my takes
health care is too expensive for a lot of people
this is in part because of the system left in place by the aca
the aca as it was actually signed by obama has been kneecapped several times by the gop in the supreme court, congress, and state legislatures in ways that show up in this story (lack of medicaid expansion, continuation of junk "insurance" plans, religious exemptions)
there's an argument that a single payer system would be more politically resistant to this but I wouldn't be too sanguine about that
the kid still qualified for a government program that "covers all costs" so his illness isn't the best example of holes in the safety net
that the family did not realize this right away is a point against opt-in, means-tested programs, but also likely reflects a conservative state being lax in making people aware of their benefits
in a culture where the church is given more deference and trust than the government, it is understandable that people would sign up for these plans even if they weren't a good idea (on the other hand, fully grown adults personal responsibility vs. root causes blah blah)
andrex and nacho's slapfight isn't that entertaining at this point
