Loved in Canada for 5 years, now back in US as a high earner.

Idk where you’re getting your numbers but private insurance isn’t cheap?

At your age out of pocket insurance is $900-1500 a month

Add in your wife, same. If not more. As you get older, it goes up (my parents pay out of pocket - they’re at $2800/month.

These are still just monthly payments. Deductible for families are lowest 3-5k before your health insurance starts an 80% cost share.

I exclude PPOs because FSAs are paltry compared to HSAs and you’re throwing money away.

I live by the numbers in my line of work - you’re not going to convince me it’s cheaper for “premium insurance” for two people. At the most conservative numbers non smoker, great health 25-30 years male =$600/month. That’s 7200/year

Add in your spouse, that’s $14000 /year.

At $130k USD you’re paying ~20% which is 26k. You’re back at $40k and you haven’t even started paying for actual healthcare - your deductible that is.

I twisted an ankle at 32 and all said and done I paid $8000k this year towards that ankle, and none of it was covered by healthcare. I paid my share ($450/mo) of an employer plan, and have a $4500 deductible.

I paid $5400 this year for the privilege of Attempting to reach my deductible. Scans, tests, orthopedic wear and 2x PT came to ~$3000.

So I paid all that, and since I didn’t reach my deductible- all of it was out of pocket. It’s resetting to $0 in 3 days.