On July 17, 2024, I faced two of my greatest fears: receiving a call about a loved one having a health emergency and navigating the complexities of the U.S. healthcare system. After two ER visits, a consultation with a hand surgeon specialist, a finger reconstruction surgery, multiple surgeon follow-up visits, and dozens of physical therapy sessions (totaling $25,000 within 2 months and counting) I quickly realized that having a job with excellent health insurance is a privilege in a country with some of the highest healthcare costs in the world. I can't stop thinking about the countless people who can't afford or access healthcare due to the exorbitant costs and complexities of the system, leaving many Americans, resident aliens, and undocumented individuals uninsured or underinsured. Access to healthcare should be a right, not a privilege.