They're Not Here to Save You
How big pharma, medical insurance, and the entirety of the medical industrial complex is designed to kill you (& what we can do about it)
created by polterbooks
last updated November, 2026
Comments
Hello, y'all. This is a subject very near and dear to my heart -- as an American who cannot afford health insurance, as a trans and mentally ill person who desperately needs life-saving medication, and as an American health professional myself -- please do NOT trust the medical industrial complex. It was never created to save you, only to bleed you dry of money and make you sicker. But not all is lost -- understand, educate, organize, and resist! I believe that we WILL achieve free healthcare for all -- world-wide and in the US.
Further lists for those interested in learning more about the medical industry and those are already in the industry: Pharming Lessons on Good and Bad Crops by kittyns ⬅️ personal favorite of mine and you'll see a lot of overlap The doctor will (not) see you now by lizzyy health justice + critiquing the MIC by lauraaaa.mercedes a beginner's guide to public health by tk.reading 💉Medical Non-Fiction Books 💊 by Cosmoite required reading for U.S healthcare workers by yayatheflower
I am open to recommendations as long as they match the theme of criticizing the medical industrial complex and specifically looking for/at books that talk about insurance companies.
Such an awesome list, love to see it!
Added Medicare for All by SENATOR Abdul El-Sayed 🤧💙
Oh I love this list. Currently full of rage 24/7 about insurance bureaucracy and the detrimental effects of siloing medicine into specialties that don't communicate with each other. I should try reading more about it to see if that gives me a bit of an outlet 🫠
I am SO furious. This was heavily inspired by my deep dive search into the Medicare and Medicaid changes that are coming to the US in 2027. Insurance companies are a fucking scam!! And prior authorizations? Irritational and detrimental to accessing necessary care.
Raaaaahh all my homies hate prior authorizations!!!! I don't even really know what they are, just that they're part of the reason I get massive gaps every ~12 weeks in my ability to access PT (which is most likely going to be medically necessary for my entire life, yay hEDS), slowing my progress and providing the opportunity for my condition to worsen. I'm currently approaching the end of my longest care gap in 16 months of working with my current PT and I am experiencing the worst pain, instability, and fatigue that I ever have since I started seeing him. I don't think that's a coincidence!!! 🙃 I finally have an appointment in 4 days but I'm gonna show up like hello Brendan my entire body has Gone Wrong. Pls fix.
I'm so sorry that's happening to you!! Medical insurance is so horrific about approving life improving/life saving services and it truly sickens me. Like, how is someone who works in an office going to know more about what services/medications/surgeries a patient needs than a doctor & medical team???
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