Author | Lightnews

Cat without a K @longkat.bsky.social · 14h

NPR did a great article on this last year. Most telling: oftentimes neither hospital nor insurer know the “actual” cost of anything because it’s all so steeped in negotiations and fake numbers.

www.npr.org/sections/hea...

They Paid How Much? How Negotiated Deals Hide Health Care's Cost

A patient's portion of a health care bill is the result of a complicated equation. But it's simple compared with the variety of deals insurers negotiate with hospitals and doctors.

www.npr.org

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Cat without a K @longkat.bsky.social · 16h

Anyways, for-profit healthcare is a scam and should be abolished. I like to call it health-doesn’tcare.

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Cat without a K @longkat.bsky.social · 16h

I can guarantee you that the hospital did not ever at any point expect a six figure sum for this surgery. They only “asked” for that number because they knew insurance would “negotiate”. They can then tell the patient “wow look at how much money we saved you!”

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Cat without a K @longkat.bsky.social · 16h

The way the insurance industry and hospital industry have their kickbacks and deals and agreements structured is what causes stuff like this, which means that prices for medical care are completely out of control and not at all reflective of the cost of providing care.

Micah @rincewind.run · 1d

so, today I got the surgery center where I got my deviated septum fixed to send me an itemized bill so I could submit to my FSA for reimbursement

my out of pocket cost: $473

what my insurance paid: $4258

what they tried to charge my insurance (not a misprint): $173692

Ana Marie Cox @anamariecox.bsky.social · 1d

I was at an event yesterday where Rand Paul spoke via video and talked about how great it was to send ACA money "directly to the people" so that they could work collectively to get better deals on health care.

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Cat without a K @longkat.bsky.social · 2d

Is something Balatroubling you?

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Cat without a K @longkat.bsky.social · 2d

What a classy little buddy

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Cat without a K @longkat.bsky.social · 2d

Yep, I worked the school food service counter in high school and was a lifeguard during the summers. You learn very important things doing those kinds of jobs.

My partner makes the important point though that just like with the military draft, rich fucks will still dodge it.

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Cat without a K @longkat.bsky.social · 3d

I think part of why I crave more non-fantasy larps is that my fantasy kits have so much less pocket space than my post apoc and cyberpunk kits. I NEED MAH POCKETS

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Cat without a K @longkat.bsky.social · 3d

Describe your cat’s personality in one photo

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Cat without a K @longkat.bsky.social · 3d

Awww so soft and warm

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Cat without a K @longkat.bsky.social · 4d

Oop, someone took a slug straight to the shoulder. Looks great!

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Cat without a K @longkat.bsky.social · 4d

Can confirm that food banks love getting direct cash donations. It’s amazing how good they are at stretching a dollar, plus cash can be used to pay for things like rent, infrastructure, communications, etc.

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Cat without a K @longkat.bsky.social · 4d

My big question is, at the end of the day, what can the court do to force compliance with the order? Or are we going to be stuck in this cycle of “do it” “nuh uh” while people starve?

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Cat without a K @longkat.bsky.social · 6d

Also the one “reflection” that is subtly different is absolute <chefs kiss>

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Cat without a K @longkat.bsky.social · 6d

Oh wow the reflections here are truly spectacular. It must’ve been a real challenge getting everything to line up right!

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Cat without a K @longkat.bsky.social · 6d

Like look at this. Aldi offers turkey, potatoes, stuffing, pie, and at least two side dishes (depending on how you organize your ingredients) along with *real veggies* compared to Target’s turkey, potatoes, stuffing, and cranberry sauce.

The math ain’t hard there, price and brand totally aside.

Aldi’s 2025 thanksgiving menu.
Whole turkey, chicken broth, cream of mushroom soup, evaporated milk, rolls, marshmallows, green beans, canned pumpkin, shells and cheese, gravy mix, spices and herbs, onions, pie crust, stuffing, whipped topping, carrots, celery, cranberries, sweet potatoes, and russets.

Target’s 2025 thanksgiving menu: whole turkey, russet potatoes, jellied cranberry sauce, stuffing mix, gravy, French rolls.

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Cat without a K @longkat.bsky.social · 6d

I just looked at the respective menus and Aldi’s seems waaaay more complete and appealing with various side dishes over than Target’s.

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Cat without a K @longkat.bsky.social · 9d

Armored swordmage is such a gender

Obligatory LARP bathroom selfie. I’m wearing a soft grey witch/wizard hat that has a crooked point, a blue and grey flannel hooded scarf, and black studded leather armor atop a homemade blue linen tunic. I look very pleased with my situation.

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Cat without a K @longkat.bsky.social · 11d

Today’s good news: successfully pulled a 20ft trailer for the first time!

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Cat without a K @longkat.bsky.social · 13d

If your bed/nest/sleeping space isn’t maximally cozy, what is even the point?

Brought to you by discussing the merits of flannel bedding with my partner (I’m strongly in favor).

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Cat without a K @longkat.bsky.social · 13d

How about we instill a sense of urgency in these CEOs to treat their team members like actual human beings instead of replaceable cogs to make number go up

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Cat without a K @longkat.bsky.social · 13d

Augh this rendition of her is so pretty

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Reposted by Cat without a K

AzulCrescent @azulcrescent.bsky.social · 14d

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Cat without a K @longkat.bsky.social · 14d

TIS THE SEASON!!!!!

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Cat without a K @longkat.bsky.social · 14d

Is this what they meant by “torment nexus”?

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