If you make too much below the median salary in the US, you either qualify for Medicaid (at best) or direct ACA subsidies (at worst).
Sure, but there are several bands of income levels where you're basically screwed. The ACA subsidies have some phasing in/out based on income levels, but they're far from perfect, and depend on often-unreliable definitions of the "poverty line".
> Also consider that everything isn't covered when your employer pays for your health insurance. Americans still have a lot of out-of-pocket costs.
I have a doctor I see every 4 months. I mentioned to her that I thought my copay probably was about what she was actually making off my visit and she said, 'if that'.
She also said insurance companies are now doing things like not approving full scripts for insulin. And demanding that she prove a 50 year Type I diabetes patient still needs insulin.
Also consider that everything isn't covered when your employer pays for your health insurance. Americans still have a lot of out-of-pocket costs.
And remember that there are a lot of people who are unemployed or underemployed, or work under arrangements that don't provide them health insurance at all. They also probably make a bit less than the median salary. So sure, maybe 50+% of the US could afford their own health insurance, but is it ok there's some percentage, regardless of how small, that can't afford it and has to do without? I say no.