Without Obamacare we are probably going to see a return of unlimited out of pocket, no drug coverage and a maximum lifetime benefit (Don't get cancer). So those people are going to get the short end of the stick still as they age.
I'm not American. I was under the impression that you can be refused treatment (medicine specifically) if you don't have the money? I've heard stories of people selling their house to buy treatment for ill children.
That said we have a funny system here, when people get to a certain age (when they actually cost money to insure) we give them socialized medicine. Same thing happens if you get really sick and go on disability. It's a nice deal the insurance companies have, they get to privatize the gains and socialize the losses.
My health insurance bill has been going up 5-10% for the last 10 years. Between my employer and I it's now $14,000 just for insurance. That's nearly double the average total income taxes back in my country of birth.