Yes. I was one of the roughly 15 million "invincibles" when I was in college who was too cheap to purchase coverage. I figured the chance that something catastrophic would happen to me did not outweigh the cost of taking the chance. The cost of coverage at my last job was so high, the average person there had been working there for over 25 years, that I went one year without it and for two years got coverage outside of work since it was less expensive to get coverage on my own than through the office pool. Why should the young have to pay to cover the older and often lazy and obese? It just doesn't seem fair to me. The numbers keep changing on the "uninsured" from 47 million to 30 million so it appears from what I can tell there are 17 million illegal immigrants without coverage, about 15 million who CHOOSE not to have coverage, and about 15 million that actually need help because of pre-existing conditions or because they are too poor to afford it. Why change the entire system for less than 5% of the population?

There are times I've been without insurance because of unemployment and when one employer changed plans without notice and would pay very little of the premium, which I could not afford. I quickly found a new job, but yes, I have been without insurance simply because I could not afford it, not necessarily to save money.

If the insurance companies cannot compete with a public option, that's their problem. And it's...oh, what's that expression? It's what the market will bear.

Have I gone without "to save money"? - my answer is no to your question.
But, I have never bought health insurance: I was on active duty and now a retiree. So, I am still welcome in military hospitals and veteran's medical centers. To mitigate the very limited support I get from those facilities, I make 'healthy choices' and maintain fitness. I am further covered by my Federal employer to some extent.
My contempt for Navy hospitals (and now, Ft Belvior medical after my wife pushed me down the stairs in April) keeps me out of there.

I can hardly imagine how any civilian without private health insurance can support a family where chronic medical conditions exist. If the government runs civilian health care the way VA Medical Centers are run, good luck.

My first job out of college was at a small accounting firm. I was in my twenties and the cost was $150 a month. I saw no need to buy something I would never use...so I didn't.

In today's system, those without health insurance are 1 major illness away from life destroying bankruptcy and indentured servitude - just the way the regressive facist Congress and corporations like it!

Veggie Tart @7:00AM said: "If the insurance companies cannot compete with a public option, that's their problem."
Yo, genius, NO ONE can compete with a public option because the government can subsidize 100% with OUR money. How can any company with operating costs compete with an entity with no costs? Folks with your poor understanding of the market will be the death of us all, figuratively, if not eventually literally.

No, never. I value my health and financial well-being too much to leave them to the hands of fate. And may I add, personally I find it unconscionable that those with the economic means to purchase health insurance simply choose to go without. When a catastrophic accident or illness strikes these selfish, irresponsible people, who has to pick up the tab? We do! Funny then that some of these same people now rail against plans for health reform and a public option. It's hypocrisy of the highest order. Though frankly, I'm not surprised.

No, I've never had to be without health insurance to save money; but, I was without health insurance when there was no such thing. Guess what? Back then, almost everyone in this country could afford to get medical help.

I've never worked for an employer that offered the option to forego health insurance, and take the employer contribution as additional salary. So I couldn't scrimp on health insurance even it I wanted to--unless I quit my job. Given the choice, I'd take the cash and buy a high deductible policy and use the difference in premiums to pay for routine care. Don't forget that the money employers pay for health insurance comes out of employee salaries--just like the employer share for social security and medicare. Employers are just bill (and tax) collectors.

Twice.

Once while working my way through college. School, rent and utilities came first. Food a distant fourth. There wasn't extra money for insurance.

Later, I tried to buy a cheap major medical plan but Washington state had outlawed any plan that wasn't full coverage, so I had to go without.

Just a reminder, mandates don't help get more people insured.

Never! You never know......

No, but I personally witnessed the result of going without health care when someone showed me how they “superglue stiched” their finger when they had accidentally sliced it open. Yes, that’s right; they had used superglue to close a major laceration wound.

@Mike C

Using superglue is standard operating procedure (excuse the pun) in emergency rooms everywhere, when stitching is impractical (e.g., replacing torn-off nails etc). It works great! It's in every serious backpackers kit.

But the hospital will charge you $2000 for the privilege.

Yes, I was working overseas for a year and health insurance was extremely expensive, so I decided against it.

Pour Some Tussin On It!

No, even while I was a poor Raimen eating college student, I still shelled out of the beer fund for a high deductible "hit by a bus" insurance. I figured I could find the 5K deductible somehow if I had to which would be better than a lifetime of debt.

I went without health insurance when I was between jobs because it was just too damn expensive to purchase an individual policy. I prayed nothing bad would happen and I lucked out. I hope I don't ever have to do that again.

I have always been insured.

I hope people realize that this so-called Public Option will not increase competition and choice. Apparently, the DC genius squad is going to make it means-tested. This undermines the argument that it will increase competition and choice. For who? Those of us with income will have to continue paying even higher premiums, while the underclass get government coverage. If this is supposed to increase choice and competition, then EVERYBODY should be eligible for it. They are not.

@Common Kevin
I agree

I cannot afford health insurance for me and my kids. I gotta have a connection to the internet, and I just gotta have my cell phones.

And I gotta have my SUV to take my kids around to all their activities.

Plus, it's tough being a single parent!

I sure hope the government save me and my kids!

I want someone else to pay for MY health insurance, because I can't. (And don't you dare tell me to change my behavior).

And if you disagree with me, it's because you hate kids and single parents.

@another person

Great, so now you understand the beauty of single-payer health care.

The so-called "public option" is a sop to regressive facists and insurance corporations.

While insured, I was charged $800 for a mammogram at an in-network clinic, because the radiologist (who I didn't even meet during the appointment) was affiliated with an out-of-network hospital. Outraged (and feeling like a sucker) after that experience, I dropped my insurance for two years, got my Well Woman exams at Planned Parenthood, and coughed up the money for a doctor's visit when I got the flu. I saved money, but I was also lucky nothing major happened during those years.

@ V

Actually, mandating that all Americans have health insurance, without offering a public option, is a sop to insurance companies. Yet that appears to be precisely what the nitwits --i.e., Gang of Six (perhaps these are the "regressive fascists" you refer to?)-- in the Senate Finance Committee are proposing. If this nonsense ends up as the final bill, I'll join the zombified loons on the right in opposition.

I was spoiled as a kid because my parents were in the military. After graduating from college and being kicked off their coverage. I had a hard time finding a job and paying regular bills so health care was out of the question. Of course during this time, I got into an accident and am still paying off that ER bill three years later!

@V
I do not like insurance or government involvement in the medical industry. It has eroded doctor/patient relationships. I would prefer people and employers to contribute to a Medical IRA pre-tax. People would then pay doctors and hospitals directly for routine medical care on a competitive basis. Good doctors would get good returns, bad doctors would get run out of town. Its portable. And, I would make the Medical IRA payable tax free to the estate after death. People could then purchase Major Medical or catastrophic coverage above say 5 or 10 thousand dollars in costs from insurance companies with premiums from their Medical IRA. This is closer to the concept of what insurance is about anyway--covering risk--not day to day maintenance.(Does your auto insurance pay for oil changes??)
This approach should be adopted for persons under 30. Persons over 40 should be able to buy into Medicare as we transition to my system.

@ another person @ 2:51 PM,
I also agree.