As to OP, the simplest solution is to move out of the US early enough or become “poor” enough and be in a wealthy blue state by the time you get to this predicament.
I believe it is the largest industry by employment in every single state now.
That compounds the problem even further. Really fixing it would put a double digit percentage of people out of work. I'm all for it, but I can see why politicians are hesitant.
I'd love to hear what you think "really fixing it" is, please share.
I can report that all (almost all?) of the hospitals and their networks both big and small in the area I am in have had layoffs this year of admin staff and healthcare professionals (nurses, doctors, etc). They have reduced bed counts, and cut programs and treatment options available. All of this was done in the name of the "affordability crisis" and is kind of like the 3rd wave of this kind of consolidation, belt-tightening behavior. And..prices haven't gone down, and they keep cutting.
I'm not that poster, but there's a really easy fix: Just model the system after Hong Kong's.
There's a tax-funded public system available to every citizen, so that everybody gets treatment. In practice, this is mostly utilized by the poor, and for emergencies like broken bones. You can see specialists via the public system, but there can be a wait of weeks to months. This is all effectively free. You'll never see a bill, or the bill will be extremely small. (e.g., $100 for four days of inpatient care.)
There's a private system for those willing to pay. This is unrestrained capitalism with little regulation and no parasitic middlemen. Want to see a specialist right now -- like later this afternoon, or first thing tomorrow morning? Sure. It'll usually be $200 or $300 out of pocket. No insurance necessarily involved. Diagnostics are also super fast -- same day or next day, usually. If you want an elective surgery, or if you want a superior tier of care (like a nicer hospital room, better food, more flexibility re scheduling,) you can pay for it privately... And usually without getting insurance companies involved.
There is effectively no "prescription" system. With very few exceptions for narcotics and certain stimulants, if you need a drug of any kind, you can buy it OTC. This includes steroids, weird nootropics, viagra (lol at needing a prescription for this), and all kinds of stuff. This vastly reduces the burden on the system.
Hong Kong's system is superior in every respect, and it's especially better at treating you like an adult. The American system is simultaneously complex and infantilizing.
Pricing transparency also does not exist here as GP is claiming it does in Hong Kong. I am supposed to get certain imaging tests done every year, and I never know how much those will cost me until after I have already done them (in the U.S.). Maybe there is some way to get a non-binding estimate ahead of time, but I have never received such a thing and am not even sure it is possible. So I can’t easily “shop around”—or if can, tell me how because I (and I think most people) don’t know how.
I most certainly cannot pay $300 to see a specialist the same day in the U.S. I would have to pay that much to see my GP after waiting 6 weeks despite my employer paying more than $20k/year to insure my family. To see a specialist, I would have to wait a few months and probably pay $1-2k for one visit, not counting any tests or imaging that is ordered.
The description of Hong Kong’s system sounds amazing if true.