[klbarry]

For a young person, improbable illness is probably best handled by bankruptcy.

[prodigal_erik]

That works after a car wreck, but if they get cancer they're going to die. A hospital is only required to get them stable enough to discharge, not treat long-term conditions without any prospect of payment.

[calvinlough]

This must be the American way of thinking. Doesn't sound like a good plan to me.

[slurgfest]

This isn't "the American way of thinking," it is a response to the state of the American system. Although casual, yours is a rather bigoted statement.

[pessimizer]

It's not bigoted, just wrong. Requires a familiarity with US law to know why it's wrong, though. There are some ideas and beliefs that are more common in the US than in other places, just as there are particular ideas and beliefs everywhere that are more common there than other places. Don't lower the bar on bigotry.

[jsiarto]

I disagree--a bankruptcy should be avoided at all costs as it will leave you in a financial world-of-hurt for a long time. The sad thing is, given the state of health insurance in the US, bankruptcy is on the table and that just sucks.

But I'd rather pay high premiums than risk a bankruptcy.