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Comment by briHass | Hacker News Reader

These conversations never consider that the US does offer pretty robust welfare programs for cases just like this. He would undoubtedly meet the case for 'disabled' as defined by the Social Security Administration if he lost his insurance and had low/no income. Pennsylvania also offers additional medical assistance if you meet that guideline.

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I don't know if you've ever had to try to get that designation by SSA, but in my (second and third hand) experience it is extremely difficult to qualify. SSA regularly denies and then you have to get a lawyer and sue them for benefits and restitution. There are also asset and income tests that at this point are effectively punitive.

I don't know anything about Pennsylvania, maybe it's easier there.

At least in PA, having a disability (I'd assume MS with motor difficulties would qualify) makes it pretty straightforward, based on my experience. Like most government interaction, there's lots of paperwork, but the employees administering it are generally helpful, competent, and pleasant.

I'm sure the bar is higher without a disability, but the asset tests in PA are reasonable, considering they exempt your residence and 1 vehicle.

There's probably horror stories of people falling through cracks, but I just find it disingenuous when people breathlessly proclaim that the US callously let's people die on the street from a loss of employer health care.

The fact that you have to spend time trying to get yourself designated such whilst you are probably looking for a job, struggling to pay your rent or mortgage, and dealing with other stressors is ridiculous.

Ridiculous and working exactly as intended.

"Robust", good joke. The purpose of these laws is to do what you're doing: mention they exist. But there is a huge process to actively demotivate the applicant to succeed. I know someone who actively tried to get benefits and was first denied and had to reapply (while she won lawsuit against her former employer). I was there when she did the paperwork. It is huge, and it has large legal ramifications. And it is the same in The Netherlands.

My father had MS, and he was considered a fraud (back in the 70s). Of course, such is easily said if there are no repercussions (I, parent of two young children, have been called a pedophile by my neighbors ...). It is very likely he also had autism, like me, a burden to function in society and a mark on your forehead cause "you're weird".

I've been suffering from a burnout (related to my neighbor's behavior) since start last year and when I applied for benefits because I got fired I've been told I should've reported myself fully healed earlier. I've also been asked questions to which the answers weren't written down because (and I quote) "I'm not allowed to ask that question".

If you apply for any social benefits, society considers you a fraud and you have to prove you're not. This is immense work, more so for people who suffer from disabilities (likely those who rightfully apply).

I deal with parolees coming out of prison in the USA and try to get them set up with healthcare under the State plan here in Illinois. It is a pain. Most of these guys would have a lot of trouble getting set up and qualified if left to their own devices. Very complicated system that is tangled up in the fact that it is socialized healthcare sitting on top of mostly privatized healthcare. At least Chicago (Cook County) has its own healthcare system that plugs in to the system and offers a great backstop.

He’s also a Marine Veteran, and at his age I assume he was deployed. This means he can count on a level of care from the VA.

Oh please. For any local/state/fed program, there's MONTHS of means testing, multiple assessments of various kinds, multiple times to prostrate yourself to show that you *really* are in need of help.

Oh, and then you get denied. Multiple times.

This country would rather "useless" (read: cant make money for capitalists) people die.

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