There's just no magic bullet anywhere, unfortunately. I was one of the working uninsured for over ten years - my health plan was "don't get sick." That left me feeling that I would rather have a system where I could get what I needed, when I needed it, and sort out the bills afterwards. At least the resources are available. At the very end, I had to go to the emergency room for ultrasounds and all sorts of other fun things - with no insurance and no job. I got all the care I needed, and the hospital worked with me afterwards to sort out the (terrifying) bill. It was a good experience, all things being equal.

Now, had we NOT had insurance when my husband was diagnosed with thyroid disease and we were having thousand-dollar days at the hospital, I might feel differently. But on the other hand, my friend in Canada is having thousand dollar days up there, and is being forced to pay out of her own pocket because they can't offer her care in an appropriate time frame. If I knew the answer I sure wouldn't be working in a cubicle!

One of the valuable lessons that I took from my decade of no insurance was a profound thankfulness for what I've got now. I work for part of a VERY large company that can dictate terms to the insurance company, and my insurance ROCKS. But people who've been here forever can only see how much better it used to be. I think a year with no insurance would do them good. ;-)