In the US, how do people go bankrupt from medical bills when most insurance have a max out of pocket?

Question

Just was thinking about this the other day while looking at my insurance. How do people in the U.S. accumulate huge bills without hitting their max out of pockets? Are cancer treatments not usually covered by insurance? Are the doctors that provide the treatment just happening to be out of network?

I guess I’m wondering if there is anyway I can plan to not be in a situation of me or my husband rejecting treatment and dying or having huge medical bills cripple us. We’re relatively healthy now, but the future is near.

I’d like to understand better how it seems to be so *common* for people to not be covered by their out of pocket max.

Thanks.

In: 4623

Answer 1

I am out of work awaiting disability and have been for some time.

My out of pocket max is 4k per year.

I reached that last year and will again this year.

I make 0 dollars.

This is more common than you think.

Some people fall ill enough that it affects their income and they already make so little they cannot save up anything to cover future costs. MANY cannot afford these “max out of pocket” amounts any more than they can afford much else over their absolute basic needs.