Earlier quoted context omitted.
Not three years ago, with "comprehensive" insurance, I paid $7000 for a kidney stone, with a full total approaching $50-60K. For a kidney stone. I had to have two surgical procedures, admittedly - they went in to remove the stone, found long-standing infection, closed up and catheterized. A week of antibiotics later I had it shocked. But still... $60K for a kidney stone.
That can no longer happen (since January 1, 2014). Insurance policies now have out-of-pocket maximums thanks to Obamacare. The 2016 limits are: $6,850 for self-only coverage and $13,700 for a family plan. So you would have stopped hemorrhaging money at $6,850, and then the insurance company would have been 100% responsible for the rest.
Notwithstanding that, it was considered a voluntary procedure, though there was no way the stone would pass (11mm x 6mm) - average ureter size is 3-5mm and I had to sit in the billing office and work out a 'financial solution' with them prior to authorizing surgery (negotiating anything while in this much pain would probably be considered close to coercion).
As an aside, I really dislike "Obamacare", as a name. The Affordable Care Act. As an aside, a survey a few years ago asked self-identified Republicans this: "Would you prefer some form of affordable care act as an alternative to Obamacare?", to which many replied in the affirmative. There's too much potential for bias.