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NetQuarterLatte t1_j2tkq49 wrote

The hit-and-run driver should be investigated and arrested. Injuring 22 people is quite a count for a single incident.

But what happens to the liability insurance here?

22 hospital bills must blow through anyone's insurance coverage.

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12stTales OP t1_j2to561 wrote

The hit and run driver is still on the lam

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ZinnRider t1_j2u7hvm wrote

Which is exactly why it’s waaaaaay past time for free universal healthcare for every citizen.

Ya know, like it is in practically the entire rest of the world.

The power of insurance companies in this country is a blight on all of our lives.

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AbazabaYouMyOnlyFren t1_j2uxu3o wrote

It's not free and I think it's a bad way to describe it. It's funded by tax dollars, which means everyone pays into it and everyone benefits from it.

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JaqenHghar t1_j2v5odm wrote

Same as private insurance. We pay in to a plan and only use it when we need it…

Edit: to be clear I’m totally in favor of universal healthcare. Just pointing out that we already pay a ton. I wouldn’t care if it was my tax dollars and would actually be thrilled if it wasn’t tied to my job.

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AbazabaYouMyOnlyFren t1_j2v715o wrote

Just think about how much of your insurance payments are just skimmed off as "shareholder value" and executive pay.

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Comprehensive_Heat25 t1_j2whtde wrote

Private insurance plans and payments are the driving force behind everything. Who sets prices of the services you receive or supplies you use during your hospital visit? The hospital administration, right? Wrong. Insurance companies set the prices. And they set the prices so high because every 1 single private insurance patient that comes through the hospital pays for 3-4 Medicaid or Medicare patients that receive the same services. So, in essence, not only are you paying into a plan that’s used only when needed, but when you do need it you are ending up paying not only for your treatment, but also footing the bill for others. Don’t believe me? Look it up.

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Titan_Astraeus t1_j2wbeai wrote

Yea not free but if we stop paying rates that support entire industries profiting off peoples sickness, it would probably end up saving tax money and boosting the economy.. it might even be better than free.

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AbazabaYouMyOnlyFren t1_j2wkbaa wrote

Some people are so brainwashed that they can't wrap their head around the idea that your taxes would need to go up. Even if it's significantly LESS than the premium they pay now, to a private company for fewer services and high copays and deductibles.

Portability is another problem. You lose your job, you lose your coverage unless you pay COBRA rates.

It's a goddamned mess, and I'm tired of being bled dry.

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freeradicalx t1_j2xhwph wrote

Yeah I have to agree. "Universal" is good and accurate, but "free" is a disingenuous word that only opens the door to tangential criticisms and distractions. It even sounds dishonest to someone hearing it with a critical ear. Imagine if "social security" was instead referred to as "free security" and that's how we promoted it?

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vishnoo t1_j2xdffs wrote

but it is free, because currently the public expendture on health is 1.5 Tn $.
which is ~5000 per person per year.

enough to cover everyone (if you weed out the insurance companies, and the price gouging)

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AbazabaYouMyOnlyFren t1_j2xea0u wrote

It has a cost, that cost is paid for by tax dollars, taxes are paid by all citizens in one way or another.

That's not what free means.

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vishnoo t1_j2xnsiv wrote

yes, but since the amount currently paid is enough to cover everyone, there would be no additional charge.
in fact most people might be able to negotiate a pay raise if the employers are about to save 1.5 TN in health insurance coverage

---
so not "free", but rather
you are already paying for it, just not getting it

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Brian-Puccio t1_j2uvtuf wrote

Agreed, yes.

But also minimum 100/500/100 insurance policy limits. Whatever single-payer there is can then go after the car insurance carriers in subrogation. Drivers should pay for the increased danger their 4000+ pound hunks of metal do to society — especially when they’re designed to easily drive over minor obstacles such as curbs and pedestrians.

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Comprehensive_Heat25 t1_j2wh4k3 wrote

If you have universal healthcare there will be no insurance policy limits to worry about. So…

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vishnoo t1_j2xdap7 wrote

people are going to tell you "it isn't free" bla bla.
the public expenditure in the US (money from taxes) is ~$1.5 Trillion
without adding one red cent, (just by eliminating insurance companies and price gouging) this should be enough to cover everyone at european levels.

this will never happen because without it, the private expenditure is another 1.5 TN.

so without adding 1 cent to taxes, you could save everyone a lot of money AND cover everyone.

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KaiDaiz t1_j2tmppb wrote

There a NY state victims compensation fund that victims are entitled to claim

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evilgenius12358 t1_j2uats2 wrote

Looks kinds cheap tbh.

https://ovs.ny.gov/victim-compensation

Compensation Includes:

Expenses for medical or other related services that are not covered by other insurance or benefit programs

Lost earnings or loss of support up to $600 a week, not to exceed the maximum of $30,000

Lost savings of vulnerable elderly, or incompetent, or physically disabled persons, not to exceed the maximum of $30,000

Burial expenses up to $6,000 (for crimes committed on or after Nov. 1, 1996)

Occupational rehabilitation expenses

Counseling services to the victim of crime and to certain family members, in accordance with the OVS fee schedule, which is based on reasonable fee rates, depending on the credentials of the treating counselor

The cost of repair or replacement of essential personal property lost, damaged or destroyed as the direct result of a crime, up to $2,500. A maximum of $100 in cash can be replaced

Transportation expenses for necessary court appearances in connection with the prosecution of the crime or transportation for medical appointments necessary as a result of the crime

Employment-related transportation expenses, due to a victim’s personal physical injury as the result of a crime, up to $2,500

The cost of residing at or utilizing the services of a domestic violence shelter

Crime scene cleanup expenses and/or cost of securing a crime scene, up to $2,500

Attorney fees – up to a maximum of $1,000 – for representation before the agency and/or before an appellate court, upon judicial review of the victim’s OVS claim

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KaiDaiz t1_j2ufs1q wrote

it is better than nothing. hopefully catch audi driver and get more from the car insurance

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evilgenius12358 t1_j2uhepo wrote

You sounds like a victim of NYS government. We deserve better.

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KaiDaiz t1_j2ulz18 wrote

take a look at other states victims compensation programs. ny is quite generous vs the norm

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cas-fortuit t1_j2ufr9n wrote

You think this person has insurance? I’m skeptical.

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KaiDaiz t1_j2up2ob wrote

even if the audi driver don't or cant be found, they can still make some claim off the other driver that's paid by the uninsured motorist fund or in some cases the victims has some kind of insurance coverage themselves.

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cas-fortuit t1_j2upd4q wrote

Definitely. The restaurant probably has insurance as well. The original comment seemed to be talking about the Audi driver and I wouldn’t count on anything there, even if he could be located.

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RetroZelda t1_j2tlu2u wrote

I imagine it would come from the drive and then come from the restaurant

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rmg t1_j2w6vso wrote

Literally all hit and run drivers should be investigated and arrested. It’s illegal to leave the scene of a crash.

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EQTone t1_j2vpxhk wrote

> The hit-and-run driver should be investigated and arrested.

As opposed to what?

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