If you live in a state that expands Medicaid. Texas, for example, doesn't. As a single low income man, I don't qualify in my state. I would be stuck with giant bills.
Don't be fooled. Sure, they exist, but state programs are extremely prohibitive and locked behind ridiculous standards in many cases, especially in Republican leaning states. At one point my mother applied for Medicaid and they said she was making too much for a single person -- she was working at minimum wage. Part time.
OK, that sounds a lot worse and seems like an awful system that punishes the poor and less fortunate most of all. I don't really know what else to say. It gives me some perspective for the next time I want to complain about having to pay a standardized 5 or 10 € fee for medicine.Basically the process is this:
-American goes to doctor
-American usually pays out of pocket copay at time of visit (something like $20)
-Doctor sends bill to insurance company (Medicare/Medicaid/insurance from their job/family)
-Insurance decides what parts of the bill they're gonna cover and how much
-Insurance company sends rest of the bill to American
-American says "wtf" and spends a bunch of time dealing with paperwork and arguing with their insurance company
This is further complicated with all the ER examples people are posting because each insurance company only covers specific doctors and hospitals ("in network") so if you end up getting taken to a hospital that's not covered, you get the full bill.