Because I am self-employed, I have to buy my health insurance from the NYS marketplace. It is bonkers. Literally unfathomable.
The cheapest plan, for young healthy individuals with no anticipated healthcare needs, is $1,500/month. That is literally the cost of an apartment in many places in this state.
But wait, what do you get for $1,500/month? A deductible of $5,500 and an out-of-pocket maximum of $7,500. So you get to literally pay the equivalent of a second rent for the privilege of NOT GETTING ANY BENEFIT unless you have a major health event. It's madness. What the fuck could you possibly justify paying $18,000 a year for if every single time you go to a medical provider you have to pay the full bill anyway?!