Thread by @Yascha_Mounk

It's amazing how painful dealing with health insurance in the U.S. is even for those privileged few who are a) mostly healthy and b) have excellent coverage.

[short, irate thread]

Why does it have to be so hard to figure out what's actually covered?

A few years ago, I spent a whole afternoon trying to figure out whether my vision insurance would cover a pair of Warby Parkers. How are people without a grad degree supposed to navigate this?

I'm not easily embarrassed. But when I go to a doctor and s/he gives me some treatment options, asking about what the comparative prices would be has about the same effect as farting for a whole minute.

Why can't doctors volunteer the costs of treatment?

Finally, the cause of my current annoyance:

How is it that when you seamlessly transition from one job with insurance to another, you still wind up with a ten-day period without effective coverage because it takes a week for you to be able to select your insurance option?

These are luxury problems. I'm a) in good health, b) educated, c) self-confident, d) speak fluent English, e) have good insurance, and f) money in the bank.

I shudder to think what people who lack some of these advantages must feel like navigating this system.

[end]