If I bought a round trip US-&gt;India-&gt;US ticket (I didn&#x27;t, I stayed in India), that would have been about $1000 at most. Hotel + food another $1000. Surgery $2000. Lets round up to $5k.<p>$5k is not a lot of money even for lower middle class USians. (Lower class USians have medicaid.)<p>It&#x27;s true that many Americans live up to the limit of (or beyond) their means. Even if someone earning $25k cuts his consumption down to $20k, he&#x27;ll still be living a vastly better life than <i>almost everyone in India</i>. It&#x27;s true that being born in the US, and being able to trade 20% of your income one year for the ability to walk again, is a massive privilege.