I haven't read all the intervening posts, but first off, insurance that will cover basics and emergencies is not that high. Even if you can't afford the coverage, there are clinics that charge a minimal fee for fairly exhaustive services, and they aren't all in the ghetto, either. There is a system in place for people without coverage or between jobs. For some reason, many people choose not to utilize it. I'm a little more saavy to it than others as I worked as a social worker for many years, but we actually have a "socialized" health care system that many seem to be unaware of. Further, many pharmaceutical companies will provide medicine (like insulin) to you for free or at a very low cost if you apply to the company directly with the assistance of a doctor.