European mind cannot comprehend this

even with insurance, in the US you can easily lose absolutely everything you own to a medical emergency.

insurance just gets you in the front door so they can tell you later how very fucked you are.

I know a guy that realized it was better for his family financially to just kill himself rather than pursue cancer treatments. go usa.

One of my family members had a bad headache recently. They had two doctor appointments, a CT scan and MRI, then awaiting results had to go to hospital. Another MRI and CT plus a lot more tests and scans. Next day top neurologist comes in and determines likely MS. A week in hospital later, all the drugs like steroids, immunity boosters, the IV stuff for staying off food for a few days, etc. then off to a neurology clinic for more tests and scans, MS confirmed. Treatments start in 3 months. In the meantime a bunch of vaccinations and immunity boosters, including blood work having to go off to another country for some reason to be tested...
So far, $250—aboit $160USD—and a chunk of that was actually an acupuncture session before first doctor. They're going onto another state system that makes specialised treatments and tests fully covered because of their diagnosis, so they can be conducted precautionary even when a doctor thinks it's unnecessary but would like peace of mind.
That's for life. Any money spent now will be optional care. But most quality of life things related are covered, like if they need carer at any point at home or occupational therapy for work. Obviously normal physical or psychological therapy is covered too.
This is what we get in exchange for 2% of our taxable income each year. Socialism is just the worst.
Edit: Oh, forgot to mention... The state will actually be giving them money each month too to cover micro-costs that may be related. Kind of like a pension or allowance for small-ticket stuff they don't need to track or declare. Also, their symptoms are mild and they're expected to live quite the normal and long life.
- I think it’s funny, you can get free cancer treatment by the gov in fucking Brazil, but not the US… Such a balanced country amirite?
- Insurance and medical care for my wife with another autoimmune disease has been as high as 30% of our income.
  She started a union job with better negotiated insurance. It's down to 10% of our income now.
I am from Europe and know nothing about this. But someone once told me that this would sound like a bigger issue than it actually is. Because you would just need a good job at one of the top companies and then you would get insurance that covers basically all and everything without any extra expenses. So since I am a programmer I should not worry about these things.
Edit: Since it was not clear, I don't really believe that.

What's worse is how they can even dictate your treatment.

Oh your doctor who went to 4 years of medical school plus 3-4 years of residency plus fellowship thinks you need this treatment? Unfortunately I (with my zero medical experience) do not agree so you won't be able to get that.

Yuuup. I wanted a hysterectomy. Was told no because my insurance doesn't cover "elective" hysterectomies. Ok, but it's not really elective, my periods have become increasingly debilitating and birth control isn't managing it. Nope, sorry, missing work regularly because of symptoms is totally normal and women just have to deal with it. I ended up getting a bilateral salpingectomy (which is covered electively) because I wanted to make sure pregnancy was really off the table, and they found fibroids. A year and a half later, it's gotten bad enough that now the stupid hysterectomy is no longer considered elective.
So now my insurance is going to pay for TWO surgeries instead of just the one I originally wanted because some dumbass bean counter decided that's how it should work. Super cost effective. And I really love having to recover from multiple surgeries, it was really fun the first time, so I can't wait for a second, worse time. But hey, we can't possibly trust doctors and patients to know what's going on more that someone who has never and will never meet either of them!

Medical tourism.

Many countries like Thailand have heavily invested in modern technology and training for their countries so that Americans and Europeans can visit and pay a small percentage of the uninsured American price for the same quality of medical care immediately and within your budget.

You get great, affordable medical care on your timeline, poorer countries raise their gdp and can afford better social care and enjoy a boosted economy for their whole country.

TFW your healthcare system is so fucked it creates an exploitable niche market for a country you don't even share a border with.

WRONG!

There's only one destination for my life and that's suicide at some point.

With a little luck, it'll be because I'm old and starting to have dementia and I'll have the presence of mind to not hang around for it. Without a little luck, it'll be when I'm priced out of existence by the climate change caused famines. With terrible luck, the improvements in my life over the past year or so will reverse and I won't be able to deal with it.

Well ok something unexpected could beat me to it but I'm in good physical shape and don't drive much so probably not

Watching my father fall apart to dementia, and reading about all the asbestos/lead poisonings creeping to boomers, I definitely know I'm full of microplastic and will probably have brain rot too.
I don't think suicide is the answer. But ill consider it if I find out that I end up being crazy racist and vote for Baron Trump on 2050 or something.
- I've watched both of my grandparents decay to shells of who they were, and live for a long time after. It's an utter nightmare for me. I'm hoping it skips my father, so he doesn't have to go through it and I don't have to watch him go through it. As for me, I'm hoping I have the presence of mind to kill myself before it goes too far, or I have a loved one who'll help put me out of my misery.
  I don't think suicide is the answer.
  There are no answers to Alzheimer's and dementia. I'd just much rather die as myself than become a shambling corpse with a mockery of sapience and force my loved ones to watch as it happens.

America #1 guys! Never forget!