EMTALA is also a huge welfare cliff. Let's say Antius and Grasshoppedon both work at McDonald's. In accordance with the wisdom of the prophets, Antius saves 20%

EMTALA is also a huge welfare cliff. Let's say Antius and Grasshoppedon both work at McDonald's. In accordance with the wisdom of the prophets, Antius saves 20% of his paycheck every month (somehow) eventually accruing... oh, say, $9001 in savings, or way more than the average US household. Grasshoppedon spends all his money, because that's how the fable goes. One day they're both injured in a workplace accident and rack up a $25000 medical bill. Antius's savings are wiped out, he goes bankrupt, no credit for seven years, etc; Grasshoppedon meets exactly the same fate as Antius, i.e., Antius's fiscal prudence amounts to diddly-squat. And then economists wonder why the savings rate is so low.