[jmaha]

In addition to all of the stuff insurance denies, they also won't pay for anything considered elective care (and that's a pretty broad brush). There are ways around this but that's neither here nor there for this discussion.

Like the other commenter suggested, medical tourism is a viable answer. Most Americans have probably heard of Turkey for hair transplants, but the truth is that certain countries specialize in specific procedures, and are the BEST in the world at performing them, and with the best outcomes.

I've done several procedures abroad and saved 70-80% vs the US cost, and that's including the travel and vacation portion. Yes, medicine costs a lot, but most people are ignorant to where most of that money is going to pay for, and how expensive the "system" makes things in the US.