Some working poor can't afford it. Others just don't think of it as a necessity. Believe me, I've taken care of plenty of people who could have easily afforded health insurance but didn't have it. They get state assistance which is partly funded by taxes.

Some people have the attitude that I'm not sick so I don't need it. One car accident from someone running a red light and they are left financially devastated.

When I go back to work- I am going to find any job that has a good benefits package- I don't think I will really care what type of job I get as long as I can get affordable healthcare! My DH's job offers healthcare- but it is way to expensive for a family of 4. We have healthcare for the kids only right now.

We pay a little over $600/month for medical insurance through dh's job and I still end up paying a chunk of money (there are a lot of things they don't cover that my ds needs). One of my friends & her family was receiving FAMIS (for low income---under $41,000) free of charge and she didn't have to pay anything for appts. Even though dh makes really good money we end up spending a lot on medical/dental expenses. I'm not sure who comes out better.

Having said that I don't think I would ever do w/out insurance even if we had to get it on our own. I remember when I was in college, got dropped from my parents insurance (I was 21) and went without anything for a few months. Well, wouldn't you know that I would have a minor emergency---I fell asleep on the couch and somehow my earring got lodged in my ear(post side pointing to my eardrum). I couldn't get it out (it was a pearl earring and it filled my ear canal) so I went to the ER. While I was waiting to be seen some of the other patients waiting told me I should jump up and down and shake my head to dislodge it. I did this on and off for almost an hour and it finally came out. Thank goodness because there was no way I could afford to pay the ER visit. I called and got health insurance that night.