If I am going to keep riding my bike I need health insurance!

[jobob]

I just don't get why people think that health insurance is optional.

Nor do I.

[kajero]

I don't know why the United States cannot have a decent health care system. Well, yes I do. Too many politicians.
Oakleaf,
Apparently we think alike. My health directive is very explicit and reiterates much of what you said. I have discussed this with my children until they are sick of it.
However, I will keep my insurance mainly to try to protect my life style as long as possible. Believe me, I don't have a luxurious life style.

[luvmyguys]

More companies do cover those things than you think. And the year dh had cancer, YES, I can say the payout alone from insurance for his care more than covered the amount in premiums we've paid in since we graduated from college. I'm irked at the nature of insurance companies, but one cancer diagnosis will make one appreciate even modest insurance.

The deciding factor for us was less "what was covered and what wasn't" and more along the lines of deciding which insurance company was going to fight every claim tooth and nail. Dh's company offers a few selections, and two of those selections offer what seems like similar coverage at drastically different rates, but when we did just a little research, we came to the conclusion that we'd be dealing with a whole lot more insurance drama with the cheaper company.