What irks me is not only giving more for insurance each month than a number of people make (three people, $1,700 USD), my employer has the gall to tell us we cannot purchase insurance elsewhere! Yeah! This is Kaiser Permanente, probably a Platinum Plus-Plus-Plus level that you can't even get through Covered California or ObummerCare. It is also the cheapest our employer offers.
So, it's not cheap but I guess it has its upside. I can go to the emergency room, then get admitted to the hospital and it will cost me zip. If they don't admit me, it's $50 USD for whatever care I need. My co-worker, who flaunts the "no outside insurance" rule had to go to the hospital ER, then a night in the hospital. After his Bronze level insurance paid their part, it left him with a $4,000 USD bill to figure out how to pay off. And somehow, our HR department found out about it and wants him on our insurance ASAP.
I really think health insurance in the US of A is a big, effing racket. That irks me to no end.