Yeap, that’s exactly why! So not only is universal healthcare good for everyone in the sense that they have access to it, but also avoids astronomical (and artificial, deliberate) price hikes!

Brazil

We have a weird hybrid system. While the universal care is not known for its efficiency, and sometimes sick people will have to wait for hours to see a doctor, I am sure it beats having to mortgage your house because of a broken arm.

Besides universal care, people can decide to pay private hospitals and doctors directly. It’s expensive. Few people can afford it (but interestingly, still much, much cheaper than in the US). And then, all of this combined generates affordable and actually good health insurance plans. You get a mix of getting guaranteed care, with a typical insurance monthly fee, which also most companies provide for their employees. Of course there are many tiers of insurance plans, but the most basic and affordable ones are typically very good. It’s rare for insurance companies to deny procedures, something that is completely different than in the US. (It happens, though, depending on the procedure).

Either way, you never have to worry about what it’ll cost you. No life changing charges, no astronomical bills.

My cat decided to live at a neighbor’s 3 doors down. One day I thought “I’ll invite her to the barbecue party”. Six years later, we’re married and have a 2 year old boy (and five more cats).