[rorrr]

I actually make quite a lot of money compared to the average US income, more than $100K/year. I do save an invest (max out IRA for me and my wife), and I do spend a lot, though I'm frugal compared to most of my friends. $100K in savings is not something amazing from my point of view.

I did however a realistic calculation of what will happen if I need, let's say, a week in an ICU and a month of hospitalization (you go skiing, you fall and hit a tree, you break your spine). I will be bankrupt. Even with my expensive insurance plan hospitalization can easily cost $10K/day, and most of the drugs you will be on, are only covered 80%. That's if you don't need some exotic drugs at $5K/shot.

I realize it's a gamble, but the stats do say that 50% of bankruptcies are due to medical expenses, and 68% of them had health insurance.

Sources:

http://www.pnhp.org/bankruptcy/state_by_state.pdf

http://www.pnhp.org/bankruptcy/Bankruptcy%20Fact%20Sheet%20-...