What happens if you get fired from your job suddenly? And if you happen to have pre-existing conditions, such as a type 1 diabetes, that is known for being very expensive to treat?
My mom lost her job with benefits, and a month later fell down some stairs and broke her arm. Eventually she was able to get an insurance plan (after getting a new job) for something like $200 or $300 per month (there are in fact cheaper ones depending on your need of coverage and state), while paying off the bills from the broken arm event.
Personally speaking, I have no fear of a similar event happening to me. If it happened, I'd figure something out, or die. Generally speaking, "what we think is unbearable proves to be bearable."
You left out a very important contraction from that quote, namely "I'd". The subject of the sentence changes its meaning entirely. As you quoted, it reads as an imperative, something I did not say.
I'm not defending the idiotic system that is US healthcare, but you can opt in to COBRA until you find something else. 2 main disadvantages are that it is time bound (i think max 12 months) and it is expensive, you have to pay both the employer contribution and your own.
Which makes me quite happy to just be in Germany. I will get all the required equipment to treat my diabetes, even if I lose my job. The insurance I have is going to be quite a lot cheaper when I have a lower income. I very much like the safety it provides and sadly it means I have to give my talent to the European markets.
Personally speaking, I have no fear of a similar event happening to me. If it happened, I'd figure something out, or die. Generally speaking, "what we think is unbearable proves to be bearable."