VC backed companies will sell you private health insurance as a perk. It is rarely useful. I suspect it is a way of funnelling money at low rates of tax to the VC's other holdings in at least one case, but have no proof. It certainly funds the privatisation agenda at low cost to the investor, though.

Seniority is signified through leadership or contracting. The latter you can get private insurance as a perk through your own company, but again, it is useless.

Most permanent non-lead roles I've had that have been more conventional haven't had it, though.

For what I read about USA, in HN and in other places, I suspect Americans would be surprised too. Those private plans have a very hard competitor in the public system, so, somehow, at least in my area, they manage to be pretty affordable.

Switzerland is one of the richest countries in Europe - it's GDP/capita is the 9th highest in the world.

This place (news.ycom) really has a skewed sense of reality. "Oh, you only got $100k offer straight out of University? That's a low number."

99% of the world lives far below anything you consider average.

For a website full of smart people, you all have trouble recognising your own extreme privledge.