Your story is no doubt a major reason why the public seems to have come to this consensus.
It would be one thing if a robust and effective free market were operational, but with the current system, without insurance one genuinely has to be wealthy, even VERY wealthy to afford anything beyond 1950’s level care.
It’s kind of like national defense. Two hundred, two hundred and fifty years ago, you, me and a few others could arm ourselves as well as any other infantry on the planet. A dozen or so go in together and buy a cannon or two, and we’re the equal of anything the British, French, or Spanish can throw at us, even numbers. Nowadays? I seriously doubt that any 16 of us would stand much chance against a SEAL team with full air and satellite and drone support (maybe we’d take out one or two in utterly optimal circumstances fighting guerrilla style).
In a sense, the same thing has happened with healthcare. Back in the day, a blacksmith or merchant could probably access healthcare as good as that of a wealthy person or political leader. Maybe my false teeth wouldn’t be quite as nice as Washington’s, or my surgeon quite as quick, but effectively the same; nowadays there is simply no way a non millionaire can afford to pay for any high tech procedure. And IMHO having such a disparity creates hostility and resentment that is genuinely dangerous to the Republic. It’s one thing if some quant has a nicer car than I do, it’s something else if his kid lives and mine dies from the same condition.