[msandford]

I suspect that the parent does in fact pay for any healthcare that they need or that their kids need. They just aren't buying insurance because the price of the insurance far outweighs their normal spending.

This is the real problem with health insurance is that it covers relatively routine and non emergency healthcare services where you can ship around and have market forces encourage people to find efficiency.

I understand the "if I'm dying from a car crash I can't shop around" argument and I agree. But that's very different than shopping for a family doc you like for the half dozen times a year you or your family will need to see someone for a strep test and maybe antibiotics.