It almost seems like having insurance increases the cost (the price, that is) of health care. But there is more to it than that.
America is a country of laws. That means there are a lot of lawyers. People sue at the drop of a hat and I say that with a nephew who is a lawyer--and married to a lawyer. The money comes from the "consumer," which is to say, the patients. There's more.
I live in Fairfax County, Virginia, a fairly affluent place with a population of well over a million. Yet there is really only one hospital system in the county. There's no way that can be good. Don't get me wrong, though. The care is excellent and I can say that from a first-hand experience, having had an in-patient surgery last September. Every single individual I met, both in the hospital and elsewhere were all I could ask for. The cost, after Medicare (I'm 71) and supplemental insurance was less than we spent on our cat last year. All I can say is, you should have pet insurance.
There are pamphlets about pet insurance at the cat clinic.