The US healthcare system doesn’t exist to provide healthcare - it exists to provide profits for shareholders. Any positive health outcomes provided are a fortunate byproduct - they certainly won’t be delivered if they’re unprofitable.
Of course, the same is true of any product under capitalism, but US health is a stark example.
Any positive health outcomes provided are a fortunate byproduct - they certainly won’t be delivered if they’re unprofitable.
While the US healthcare system is certainly fucked up, this isn’t really true. Emergency rooms are required by law to administer care, regardless of someone’s ability to pay, and a lot of hospitals will waive the cost if you apply for financial assistance and have limited income. Granted, they’re not going to see you for physical therapy, and other required follow-up care, but they administer unprofitable healthcare all the time. In poorer neighborhoods people use the ER as a primary care facility, since that’s the only place they can be seen without money or insurance.
Do you think a government-mandated exception for dire circumstances is a meaningful counter-argument to the fact that the healthcare system is run for profit not care - even as you acknowledge the gaps in care created by affordability?
The US healthcare system doesn’t exist to provide healthcare - it exists to provide profits for shareholders. Any positive health outcomes provided are a fortunate byproduct - they certainly won’t be delivered if they’re unprofitable.
Of course, the same is true of any product under capitalism, but US health is a stark example.
While the US healthcare system is certainly fucked up, this isn’t really true. Emergency rooms are required by law to administer care, regardless of someone’s ability to pay, and a lot of hospitals will waive the cost if you apply for financial assistance and have limited income. Granted, they’re not going to see you for physical therapy, and other required follow-up care, but they administer unprofitable healthcare all the time. In poorer neighborhoods people use the ER as a primary care facility, since that’s the only place they can be seen without money or insurance.
Do you think a government-mandated exception for dire circumstances is a meaningful counter-argument to the fact that the healthcare system is run for profit not care - even as you acknowledge the gaps in care created by affordability?