Wouldn’t it be far more interesting if they gave one a tax credit for having health insurance? Instead of penalizing those without...reward the behavior you want?
No. Just refuse all medical services for people who can’t pay, except getting the breathing going again if possible or stopping the blood flow.
Encourage charities and free clinics for the poor.
Get people to WANT health care and pay for it. Health insurance should be more like car insurance: saved for catastrophes. If they know their kid won’t get govt free health care, they will buy some coverage, trust me.
People should mostly cash pay. This will bring costs down DRAMATICALLY. I live this way and I think twice before using medical services, and I will refuse CYA tests etc. I will shop for MRI costs and even docs. Right now I found a luxury urgent care that handles most anything for a reasonable fee. No waiting usually. They prescribe what you ask for too. So I am happy.