The difference is that health insurance has an enormous upper limit on what it can save you. You rarely want to spend money for insurance on things you can eat

The difference is that health insurance has an enormous upper limit on what it can save you. You rarely want to spend money for insurance on things you can eat the cost of. You want to spend insurance money on things you can't afford, and health care often meets that criterion. Plus, if it's employer sponsored, you're getting it at a substantial discount.