I'm skeptical of the 92% figure as well (I'd guess that 60-70% of people have forgone advisable medical care at least once), but there's no question that a large percentage of people in the US avoid getting medical care because of the cost.

> if someone has a painful infection or trouble breathing, they’re going to the doctor.

That's not a given at all. I know people who have avoided going to the doctor for painful infections because of the cost. I've done the same myself.

"Trouble breathing" is an interesting thing, because there have been more than one instance in my city of people who didn't avoid going to the doctor but did die because they couldn't afford the ongoing care their conditions required.