For many Americans, the worst fear they can imagine is contracting an illness or experiencing an injury serious enough that they have to go to the hospital.
Although some people have a fear or mistrust of doctors, the more common reason behind this is that they'll then need to find a way to afford the treatment they receive. For those in a position where they don't qualify for Medicaid, but also don't have health insurance, this can turn simple medical procedures into huge financial burdens.
And as one Tennessee discovered, that situation only gets more desperate as the health issues get more complicated.