[viraptor]

This doesn't paint a great picture: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/21/41-percent-of-americans-woul...

TL;dr 41% can cover a $1k emergency with savings. Others would get in debt. Sure, there are some ways for the very low end to get help. But that still leaves a massive number of people exposed.

> my out of pocket maximum spending is capped at $1000 per year, worst case.

Is that for any medical help from any source, or does that involve the in-network / out-of-network provider billing dance?

[PragmaticPulp]

That was an informal poll performed by a personal finance website. It’s not a scientific study.

Furthermore, read the actual question they asked. They didn’t ask if people could pay the expense from savings. They asked how people would pay the expense.

The options include things like “reduce spending in other areas” aren’t mutually exclusive with being able to draw down on savings accounts. Many people prefer to reserve their savings for retirement unless necessary.

[viraptor]

I'm not sure that really changes the overall picture. https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/othe... gives 39% of people who would either go into debt, sell something, or couldn't cover an emergency $400. Even if the number is skewed a lot (say it's 20%), it's still a massive amount of people.