The people I know who are less well-off than me simply don't think about it. If the topic does come up, "well, guess I'll die" is the joke-but-not-really answer.
I know someone who was involved in a rather severe traffic incident where a driver disregarded the "no left turns" signal and cut across the bike lane where the person I know was riding a bike. The driver hit her square on and broke her right leg and caused her to fall to the ground and hit her head on a curb, and the driver subsequently left the scene. She (the person on the bicycle) is uninsured and now has several thousand dollars in medical debt that she is largely unable to pay and additional medical needs that are going unmet.
Situations like these, where I can be doing everything right yet still fail, are why I do not leave my job at a FAANG. I am largely healthy, though my spouse and kid have a couple of (minor) medical conditions, yet I am absolutely never going to be without the A-One-Top-Tier-Super-Golden medical insurance my employer provides.
I have wanted to start my own business or simply move to another job at another employer where the benefits are not as glittering but I cannot justify the risk.
EDIT: @robotbeat: Yes, but I have lost my confidence in the US Congress and the electorate. Until that confidence is restored (Medicare For All is passed), I have to make plans to live in a functioning nation, as a single healthcare event can wipe you out entirely. I would rather pay more taxes (yes! I like taxes, with them I buy civilization) and take my wealth to where sanity prevails (and like minded citizens vote for representatives who vote in their electorate's interest, instead of against them).
@wintermutestwin: https://techwireasia.com/2019/08/australia-decides-to-keep-t...
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/v...
To me, M4A is about everyone BUT retirees. Just lower the eligibility age to zero.
And yeah, my retirement plans are based on going somewhere with a sane health care system too...
One guy I know was denied a renewal to continue working at his company, which should be a steady state formality. He was making a great wage, not eligible for Medicare and the tax bracket is punishing until you have PR. He was a cash cow win/win deal that my country saw fit to pass on.
It may be easier than moving to the US, but compared to NZ or Germany, the other countries I have first hand experience with, it's practically Fort Knox.
In fact it's widely seen as easier to immigrate to NZ first then use that to get to Australia, though that differs with policy changes and your occupation.
I'd recommend NZ anyway, at least if you're semi retiring. The wages aren't great but everything else is better.
Where you will then be a target of U. S. foreign policy. I'm still on the fence about which I'd rather face.
Back when Obamacare was being debated, people had to be reassured they'd be able to see the same doctor... I guess that's how they get away with it?