Something does need to happen, though. I recently had blood tests done. The hospital billed $522 but accepted, by contract, $52 from the insurance company. If I had no insurance, my cost would be the full amount. In 2000, without insurance, I had a hernia repair that cost me over $12,000. An insurance company would have paid just over $2100. Health wise, you cannot afford to poor or to be working without insurance.

One option would be to cap medical expenses at the amount an insurance company pays. Everyone – insured or not – needs to pay the same amount, even if it is paid by insurance. A huge number of uninsured health care costs are never paid anyway, and the public picks up at least some of the tab.

I feel for you not having insurance. I pray you stay healthy.