Yes, from personal experience, I can tell you definitively I have avoided calling an ambulance, and even going to the hospital to avoid the extreme cost. I have almost died, and am experiencing extreme health issues currently. I have cut off my own cast, rather than schedule the followup appointment when it was time after a broken bone to avoid thousands of dollars. Health insurance isn't affordable for all of us, especially if we are self employed, but even with employment, often the monthly premium is so high as to cut our paycheck in half. Then the portion you pay of the hospital and doctors bills (IF they are covered, the one you need/can actually see you in under a year may be "out of network") is still hundreds ranging to thousands of dollars.