[Numbers Guy]

A significant portion of the medically uninsured are adults under 35. At that age, I thought I was invincible, too, but I didn't expect others to work hard to pay for my medical care.

One of the reasons so many under 35 are uninsured is that liberals in many states have enacted "community rating" requirements. That means everyone pays the same rate, regardless of age. And that means healthy younger people pay the same rate as people much older who are, on average, less healthy and more costly.

That means a young person would end up paying a rate that is much higher than his/her actual expected costs. So the rational choice is to go without insurance. Then we hear the same liberals complaining about all the uninsured.

[rave123]

I agree with you on the community rating problem. And if this were changed, you would probably see the uninsured number decline.

[SuziQ]

Another reason why folks won't buy insurance is that they live in a state that doesn't 'allow' the cheaper, fewer frills alternatives. The State mandates certain basic coverage and won't allow companies to offer anything less, even if folks WANT less.

We tried to find some basic health insurance for our son who had gone off our family health plan after he graduated college, but had six months before starting Grad School. Fortunately, we were able to get him in under the wire for Cobra coverage, but were paying 3 times what it would have cost for an alternative that is offered to students from almost any other state in the union, EXCEPT Massachusetts!

[Kozak]

That means a young person would end up paying a rate that is much higher than his/her actual expected costs. So the rational choice is to go without insurance. Then we hear the same liberals complaining about all the uninsured.

Not to mention larding on mandatory coverages for all kinds of "socially desirable" benefits. You don't need or want them but you gotta pay for them.