[M_Six]

Money = Time is an interesting twist on the old adage. Certainly money can buy you more quality time. Vacations, extensive (and very comfortable) travel, maybe even doing something you enjoy for employment or no employment at all.

But even at a very much lower scale, money can buy you actual time because you have better access to health care. While not every rich person lives a long and healthy life, being rich certainly doesn't hurt your chances. While being poor (or worse, lower middle class) certainly can affect your health. If you fall into the donut hole of ACA, you might make just enough to not get a subsidy and still not make enough to afford a decent health care plan. The "affordable" tag in the ACA is a joke. It's hardly affordable for many people.

I know a couple who used to both make very comfortable livings. Then the 2008 recession caused a major downturn in both their fields of work. Then they got hit with a particularly nasty run of bad health luck. Shoulder and knee replacement, breast cancer, gall bladder surgery, and an accident causing both legs to be broken badly. The 80/20 plan they had meant they owed 20% of some astronomical hospital bills. That wiped out pretty much all their savings and retirement plans. They kept their house and are slowly crawling back out of the hole, but there is no retirement on the horizon for them. At least they had some insurance and were able to be treated. Those who fall into the aforementioned donut hole and can't afford any plan will put off seeing a doctor and hope the symptoms go away. Usually by the time they end up in the ER, they have one foot in the grave even if the disease or condition was originally treatable.