US healthcare still stupidly expensive, with pathetic outcomes, study finds

https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/05/us-healthcare-still-stupidly-expensive-with-pathetic-outcomes-study-finds/

395 points · 40 comments · view on lemmy.world

40 Comments

BakedCatboy@lemmy.ml · 40 pts · 111d (19 replies)

I'm paying $300 tomorrow for like 4 routine blood tests because I lost my job and insurance.

patruelis@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 111d

Wow, and im here in. Australia doing A-Z blood checks for free, every 6m just to check all is going well. And complaining that the doctors visit is not free, it's about $30USD the first time, the second time is health care plan so it's already included in the first one.

RagingRobot@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 111d (2 replies)

Oh you don't have a job? Your healthcare should obviously cost more then to punish you

reddig33@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 110d (1 reply)

Tying healthcare to your employer is the stupidest thing ever.

Bytemeister@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 110d

Second. Number one is thing tying healthcare to investors trying to make a profit.

ArmoredThirteen@lemmy.zip · 8 pts · 111d (11 replies)

I'm US citizen currently living in Sweden. I had to visit the emergency room the other month and I was worried about costs, the Swedes were confused. Middle of the night ER visit on the weekend cost me about $50usd

ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net · 3 pts · 111d (9 replies)

You have to pay for an ER visit? WTF?

(I meant in Sweden. I know people pay for ER visit in US)

thesohoriots@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 110d (1 reply)

$300 for me to walk in the door (US), and my plan is from a healthcare employer, so I’d be getting care at the same fucking medical system that insures me.

Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 110d

something not mentioned here is the deductibles and out of pocket maximums, until you pay into OOP your visits may or may not be partially covered.

OH specialty drugs are rarely approved by the insurance due to the insane cost of a biologic medication., they expect the patient to jump through hoops(try everything else), or if present with such severe symptoms that they MAY approve right there.

Catoblepas@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 110d (1 reply)

I considered it incredible when we had insurance that only cost $100 for an ER visit. That’s $100 to walk in the door and be seen, any treatments you get on top of that are extra.

Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 110d

for my plan its 200 to walk in, and scans, er doctors, doctors reading results, equipment its all extra cost too. AMBULANCE IS 75/ride.

Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 110d (1 reply)

just for the visit, and not the actual cost of the everything while you are inside an ER room.

ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net · 1 pts · 110d

That's still weird. What if someone doesn't have the money? In Spain you never pay for public healthcare. I thought that maybe as a foreigner he's not covered by social security but if he's living there he should be.

TubularTittyFrog@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 111d (2 replies)

yeah, and your ambulance ride if you needed one with cost you another 3-4 figures.

and you will wait in teh ER for 8-12 hours for basically anything. typical wait time to just get from the entry lobby is 2-4 hours.

it will be your entire day/evening/overnight.

and the the nurses and doctors haven't slept in 2-3 days.

services are generally better, if you are admitted to the regular hospital. but ERs are a trainwreck.

ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net · 2 pts · 111d (1 reply)

We're talking about Sweden.

Wait, are you also talking about Sweden?

Sanctus@anarchist.nexus · 2 pts · 110d

That sounded like the US to me

Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 111d

depending on the insurance in the USA, it can be as low ass 75, or as high as 200+ per er visit OR MORE, assuming you are insured this doesnt INCLUDE tests, ER doctors, medications or other services during the visit.

ramenshaman@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 111d

laughs in diabeetus

kreskin@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 110d

Maybe they can take some of your plasma during the blood draw and pay the bill with that? I'm going to have AI write an app for that. freebloodtests.com. I suppose we could tie it to a medical fight club, or into OnlyFans. People will pay for any kind of porn. And I am ashamed to admit that as an American, I'd probably pay to watch a medical fight club.

The world already think thats who we are as a people, all thats left is to write the app.

Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 111d

dentist appointments costed me 270 for an emergency visit. and they want more than that for a full exam and cleaning, its out of pocket, they are good dental service but pricey, University dental school is a thing, but they take a LONG TIME to onboard new patients, and i between appointments, due to them being students. because i see individual non employer- dental plans are horrendously inadaquete. i made just enough not to qualify for state healthcare. i am paying for ACA plan subsidized, as long as i dont get a major illness or injury its "affordable". im using CA ACA exchange, and the test are somwhat reasonable, at 30$/test though

A_norny_mousse@piefed.zip · 21 pts · 111d

An updated analysis comparing healthcare systems across 20 countries finds once again that the US system is an outstandingly poor performer, summarized as being a “persistent failure” for its high costs, poor health outcomes, and premature deaths.

Wow, as if the headline wasn't harsh enough.
And it's analytic language, not a mere insult.

At this point no healthcare system at all might yield better results.

CapuccinoCoretto@lemmy.world · 18 pts · 111d

American healthcare is a threat to the rest of the world.

Luigi did nothig wrong.

Postmortal_Pop@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 111d

Fuck I could have told them that for the cost of a decent bagel, did they really need a study?

spacesatan@lazysoci.al · 14 pts · 110d (3 replies)

dems in 2028: 'we can't run on healthcare reform it would be too risky and we can't imply saint Obama's main legislative legacy was a failure.'

dems on november 6th 2028: 'what the fuck we told them we weren't jd vance why didn't people turn out to vote'

CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 110d

Get your Polymarket bets in now, folks! Its a guaranteed winner!

Godric@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 110d (1 reply)

Lemmings in 2026: "Me expect Orangedolf wins forever"

Lemmings 2028: "SEE! My prophesy is self-fulfilling!

Anyone reading this, go the fuck outside and talk to people. pls :(

spacesatan@lazysoci.al · 4 pts · 110d

You are beyond delusional if you think lemmy comments have a greater impact on the election than the dem's pattern of refusing to offer major reforms. People turn out to vote when politicians give them a reason to show up, not because social media says 'ooo this is gonna be a close one'

Lemmy libs are bordering on a religion with the level of magical thinking and cargo cult politics going on. Idols just wash up on shore and if the blue idol doesn't destroy the red idol it's because you didn't BELIEVE hard enough.

Criticizing the democratic party in the abstract 2 years out from the election in question is too dangerous. You can't ask things of the blue idol, you can only worship and hope for the best.

ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net · 11 pts · 111d (4 replies)
Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 4 pts · 111d

and black women, due to racism, mysogyny they are often ignored, or dont seek treatment.

A_norny_mousse@piefed.zip · 1 pts · 110d (2 replies)

White women too, though.

Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 110d (1 reply)

dont think so, white woman often seek help and are more likely to be listened to if the doctor is also a female. they do get ignored for certain illnesses though which is tragic, like unusual symptoms of heart attack, or gynecological cancers.

ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net · 2 pts · 110d

It's right in the graph. US-White is at 14.5. Only Mexico and Chile ls higher (and US-Black). US has a well known problem with maternal mortality.

tmyakal@infosec.pub · 8 pts · 111d

But is water wet?!

applebusch@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 6 pts · 111d

wait so you mean bankrupting people for being hurt or sick and materially harming literally everyone involved except the pedos in charge is bad medicine?

canniest_tod@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 110d (2 replies)

Yeah, it's almost completely privatised. The system doesn't work like it should. Capitalism is acting just like a disease.

Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 3 pts · 110d

medicare/medicaid is also hamstrung by the GOP from getting better legislation too. they need to keep thier pleb voters from revolting.

Tyrq@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 110d

So who is the healthcare for healthcare, seems the disease is going to kill its host currently

IratePirate@feddit.org · 3 pts · 110d

In spite of POTUS cutting prices by "1,200, 1,300, 1,400, 1,500 percent"?

wersooth@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 111d

you need a study for that?

VAK@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 110d

"Still"? Dafuq did you do to need clarifying that?