since everyone dies, how can it be possible to say that some is “more likely to die”?
The consequence of that sort of "front loading" of the system through widespread application of high ticket insurance throughout a large part of the population is a VERY HIGH PRICE FOR MEDICAL CARE. We really do have to keep a lot of doctors, nurses, hospital beds and high tech equipment on hand.
A friend of mine doesn't have medical insurance and negotiates with doctors, and, as has happened a couple of times, hospitals.
Yes, you can negotiate with doctors and hospitals! Maybe not Humana, but certainly Arlington County!
What happens is that she ends up waiting a bit of time longer for care for her minor, or chronic problems than she would if she had insurance. The doctors have to fit her in to their schedules, but she ends up paying about what your insurance company does for the same services.
Lots of folks probably don't have the capability of negotiating with doctors and hospitals ~ so, they buy insurance. When it comes to dentists, though we all negotiate ~ hopefully for less service than the dentist thinks we need ~ but the times we need service RIGHT NOW D***IT are exceedingly rare with that class of health care practitioner.
It's not surprising that there are studies out there telling us medical insurance doesn't extend our lives! Medical care might, but everybody can get it one way or the other.