1. All you have to do is look at the chargemaster flat files that have been coming out. There are literally two different columns for insured and non-insured procedure cost and for every hospital I've obtained a chargemaster flatfile for this is the case. Other comments in this thread have backed this up, and have even claimed their hospital's chargemaster had the non-insured pricing column hidden potentially in bad faith.

2. I mean, I have no idea but for-profit insurance companies aren't out there really blaming anyone as they're just a faceless corporate entity. I've only heard hospital staff and normal people blame the uninsured.

3/4... no - poor people don't have insurance. I've grown up around people who were not economically privileged/who were struggling and this is just 100% untrue that poor people can get insurance as you posit. I've had private insurance and it's just not something someone can afford if poor. And, if you're referring to things like "Christian Healthcare Ministries" they're straight-up scams. Outside of that, there is no way American restaurant owners, retail franchises, etc will cover an unskilled laborer's health insurance - that just does not happen here.

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> I still don't *believe our healthcare costs are due to the uninsured.

When it comes to hospital billing - yeah. It is a huge thing that's baked into their SOP. See item #1 above.