@verbum The question was “Is health insurance really necessary?” The unequivocal answer is yes. Not just because cancer or accidents or heart attacks, but also because of the chronic stuff like Type 1 (juvenile) diabetes or asthma or a zillion others that cost a fortune not once or twice a year or for a certain period of time, but ongoing, daily, forever, expensive and life saving.
The US healthcare system is unquestionably an abomination, the most immoral and disgusting exercise of conscience-less greed and depravity in existence. It’s disgusting. It is. But here is the unvarnished and ugly truth: Without insurance, you or your spouse or your child will get care for their condition, which your cost comparisons and Google research show. But only to a point. Not only will our healthcare system drive you into insurmountable debt and bankruptcy, but it will let you or your uninsured family member die when caring for them becomes a big enough financial loss. Make no mistake: healthcare in the USA is a for-profit business. It’s not a charity, it’s not a philanthropy, it’s not a higher calling. It’s a for-profit business that exists to make a profit. It will provide care to a point, but at a certain point, you or your loved one can easily become an unsustainable business loss to them, and they will let you or your child or your parent or spouse die.
You’re in a horrible and truly unenviable position, and I wish I had some useful and actionable advice for you. But all I can advise is to find a job that offers insurance and don’t go for the cheapest; go for the best. That, or relocate to a country with a good national healthcare system (something I’ve considered doing). Because the answer to your question is yes, health insurance is absolutely necessary.