Not having insurance is not the same as not getting checkups. It means paying for them out of pocket, but for a healthy young person that shouldn't be too expen

Not having insurance is not the same as not getting checkups. It means paying for them out of pocket, but for a healthy young person that shouldn't be too expensive. Before the health care bill passed, there were already places like Hello Health popping up that catered to the uninsured. There will be more of them if people decide insurance isn't worth buying. It also doesn't mean not getting treatment, because if you have something like a brain cyst, the ER can't turn you away. I also don't see why your friend's family would be financially hosed, assuming he's over 18.