Medical and dental costs really ARE sky high and the reason is government meddling. I’m 75, I clearly recall when if you moved to a new town and you felt sick and did not know anyone you could simply go to a doctor’s office, walk in and tell them your situation and they would invite you to sit down and you would be “worked in”. Usually you would see a doctor within two hours and pay a charge of around five dollars. Nowadays you would have to go to the emergency room and the charge would be from five HUNDRED up. I also recall having dental work done and paying with a twenty and waiting for my change. I don’t know if dental insurance existed then but no one of my acquaintance seemed to think we needed it. When Jimmy Carter was in office one dental clinic near me advertised that they could give you a “Jimmy Carter” smile for $300.00, that was their fee to pull all your remaining teeth and fit you with a full set of dentures.
$300 in 1978 ==> $1174.47 in 2019.
Yes, the government has thoroughly debased the currency.