Reply #13: Here is the top line

[Pavulon]

1) When you figure out how dumb it was none of your pre existing conditions will be covered.
2) If you need major surgery and cant pay the hospital will take everything you own.
3) You will not get the same quality of care. County general or Duke (tough choice)
4) If you get sick you will have to dump all you assets to qualify for medicaid to pay for drugs or therapy. Some very common drugs are astronomically expensive without copay.
5) Most insurance people pay for is through their employer, most employers subsidize the cost.

Insurance sucks and is a racket, but a necessary evil.
You can buy catastrophic care insurance for next to nothing and "self insure" visits and medication.