This is a false dichotomy. Setting aside the fact that the vast majority of Americans can't come up with $500 let alone $100,000 in the event of an emergency, socialized programs and the public purse ensure that care is made available to those in need in spite of the fact it's expensive. In fact, they can often negotiate it down. Further, if you can come up with $100K you can easily go to a private clinic or truthfully, another country where your money would go much, much, much further.

This assumes that you have $100,000 to treat it. The vast majority of people couldn't come up with that kind of money or talk an institution into lending it to them.

If you do have the money you can get your own supplementary health insurance that goes above and beyond. (This is common in Canada, not sure about England though.)