I dropped any type of life coverage when I had far more than enough liquid assets to put my kids through college and leave them something to boot.

I never worried about being hit by a truck and dying. I, to this day, only worry about being hit by a truck and running up millions in bills.

I insure against losses that I cannot afford .. I was raised to pay my bills .. and those of my family. Only reason that I have ever carried insurance of any kind.

I fully understand your thoughts, you are smart ... I'm just too much of a fraidy cat.

In these parts ... there are a few physicians that will let you negotiate rates, if you pay at time of service. However, the big concerns have close to a lock on even primary care physicians. For example .. you go to the doc .. If you're private pay .. it's street rate of $180.00 for an office visit, specialists will set you back for between 220 and 350. Negotiated network rates are around 118, for PC, and 175 for specialist. Medicare DRG, for PC is less than $50.00. Lab services are even worse. For some common tests .. DRG is under ten bucks .. but street rate is close to one hundred dollars.

Never could understand .. The doc doesn't have to bill me .. they get their money on the spot .. yet they want over three times more than Medicare .. which they have to bill .. collect their 80% (in the case of a pc visit, around 40 dollars) and bill the patient, or the patients med sup company for the ten. With me .. no billing .. no forms .. no special codes .. I just pay them .. but they want over three times more.

For me, with the exception of my spine being sliced and diced in 2007 .. I haven't seen a doctor since. Prior to the spine job .. I hadn't seen a physician since a 1980 physical. My wife hits a doc about once every three months .. She's a forkin' hypochondriac.