Yes, and is that line of reasoning working? Are we as a society saving money doing it that way?
It seems what people really need is just a savings account and some incentive to actually save money for future expenses (because knowing that someday you are going to get an illness that 100% of people get apparently isn't enough motivation).
HSA’s are available and most people don’t effectively use them, part of the problem is most people don’t/can’t save anyway. You’re not all wrong, but you’re talking about changing behavior which is much harder than just making the system work for how people actually behave.
HSA's are horrible. Way to much government nonsense with limits on contributions and providers and tying them to particular insurance plans. Completely ineffective. When you see that you could save some money for future medical expenses, but you don't qualify for any tax breaks because the amount you want to save is too much or your health insurance doesn't allow it, it's very demotivating for saving at all.
The thought I have is we should all definitely carry catastrophic health insurance, but then people should be on their own for the rest. I'm sure that payment plans and medical care clubs would spring up to fit the needs of those who absolutely need a way to force themselves to save ahead. Those things should not be called insurance, they should not be sold as insurance, nor should they encroach at all into the territory of true insurance that is meant for rare and catastrophic events.
Only having catastrophic coverage for most people over 35 does not work, maybe younger too. We’ve already seen this.
You are basically guaranteed to receive care in the United States, doesn’t mean it’s affordable. The people that can’t afford the ~$300 screening or basic healthcare end up waiting until it’s major then we’re back to catastrophic level. People who can’t or don’t pay their medical bills still cost everyone using the health system money, it’s just hidden in fees, higher costs, tax write-offs, etc.
I'd like to think HSA's are a good idea, but many HSA's have a "use it or lose it" policy that any money contributed that doesn't get used by the end of the year just disappears into the pockets of the HSA provider. It's almost a scam. It might be nice for someone that has some sort of ailment that needs frequent care, such as diabetes or cancer, but it's worthless for someone that wants to have money kept aside in case of an emergency.
It seems what people really need is just a savings account and some incentive to actually save money for future expenses (because knowing that someday you are going to get an illness that 100% of people get apparently isn't enough motivation).