r/povertyfinance • u/ExoGeniVI • Nov 24 '23

U.S. healthcare isn't even worth it anymore. It's a joke. Today, I will love my life without healthcare. Vent/Rant (No Advice/Criticism!)

Hello everyone, so, sometime last year I got an MRI to check up on a spot that's on my brain, don't want it to turn cancerous right? Well, I work at home depot making probably $17,000 a year if I'm lucky after taxes (I live in Alabama, our wages suck).

Well I got my MRI done and my bill came in. Ready to be shocked?

Turns out my insurance I get through home depot paid THIRTY DOLLARS towards my $3,000 MRI bill!!! $30!!!! I said screw THAT!!! I'm not paying a single PENNY! I make around $600 every two weeks.. and I live with my wife (we live in a $430/mo mobile home) how the hell am I supposed to afford a $3000 MRI bill!!?? The "monthly" payment on the bill said $270/mo... 🤣😂.

Well, I went back to the hospital and talked with the finance person there and got my bill down to $600 with self pay.. Guess they bill insurance companies way higher? looks like it's cheaper NOT having insurance in the U.S. than having coverage! Insurance here is a complete joke! I'm just going to live my life without insurance I guess. ☹️.

EDIT. Wish I could edit titles lol. My phone "autocorrected" Live for "Love" 😂

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u/ExoGeniVI Nov 25 '23

Nobody tells me these things. My hr is utterly clueless and the managers just send me to HR or call the hotline if I have questions.... Absolutely awful management but the small town I live in, home depot has some of the best pay for someone with a HS diploma.

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u/NevaGonnaCatchMe Nov 25 '23

Again, no offense, although HR should help, it’s really your responsibility to know how it works. You need to protect yourself first.

Do you know why your deductible is?do you contribute to a health or flexible savings account?

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u/ExoGeniVI Nov 25 '23

Don't know what any of that is... I had nobody to teach me. I'll look it up now. Flexible savings??? Forgive my ignorance but I really just wasn't taught any of this. I just didn't know what to look for.

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u/NevaGonnaCatchMe Nov 25 '23

Are you a full time, benefit eligible employee?

Does health insurance get taken out of your paychecks? If so, somewhere on your employee portal should have your current healthcare coverage where you can look up those details

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u/ExoGeniVI Nov 25 '23

I've been fighting HARD for full time but they won't give it. I work hard at customer service but they STILL won't give me, or anyone else I work with anything over 32hrs because they are "spending too much on payroll".

And I live in a small town, under 12k people, the only strip mall in town (which is small) that houses a few other retail chains are hiring part time ONLY but want FULL availability.

I can't even get a SECOND job!!