Some medical issues spontaneously present and you end up needing an emergency procedure and there’s very little you can do in that situation to control the costs.
In the best case scenario, everything is considered in-network and you are on the hook for up to your annual maximum out of pocket expense.
But for a condition where you can predict a short/medium term future which is going to involve being inundated with medical bills, one thing you absolutely must consider is whether working (earning money) is actually costing you more than not working.
It’s going to vary dramatically depending on the state you live in (and that’s something you need to consider about where you decide to live) particularly if the state expanded Medicaid under ACA.
In cases where there are massive predictable bills, earning a dollar more than the Medicaid eligibility threshold will likely cost you at least $10-$20k per year after tax, but in a failure mode could cost you much, much more. Not to mention there are no premiums - compared to potentially paying the full out of pocket maximum on top of full-bore monthly COBRA premiums after losing a job - if you don’t realize a better option is available.
Getting income down, getting on Medicaid and SNAP, shelters you from any medical bills (you literally never see a bill on Medicaid, and can see a huge network of providers) and that peace of mind can help you focus on healing.
In some states if a medical issue forces you to stop working you can also get short-term disability payments which are entirely tax free, and do not count toward Medicaid eligibility.
It’s important to understand all the options that are possible and under what terms they are accessible, and be willing to do what’s necessary to get access to those benefits when your life depends on it.