Note comments I've added to the question: I'm not in US so the money is worth
differently - $ 1000 is more
than a monthly wage, and medical costs are subsidized by the government here, so $ 1000 coverage could for example cover recovery from
small car crash (broken a bone or two, healing cuts, painkillers, hospitalization for several days, a week of physiotherapy) or a diagnostics, week of hospitalization, exams and drugs for non-chronic disease which can be healed in month or so... But I don't see how I could apply your answer, as I must choose insurance months BEFORE the medical problem occurs?