>> In the end, this entire ordeal set me back about 1,300 euros, or $1,455. I sometimes wonder how my health crisis would have played out had I returned to America instead of deciding to stay in Paris more than 20 years ago.
In the U.S., it's likely they would have died; or at least gone $100,000+ in debt - if they could have even qualified for that much credit.
I can understand not covering things like lung transplants for lifetime smokers, or other similar "meh it's their own fault" situations. But when it comes to treating the health of citizens who are not severely at fault for their conditions, there should be absolutely no cost to the individual. Taxes should be enough to handle this, without one's own insurance being part of the equation.
It's just that in other countries you have the government setting up a monopsony and dictating costs and salaries.
I don't see how charging $30k for a heart bypass is unreasonable for somebody making $50k/year.
Wow, just wow. You must not have ever had a family member or close friend fall ill. If you think someone making $50k/year is financially capable of paying $30k up front, you need a reality check.
Unfortunately, a free market for helathcare does not exist in the U.S.
Public health care will just transfer more money from poor to corporations (like with education). You need to fix the leaks first, for example sponsor medical tourism to other countries, etc...