[ghaff]

People will say that. But I'd point out that if you're working for a typical tech company--or, indeed, most companies employing professionals--you're probably covered by health insurance through your employer. You're often paying for some of it and you'll have some out of pocket up to a max, but the amounts involved are likely modest compared to salaries.

[wreath]

Yep exactly. it's important to remember that most of SWE are spared from the ugliness of the healthcare problems in the US yet enjoy higher salaries and lower taxes than most of Europe. So it's almost a net win in this regard.

[M2Ys4U]

Not having one's health insurance tied to one's job is still a Good Thing, though.

[wreath]

I agree, but in Germany for instance, if you don't have a job you'd have to pay everything yourself unlike when you're employed, you pay 50% and your employer pays the other 50.

Not as bad as having different insurance altogether based on your employer though, but similar.