i've seen plenty of peoples' lives seriously screwed up by not having insurance--i see it EVERY day. picture breaking your ankle, and requiring surgery. you cannot work for 3 months, and your hospital bill is $10k minimum because you don't have insurance. young people risk it (and don't get insurance), because they know they won't get too sick (pneumonia, heart attack, etc.), but it just takes one injury, and not even a major one to screw things up beyond imagination