Car insurance isn't optional if you drive, it's illegal and you are penalized if you do drive and don't have insurance. The same concept applies to healthcare, if you don't have insurance you put yourself and others at risk. Others in the form of you not being able to pay your hospital bills and raising the cost of healthcare on everyone else while the practitioners try to recoup losses you incurred when you get injured or a critical illness. Healthcare isn't free if you choose not to pay for insurance, someone else always ends up paying for you.