As health care costs continue to rise nationwide, affording medical care remains a significant and enduring challenge for millions of Americans. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, health care spending reached $4.5 trillion in 2022 – roughly $13,5000 per person. Of that, out-of-pocket spending accounted for $471.4 billion.
I always find it interesting how being stressed or unhappy because of something like high medical debt is framed as a mental health issue, rather than as a normal reaction to living in a sick hyper-capitalist society.
But hey, I suppose medicating the symptoms is more profitable than tackling the causes.
To be fair, things like high medical debt can make stress and unhappiness in a person who already has mental illness worse. Sometimes far worse to the point that there’s a breakdown.