[hn_throwaway_99]

No. Here are the options:

1. Google is continuing to pay full health care for 6 months, for all laid off employees, as part of their severance.

2. In addition, in the US, workers at decent-sized companies have the option to get COBRA for up to 18 months. COBRA basically says you can stay on your employer's group health plan, but you have to pay the full premiums out of pocket (usually companies pay most or all of the premium). This can be particularly expensive for a family (e.g. $1500 a month or so).

3. After that, if you haven't gotten another job that offers insurance, you can get an individual plan through Obamacare. Again, the cost of these plans can be expensive depending on your circumstances and level of coverage.

[xracy]

Nothing in your last 2 points disproved the original comment. In fact... the opposite.

[hn_throwaway_99]

It is extremely, extremely doubtful that someone who was a Google employee, who gets a minimum of 4 months severance plus 6 months of paid insurance coverage, couldn't afford cobra or Obamacare.

[xracy]

A new college hire, who already has other debt obligations (student loans)? I guess that's unlikely since Google doesn't hire people in that group... oh wait...

Someone who just made another large purchase, like a house and had an unexpected medical injury?

These aren't hard scenarios to construct. Google employees making more money than the average person doesn't shield them from large unexpected/costly life events. But also, you're assuming a Software Engineering Salary, and not a different salary that's more likely to be lower (Sales, Marketing, etc.)