“The collapse is caused mainly by debt and the economic crisis in Puerto Rico and historic privatization of the health care system there. Our research shows patients are waiting for six to eight months to get an appointment with a specialist. If that’s not a sign of collapse, I don’t know what is,” said Varas-Diaz.

  • Mammal@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Heard. And that’s for people with health insurance and the ability to pay deductibles / co-pays for care in the first place. Everyone else is kinda fucked.

    • PeleSpirit@lemmy.worldOP
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      1 year ago

      Everyone else is kinda fucked.

      Washington state has a great medicaid system. You’re insured if you make under a certain amount, it even covers basic dental. I think Illinois has something similar. I’m sure other states have similar things, but not all (looking at you southern states).

      • Mammal@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Medicare is Federally managed, Medicade is state-by-state. To qualify for Medicaid in most states you have to be at or near poverty levels of income - that’s around $11k to $15,000 a year maximum in order to qualify for it.

        • PlantJam@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Don’t forget about the gap between qualifying for Medicaid and qualifying for marketplace subsidies. Expanded Medicaid covers that gap, but some states declined the federal money to cover it.