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Fifty years ago, certain diseases were horrible, and usually fatal. Nothing anybody could do: You got one of them, and you would die, often badly.
Since then, several companies have spent a zillion dollars on research, and developed cures, or at least vaccines, to a number of those diseases. But since those companies don't have money trees, they have to charge very high amounts for those cures or vaccines, so they don't go bankrupt and can pay for the next zillion-dollar research project to cure the next horrible, fatal disease.
QUESTION: Are we better off today, where getting the cure for the horrible disease will bankrupt you and your family for the next twelve generations? Or better off fifty years ago, when your getting that disease would simply kill you off, leaving your family sadder but otherwise fine?
My accrual of debt effects only me and my estate, it wouldn't have any impact on the next 11 generations proceeding me, so that doesn't really make sense.
Beyond that, bankruptcy isn't a big deal, keep your house and wipe out your debt - good to go!
Yes, we are better off today. Take polio for instance, you may be to young to know anything about it but I remember as a kids seeing people suffer terribly from polio.
Yes, medical debt is a problem. Hopefully, Obamacare will improve things.
Since then, several companies have spent a zillion dollars on research, and developed cures, or at least vaccines, to a number of those diseases. But since those companies don't have money trees, they have to charge very high amounts for those cures or vaccines, so they don't go bankrupt and can pay for the next zillion-dollar research project to cure the next horrible, fatal disease.
Companies aren't the only entities spending zillions of dollars on research. Universities do too -- including publicly-funded ones.
Aren't they entitled to funding for their life-saving zillion-dollar research projects too? Keep in mind that those universities -- public and otherwise -- are also responsible for educating the scientists who develop those cures and vaccines.
Yes, we are better off today. Take polio for instance, you may be to young to know anything about it but I remember as a kids seeing people suffer terribly from polio.
Yes, medical debt is a problem. Hopefully, Obamacare will improve things.
My grandfather was crippled his whole life from polio.
Honestly - I'd rather be dead than face the amount of debt I will face if I relapse, and I am insured. I'm not sure if I would seek further treatment - though I'd have a better than 50% chance of being cured - because I'm not sure how I'm supposed to pay for treatment, rent, utilities, and food when I'd need to be out of work for at least 6 months. My work does not offer short term disability and I got sick so soon after getting my first job that I hadn't yet thought about getting short term disability insurance on my own. Few 22 year olds think about that. Now, I can't.
Bankruptcy is horrible when you rent. It's just me- my family can't or won't help me and my friends are in grad school or also in their first jobs. My credit has been trashed by the cost of cancer treatment. I can't afford to live on my own - I need to live with roommates who end up costing me more money by bolting and not paying their bills, and I'll probably have roommates until I'm in my 30s. I worry every night about how I can pay my bills NOW, and end up postponing scans because I can't afford them and I'm truly terrified about what a bad scan will bring.
Am I happy to be alive? Yes. Is the amount of stress I am under BECAUSE I survived good for me long term? Not one bit.
Having life saving treatments is only as good as your ability to afford them.
Are we better off? In some ways. We all have color TV, once a luxury (and all the programming is actually in color unlike 50 years ago.). We can all chat on Internet forums. Nobody gets drafted into the Army anymore. But in many ways we have lost so much more. Used to be most any American could get a job, one that often paid the rent. There was more common ground in politics and Congress got things done. Even the draft got a lot of young men straightened out. Medical expenses were more reasonable, hospitals put treating the ill ahead of profits.
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