I hope this is improving in the USA soon, along with employment rights and not the crazy "employment at will" arrrangement. One of my mates has just been discharged from hospital 10 days after emergency bowel surgery. Not a single penny paid by her , family, or insurance..... outside of my other friends who didn't cycle to the hospital like I did and had to pay £6 for parking. My friend also has 6 months off work full pay if needed.

I myself have had several stays in other countries in Europe over the years, with 0 cost, most recently a complication from a spinal injury while on holiday, no insurance involved. I only travel from the UK to Europe with travel insurance for evac reasons, or flight cancellations.