 bill.

[@shadowguard3578]

Seems like the insurance company paid zero and you had to foot the whole bill.

[@SolaceEasy]

Here's a phrase you don't hear anymore: Sacred Trust

[@chinhtai9792]

diagossic?diagnosis?

[@usandthem6748]

You really shouldn't have to know the price at all. Mostly every other developed nation has free health care, but of course the US sees that as "weakness" vs. equality.

[@LK57913]

We all know the effects, but we don't know all the causes we need to understand to create a solution. It would be a more useful if there were a cogent presentation of the impact of managed care contracting and how hospitals don't necessarily know what the price is because of the hundreds of different plans and payor programs, government program formulas, and tiered reimbursement arrangements.

[@karenmack2005]

We do better without health insurance. Then the doctors, hospitals and care providers HAVE to discuss the price with us up front. So called health insurance is one part of what created this problem as it completely disconnected the patient/doctor/price connection.

[@BobQuigley]

No better image of a nation that's lost its way than US healthcare. Out of control behemoth that in spite of being far and away the most expensive system of healthcare ever built it lags behind dozens of other national systems.

[@Dushyantgiri]

same things happen everywhere.. Profits are fine and should be there to sustain the medical ecosystem.. Indian ecosystem is little better in terms of cost vs value but problems of tranperancy and reach of healthcare is there

[@crunchy_joe]

I said it countless times and I'll say it again: US is basically the wealthiest third world country. I cannot imagine how this can still be a thing in a developed, western country.

[@teamginger9134]

USA is crazy awesome! We have best doctors and hospitals, rich people from Europe come here for it! And when they get here, they are surprised to see that they are among poor people getting the same treatment! And get this, poor Americans live in big houses and drive big cars and eat like kings!! You know this! You gawked at it on TV!! You don't get 1st place in obesity being skimpy!

[@dynamics9000]

Too many people spend money they earned..to buy things they don't want..to impress people that they don't like. --Will Rogers...

[@shadowfoam3491]

What does that have to do with being gouged by hospitals for needed medical procedures? The people in this video weren't getting Botox or hair plugs...

[@teamginger9134]

Yeah, 20 YO will finance car for $35,000, but $80 for doctor visit and he addressing congress!!

[@thersten]

Lemme get a rack of BBQ ribs sauce on the side, cole slaw, small caesar salad, and iced tea no sugar. Lemme get one car accident treatment, I brought my own gown, I already have crutches, and hold the MRI please.

[@TheGreatMandalore]

So ask for the price? You can't talk? Why can't you ask for the price before the procedure?

[@samuraijack1371]

Why don’t we talk about the root problem? It’s the lobbying industry. How are corporations able to get bill so lopsidedly in their favor? You can’t claim yourself a democracy if your laws are dictated by corporations.

[@teamginger9134]

No. The root of the problem is people. In the beginning patients were like, eh....insurance is paying so charge as much as you want, yeah $100 a night for a pillow is perfectly fine, i don't care one bit!!! Then, insurance companys were like, get outta here, we not paying for all this crap! Then it really went out the window when medicare/medicaid became the biggest customer of healthcare. Now the healthcare business model targets medicare/medicaid, so you are increasingly only seeing the doctors nurse, when the doctor is making 3 times the old rate. Yeah, that is how it goes when the person getting the service is not the one paying. Don't forget, you voted for this. Your congressman only needs to get just over 50% of the vote to be your incompetent congressperson, while lobbyists are paid on performance. I will remind you that healthcare is not the business of government, see why?

[@rogerricalde2567]

I'll never Pay untill the Senate get involved.

[@teamginger9134]

Senator only needs more than 50% percent of the vote to be your incompetent senator. Lobbyists are paid solely on performance. As we increasingly vote for Democrats, we see healthcare costs quadruple in 25 years. So, do you think healthcare is the business of government?

[@thesweetone]

God Bless Canada 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@teamginger9134]

Yes, bless them with funds to go to USA hospital!!

[@overshare7]

I am portuguese, this is otterly unthinkable here...

[@teamginger9134]

It is incredible how mis informed Europe is about American healthcare. It is the best in the world and everybody that wants it gets it. But we are heading the way of Europe, where we wait long time for poor quality.

[@blattimus]

As always I want to say thanks for the fine journalism of everyone on the NYT staff. I’m working on a construction site and our porta-potty was all out of toilet paper. Luckily one of your paper delivery specialists dropped off a fresh new copy of the New York Times, and we were able to use it for its only useful purpose. Keep up the good work! If your corporate activism… er, I mean journalism… continues to improve, I will also consider using your sleazy propaganda rags to line the bird cage.

[@bakabaka98573]

Seeing Kanye at the beginning 💀

[@natanbcpc]

MEDICARE FOR ALL NOW!

[@giuseppenativo2123]

This is a very old story. Hospitals are companies, sometimes companies owned by other companies or universities, that are companies. They say that in the USA, people has the power. I know this country, from a very long time and nothing has never changed when you talk about homelessness, medical care, veterans, university debts and more. Where is the power? It is in the only place where you can't get in, where congressmen and senators do their interests. But lobbyists can get in, infact you can find their offices inside the buildings and it's legal. In the rest of the world it is completely illegal. Curious. So, Americans, why don't you start doing things as you should have done a long time ago? Start a national petition, collecting 1,000,000 signs. After you go for 3,000,000 and then to 5,000,000 and you go on. Give the petition to your most important representative and tell him or her that if they are not going to move the wheel in favour of the tax payers, your will give back your election cards, for good. Politicians need votes to exist or survive. Find the weak spot in the supply chain and try to have a dialogue. Insurances, hospitals and big pharma, are not enemies, they are just incredibly rich and greedy, cause they can be. Laws have been shaped to give them an advantage in your system. Don't forget that the US government, is the only one in all the western world to do not negotiate the price of the drugs with the pharma companies. There is no limit. Why? It has no sense. Just with a negotiated maximum price, you would see a significant cut of your insurance, every year. The only politicians that are fighting against all this are Warren, Sanders and Ocasio. If you are not voting for them, you are voting for your insurance, for the hospitals and the richest 4% in your country. Take action and take your side.

[@jewulo]

The greatest country in the world. God's own country.

[@frecklydharma]

Within 5 seconds of watching this I can see how misleading this is. I have so many questions: what type of insurance are we talking about, are these self-pay? If you are low income you have state Medicaid which is cost nothing for the patient…you can’t talk about hospitals without talking about insurance. What these people are saying doesn’t make sense to me, this is not the full story

[@maxsmart99]

Shh….. they want to create outrage 🔥

[@teamginger9134]

Blah, blah blah blah, is what i heard~!

[@civis-6009]

NECESSARIO AGIRE PRIMA CHE ARRIVA IL FUOCO O CONTIAMO I NUMERI-🔥

[@malta7406]

I feel like the "opinion" moniker could be removed if there were more hard-line facts presented here. The legitimacy of the problem is kinda undercut by your whole attitude like, "wait wait this is just some guy's opinion, don't take it too seriously and also the company as a whole believes in none of this". It really takes away from the power these words have. Beautifully shot, well-spoken, but this type of rhetoric is often used to back up preexisting beliefs, and the odds of this Opinion influencing many other's beliefs are slim, in my opinion.

[@elizabethhurtado2829]

Transparency

[@DraynorManor]

#SaveSoil Reverse climate change right now!

[@shadowfoam3491]

Wrong video.

[@meejinhuang]

Insurance companies should demand prices for procedures or refuse to pay.

[@kalfunai]

THIS IS AMERICA...

[@iamfinky]

Yeah well. America: the country where people just exist to make companies money

[@teamginger9134]

Now that medicaid/medicare is the biggest customer of healthcare, prices will never ever ever go down! There is no attempt at fiscal responsibility from government and hospitals know it! Yeah, and all you get to see is the dr's nurse! The doctor doesn't have to look at you! You are not paying the bill, nobody cares about you! You voted for this. Your congressman requirement is 51% of the vote, where lobbyists are paid solely on performance. Enjoy the increasing costs and decreasing quality!

[@ALPHAMAGASLAP]

We will have President Trump back!!

[@countydigitaltv]

This is buying off your body

[@maxprivate3805]

They MRI your wallet to see how much you can afford.

[@brookeraasch8631]

While I agree with the general premise of this short film, as someone who has worked with amputees for nearly 2 decades, I can say with confidence that Adrianne Haslet is not an optimal spokesperson for this issue. Adrianne received millions of dollars in compensation for her injury. She is neither financially struggling nor representative of the general amputee community. She is actually in the 1% of the amputee population that DOESN'T have to worry about money. With more than 2 million amputees in the United States, it would have been quite easy to find a better patient story to highlight.