An Adam Ruins Everything comedy segment on why US hospitals are so expensive, covering opaque price lists, surprise bills and penalties for the uninsured.
Why Hacker News points people here: Pointed to in healthcare cost threads as an entertaining primer on how the US system inflates prices.
“Adam made an episode explaining medical costs and why it is so high.”HN comment, 2017
“Adam made an episode explaining medical costs and why it is so high.”
Explains why medical costs are so high in the US.
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Adam made an episode explaining medical costs and why it is so high. It will at least give you a different perspective into the system. this video So adding on to the labor/fixed cost increase, prices are just inflated since insurance pays for them anyway. In India, people don’t really consider insurance for such routine work due to the hassle of processing the claims too.
Cites itnickpsecurityJan 2019
“Adam Ruins Everything has a skit on this for people who haven't heard of it”
Comedic skit on hospital price lists and surprise bills.
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Adam Ruins Everything has a skit on this for people who haven't heard of it: this video On one of my non-insured years, I did get a five-digit bill like one in the video. Then some more from a bunch of other companies. It shouldn't have been legal. Especially given I couldn't exactly shop around for better prices with them all faking them.
Cites it29athrowawayJan 2021
“My takeaway is that the system is calibrated to aggresively punish people without insurance.”
Episode covering health insurance providers and uninsured penalties.
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This episode of "Adam ruins everything" covers healthcare insurance providers: this video My takeaway is that the system is calibrated to aggresively punish people without insurance.
Cites itnandhinianandJun 2025
Offered as counterpoint on American healthcare system.
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I won't attempt to make the counter-argument on account of being a stranger to America and it's healthcare system, but would point to the existence of this, just in case you haven't seen it. this video
