I'd also mention timing being an issue with ambulances.

My first kid we were about 40 minutes away from the hospital where it was covered by insurance, the second we moved and changed providers so we were 10 minutes away. I drove both times.

First kid it would have taken 20 minutes for an ambulance to get to us, then maybe 30-35 minutes to the hospital.

Second, it would have been about 5-10 minutes, but... Obviously I could be there in the same time as it would take to get there.

For both, I would have to hit the deductible first, so I would have paid about $1500 for each ride on top of that, because ambulance services aren't (maybe weren't? Probably still aren't) considered required care with a pregnancy/birth. Thats not the cost if you dont have insurance BTW, that'd a negotiated price by the insurance companies - it could be several thousand otherwise.

I'm in my 40's, I've been to an emergency room quite a few times over the years, and I've never taken an ambulance there. Everything from a car accident (drove myself to the hospital), to severe 2nd degree burns (drove myself to the hospital), to a sudden infection/massive swelling overnight (wife drove me).

So.... Yeah... Its bullshit. American "healthcare" is a joke.