Changing health insurance after getting sick? - free market scenario

[presence]

But if you look at the prescription price, the cough medicine was probably billed as $60 and the pain reliever $50- about $160 total.

but... omg its after 5PM

10X emergency rates apply!

 

[Zippyjuan]

I don't know if you meant to, but you touched on something else. The doctor is going to prescribe you something for a cold, but it's actually more likely to be antibiotics. You don't see the cost there, either, and it's utterly ineffective to boot.

Only a poorly trained doctor would give antibiotics for a cold since they don't work on viruses.

 

[MelissaWV]

Only a poorly trained doctor would give antibiotics for a cold since they don't work on viruses.

Correct, yet it happens --- a lot.

 

[farreri]

To answer the pregnancy question, I'm quite sure there would be a market for prepayment of services you know you are likely to have.

But what about unplanned pregnancies? I'm assuming insurance companies would want the mother to get a physical to make sure the fetus is going to be low risk before issuing a policy.

 

[MelissaWV]

But what about unplanned pregnancies? I'm assuming insurance companies would want the mother to get a physical to make sure the fetus is going to be low risk before issuing a policy.

The moment someone finds out they are pregnant, they can go for the prepayment of services they are LIKELY TO HAVE. It's not insurance, it's prepayment. If you wind up needing more care, then it's going to cost you more, which can generally be financed or you can get help from charity or dip into a medical savings account or employer-provided benefits or any number of things.

The conception may have been unplanned, but the vast majority of pregnancies --- the gestation period itself --- are quite planned.

 

[farreri]

The moment someone finds out they are pregnant, they can go for the prepayment of services they are LIKELY TO HAVE. It's not insurance, it's prepayment. If you wind up needing more care, then it's going to cost you more, which can generally be financed or you can get help from charity or dip into a medical savings account or employer-provided benefits or any number of things.

The conception may have been unplanned, but the vast majority of pregnancies --- the gestation period itself --- are quite planned.

Wouldn't these companies demand physicals before issuing a policy if the person is already pregnant, or demand a pregnancy test for people wanting prepayment plans to make sure they aren't already pregnant, or even a physical of the parents to check for potential genetic problems and the like?

 

[MelissaWV]

Wouldn't these companies demand physicals before issuing a policy if the person is already pregnant, or demand a pregnancy test for people wanting prepayment plans to make sure they aren't already pregnant, or even a physical of the parents to check for potential genetic problems and the like?

...

You are prepaying for what you are most likely to use. You initiate this when you find out you're pregnant. Think of it as lay away if that helps; there's a set price, from which you might get a discount depending on employer, affiliation, etc.. No physical would be needed because the "policy" is only to pay for the basics you're likely to use. It's not going to "pay out" more or less depending on the health of your child.

 

[farreri]

You are prepaying for what you are most likely to use. You initiate this when you find out you're pregnant. Think of it as lay away if that helps; there's a set price, from which you might get a discount depending on employer, affiliation, etc.. No physical would be needed because the "policy" is only to pay for the basics you're likely to use. It's not going to "pay out" more or less depending on the health of your child.

So I buy a policy and my baby is born with costly birth defects. How do they pay me, so I can pay my baby's health bills?

 

[MelissaWV]

So I buy a policy and my baby is born with costly birth defects. How do they pay me, so I can pay my baby's health bills?

I honestly can't tell if you are trolling me. The policy is not going to "pay out" more or less depending on the health of your child. It is PREPAYMENT for services. You don't start with a layaway on a 30" television and then get a 50" at random. I started this entire thing by saying:

I'm quite sure there would be a market for prepayment of services you know you are likely to have. There would be basic policies for pregnancy, but these would not really be insurance, either. Your goal would really be to pay for the expected services over time instead of all at once.

If you have a baby with costly birth defects, it will be costly. I outlined ways this could be paid for. It's a hypothetical that you are beating to death without even reading the original premise.

 

[farreri]

I honestly can't tell if you are trolling me. The policy is not going to "pay out" more or less depending on the health of your child. It is PREPAYMENT for services.

I'm not trolling. I haven't gotten specifics from anybody how or who actually pays for the medical bills after buying a prepaid policy. Get me fully on the same page, so our discussion can proceed.

 

[MelissaWV]

I'm not trolling. I haven't gotten specifics from anybody how or who actually pays for the medical bills after buying a prepaid policy. Get me fully on the same page, so our discussion can proceed.

Last attempt. If I had puppets, I'd use them.

Hi Mr. Toad! I'm about to incur a really large expense over the next year, because I'm having a baby. How much will that be, do you think?
Oh, Mrs. Smileyface, we have a plan right now where you get two sonograms and x prenatal care and y costs associated with a standard, vaginal birth for $5,000.
Hmm I definitely wouldn't have $5,000 all at once like that. Is there something else I can do?
Sure! You can pay $400/mo for twelve months; we provide a discount of $200 since you work for Acme Anvils & More.
Great! That's much more doable! What if I go into labor early?
Well, the balance would still be payable in installments, but you're likely looking at significant costs if your baby is very premature.
That doesn't sound good. How will I pay for that?
Acme Anvils & More has a policy to cover the disability of you or a child up to a certain limit. All you'd have to do is make sure to add the baby to your policy as soon as they're born. I'm sure that's not going to happen, though!
Thanks, Mr. Toad!

 

[farreri]

You didn't actually answer my question. Re-read it.

 

[MelissaWV]

You didn't actually answer my question. Re-read it.

Who pays for medical bills after prepaying? Your prepayment does. That's what prepaying is.

The bill is $5,000. You're on the hook for $5,000 less any discounts you may have been able to get.

I've answered that about a dozen times already.

 

[farreri]

Who pays for medical bills after prepaying? Your prepayment does. That's what prepaying is.

The bill is $5,000. You're on the hook for $5,000 less any discounts you may have been able to get.

Maybe you're not quite understanding what I'm asking. Does the company selling the prepayment directly pay the hospital bills like current insurance companies do?

 

[MelissaWV]

Maybe you're not quite understanding what I'm asking. Does the company selling the prepayment directly pay the hospital bills like current insurance companies do?

You're not buying a prepayment. You're prepaying the hospital bills. There's not a company. It's not an insurance policy. You're prepaying. Paying ahead of time. Paying an expected, obvious, minimum of the cost you are definitely going to use ahead of time. There's not a fee. There's not interest (so you're not financing it). You are prepaying the amount the hospital agrees will be the standard cost for certain services that you will use for the type of birth you want. You are prepaying it.

I am understanding what you're asking. You are utterly misunderstanding the word "prepay."

 

[farreri]

You're not buying a prepayment. You're prepaying the hospital bills. There's not a company. It's not an insurance policy. You're prepaying. Paying ahead of time. Paying an expected, obvious, minimum of the cost you are definitely going to use ahead of time. There's not a fee. There's not interest (so you're not financing it). You are prepaying the amount the hospital agrees will be the standard cost for certain services that you will use for the type of birth you want. You are prepaying it.

I am understanding what you're asking. You are utterly misunderstanding the word "prepay."

So it's more like taking a loan out from the hospital?

 

[MelissaWV]

So it's more like taking a loan out from the hospital?

... No.

There's not interest (so you're not financing it).

So it's more like taking a loan out from the hospital?

Well done. Great troll. On ignore.

 

[otherone]

Only a poorly trained doctor would give antibiotics for a cold since they don't work on viruses.

Q: What do you call the person who graduates last in his class at medical school?

A:

 

"Doctor"

 

[farreri]

(so you're not financing it).

but you said earlier:

Hmm I definitely wouldn't have $5,000 all at once like that. Is there something else I can do?
Sure! You can pay $400/mo for twelve months; we provide a discount of $200 since you work for Acme Anvils & More.!

 

[farreri]

Will there still be companies still selling health insurance that only covers catastrophic care?