The real issue is that uninsured people are an externality to society.
If we actually let people choose to not buy insurance and deal with those consequences, that would be fine. But as a civilized society, we don't find it acceptable to let people die for preventable reasons, so society ends up footing the bill for that person.
Either we need to let those who can afford it and choose not to purchase insurance die of pneumonia if they can't afford the treatment, or everyone needs to buy health insurance if they expect to be treated for life-threatening conditions.
It's not a matter of "spend your money how you see fit". It's "you choose not to buy health insurance and we pay for it anyway", which is patently unfair on the rest of us.
If we actually let people choose to not buy insurance and deal with those consequences, that would be fine. But as a civilized society, we don't find it acceptable to let people die for preventable reasons, so society ends up footing the bill for that person.
Either we need to let those who can afford it and choose not to purchase insurance die of pneumonia if they can't afford the treatment, or everyone needs to buy health insurance if they expect to be treated for life-threatening conditions.
It's not a matter of "spend your money how you see fit". It's "you choose not to buy health insurance and we pay for it anyway", which is patently unfair on the rest of us.