Health insurance at its core is very simple. You put money in, you go to doctor, insurance pay doctor. But in the USA, the insurance denies everything they possibly can. Money put in doesn’t ever see a doctor or your health costs, it goes right to the stockholders…

So why doesn’t someone just make a non-profit health insurance company where there’s no stock, no executives, just public servants and aggressive price negotiation where your medical bills are actually paid with the money put in?

  • chillinit@lemmynsfw.com
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    9
    ·
    12 days ago

    Amica is mutual insurance company for auto, home, and life. But, they don’t obstruct and deny legitimate claims like State Farm. Also, real humans answer the phone. The catch is that they’re fairly risk averse.

    I state this example because I don’t want people to equate mutual with shitty products and service.

    • litchralee@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      11 days ago

      Thanks for pointing this out. I offered State Farm as an example because they’re the largest auto insurer in the USA, but with just that example, I can see why someone might get the impression that mutual == bad. I happen to be a happy State Farm customer, but I’m aware this isn’t universal.

      I’ve added Amica and Liberty Mutual USA as additional examples to address this.

      • chillinit@lemmynsfw.com
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        11 days ago

        One really couldn’t hope for a better response than yours, even in details like also adding Liberty Mutual.

        State Farm’s adjustors act upon a universal ideology. Their captive agents have nearly zero influence over them. The only difference in service that you’re likely to experience is in communication between yourself and the captive agent.

        You’re seem both knowledgeable and rational. My paragraph above is flawed or you’ve some sort of exceptional situation. If it’s flawed then please teach me why.