bobunf:

Forcing everyone to carry health insurance is like forcing everyone to carry auto insurance. The health costs of the uninsured will be paid in the absence of insurance and probably paid less efficiently than if health care wasn’t dispensed in the emergency room. It makes sense to make the people pay who get the benefit—especially if such a payment scheme improves efficiency.

Universal auto insurance is less important than universal health coverage, because injuries and damages associated with automobiles are far less likely and far less costly than health care related expenses. Nonetheless, nearly every state has mandatory auto insurance.

It seems to me that making people pay for what they get is a rather conservative principle.

Bob

There is one big difference. The only auto insurance you are required by law to carry is liability insurance that pays out if you damage someone else's property or injure another person. Insurance to cover your own loss is optional.

I'm not saying that requiring people to carry health insurance is definitely a bad idea. But I am saying that the question of the impact on the social fabric is an important part of these discusions.