Yes, but we should be completely ashamed that our medical system is so poor in every way. I mean, who are we comparing to, Zimbabwe?

I personally am in favor of copying the (excellent and very effective) veterinary model for our human medical care, not continuing to copy the model that was used for governing the Soviet Union.

Yeah, it was really meant as more of a dark joke than a serious point. But it does make you wonder what people consider "serious enough" to warrant a trip to the hospital, given that medical costs are so high.

It's only a very small exaggeration if we consider the context of HN, which almost always addresses middle-class people in developed nations.

> There are lots of places that this holds true.

Yes. See: banana republics.

For example? I can't think of anyone other place where needing medical assistance is the opposite of winning the lottery.