I work in Spain, we don't have sick days. If the doctor says we are not apt to work, we take a leave intil the doctor says so. Indefinitely. No maximum. As long as the doctor says.

This limit thing is so weird. Yeah, you can use them as vacation of you are healthy but that's an abuse and then when you need them you will be vulnerable without days. It's better to have infinite days, to be used only when you are actually sick, as stated by your doctor.

(edit - i live in the us) i can purchase extra insurance for short-term and for long-term sick leave.

right now, i have ten days of paid time off for whatever reason per year (no explicit sick leave) and i pay about $650 a month for insurance which covers very little for myself and my kids until i have spent at least $6000 on any one of us or $15000 for all of us together. i make about $50k a year before tax and insurance.

and our compensation package (paid time off and insurance) is considered pretty good for my area.

i could buy better insurance and short and long term leave, but this would cost about half of what i make. unfortunately, half of what i make already goes to rent.