Yeah, honestly, even $2,000 is absolutely outrageous for a procedure like this. This pretty clearly to me would have a pretty disastrous effect on preventative medicine - if each doctor's visit has the potential to cost you thousands, of course you're going to reserve it for emergencies only.

This was a $2000 deductible/copay, which is capped annually. So it's not $2000 per treatment, more like $2000 per year where you need services beyond the basics. And meanwhile, having that high deductible keeps the monthly premium expense low

You're paying much more than that in taxes per year.

Interesting point, although income taxes including health insurance where I live can be as low as 12%.

If you mean more than $2000 than that's correct, of course, although I am not sure weather it is relevant.

I imagine it varies depending on state and profession, but what's the average in the US? do you reckon it offsets the possibility that slicing yourself up while riding a bike could put you in serious money trouble?

I doubt it :)