Lounge of Tomorrow - Get your own damn health care

I agree that health insurance is dismal these days. Even when you have coverage, often you have to get approval for procedures, or even office consults. That can sometimes take a very long time, if you get it at all. I saw many "medically necessary" procedures turned down when I worked with referrals.

My uncle was in the hospital for a few days several years ago; no insurance at all, as far as I know. Took him a long time to pay it off. Lucky he lives with his dad and has few expenses.

One benefit (so to speak) is that often doctors will give a discount to those paying cash, with no insurance. My husband was watching a show about doctors who (I forget where) don't take insurance at all, and only charge a low rate, everybody pays cash. I could go along with that kind of system, paired with catastrophic coverage (provided that continues to actually cover you).