Thank you, Bonnie. The answer to your first ? is yes and here are a few of my own stories:
A $1,300 cold turned sinus infection was a barrel of monkeys. Two short office visits plus emergency room because the doc ordered it. All I needed was an antibiotic. Thank goodness for monthly in$urance. I'm so grateful for the break I got!
The healthcare system gave HepC to my husband in 1982 for an operation that required blood. Years later, a barrel of monkeys finding insurance/then paying more for it due to that pre-existing condition the system gave to him in the first place! He never had issues with the virus, but of course a cure was wanted big time. Along came Harvoni in 2014 for about $60-100K depending on the treatment plan.   Two years later, through the efforts of his specialist, his insurance allowed him 60 pills (full treatment) for $5k. He was lucky, but at the same time it's unfortunate that he had to wait...and even pay 'that' price.