Yeah the system works so that higher income people subsidize lower income ones and pensioneers. It's probably why there are not many people in Europe "making it" in American sense, but the flip side is that its one less thing to worry about if you suddenly become "downwardly" socially mobile at some point.

But back to your point. When I talked with my American coworkers their health insurance premiums didn't look expensive at all compared to health contributions from paycheck. Especially so if you consider pay difference.