> "I suspect there are legal and practical reasons why it would be impossible to implement profitably." We have any number of exceptions in bankruptcy law to m

> "I suspect there are legal and practical reasons why it would be impossible to implement profitably." We have any number of exceptions in bankruptcy law to make such debts difficult-to-impossible to discharge. Surely such medical coverage could be worked in. And, yes, morphing coverage into essentially medical credit is the desired effect, as insurance companies negotiate far, far better pricing than individuals and credit for medical expenses is otherwise extremely difficult to arrange. That said, I do agree to the general concept you're advocating and would prefer that sort of solution. We should just outright tax people to directly pay for the "we're not going to leave you for dead" care hospitals already provide. This makes far more sense than having hospitals eat those costs and over-charge everyone else to make up for it. Further, we should expand that base level of high deductible care to subsidize the basic preventative care that will keep the final costs of such coverage low. [1] And then allow third parties to provide additional coverage. Though I would most-strongly advocate a severing of the employer-health care link. If nothing else, that needs to go. The grouping of employees has serious distorting effects on the labor market. Risk pools should be insurer-wide. And insurance contributions by employers can/should be handled like a second direct-deposit. Even if we keep the employers' tax deduction. [2] But the insurance choices needs to be in the employees hands. The risk groups need to be wider. And changes need to not be forced upon a change of employers. [1] e.g. Basic doctor visits and generic drug coverage for things like antibiotics to cheaply treat conditions that will otherwise wind up in the ER; provide family planning care; etc. [2] Though i'd like to see that removed and treated like any other wages from the employer-side, but exempt from income tax on the employee side.