I hear you, and have similar experiences with some family and some friends/colleagues. You probably also hear people bringing up anecdotes about someone in Can

I hear you, and have similar experiences with some family and some friends/colleagues. You probably also hear people bringing up anecdotes about someone in Canada waiting for 9 months for a hip replacement. Primary difference is that, in many cases, Canadians with enough money can get a procedure done elsewhere (or privately) at their own expense. Wait 9 months, and there's no out of pocket costs to you. US - you may still have to wait months anyway, and you may end up with debt you will carry for years. Almost all of those in that list are fear-based, and fear is a big emotion. I don't know how you get past that, but the 'freedom' factor somehow should be focused on. Freedoms to bring up: * The freedom to move between employers and not have to concern yourself with tying your ability to get specific health service based on an employer's ability (or whim). * The freedom to move geographically and not be concerned that you won't be able to afford access to health services. My own health insurance has a decidedly different monthly premium based on county, and I'd be saving probably $150/month if I lived 3 miles to the south. * The freedom to start your own business (purportedly the backbone of 'US conservative thinking') without worrying about crippling debts. Right now, instead of an elected/representative Congress controlling what services/procedures/medicines you have access to, you have a for-profit private company, with no recourse to change their leadership or focus via election/recall. "Vote with your feet" is basically impossible in this system. "Insurance" is an odd product in this space too, at least for basic health care. Insurance is typically something we might get to reduce our exposure to risk for activities we engage in which are voluntary. Choose to buy a car? Get some insurance to help cover replacement costs, or incidental costs to others you may harm. Buying a house? Or renting? Get insurance to help cover replacement costs of things. You can choose to not buy a car, or a house. No one chooses to be born. Untie anything related to medical care from employment. By what measure is tying someone's ability to access healthcare to the beneficence of their employer remotely morally good? Someone has no employment (through whatever or no fault) and we decide that they are somehow fundamentally unworthy (or perhaps just 'less worthy'?) of access to health services? What never seems to get talked about after "your taxes will go up!!!" is "other things you pay for will go down!". Employer paying $1000/month for your health insurance policy? That expense will go away, and they'll either pay you more with that money or pay more in taxes.