Any thoughts?

Paying your insurance premium is gambling that you won't need to use the insurance. Most of the time the money just goes down the drain, but sometimes it pays off, again just like gambling. But, having needed it several times, I am happy to pay my car and renter's insurance. I'd like to have health as well, but simply can't afford it without help.

Those were the lines I was thinking along

In a casino, you get paid when you get lucky. In insurance-land, you get paid when you get *unlucky.*

Buying insurance is still a better decision than blowing all your money at the casino, because it protects you from unexpected life events. And no one goes crazy and blows all their money on insurance because it's fun times. But yes: either way, the odds always favor the house. If these companies didn't collect more in premiums than they paid out in benefits, then they'd go out of business.

For this reason, I recommend everyone, particularly those who are young or in good health, buy an HSA (Health Savings Account)-based health insurance plan rather than traditional health insurance, since it gives you significantly more control over your money and flexibility whether you get sick or not.

If you ever find the need to withdraw money from an HSA for non-health related expenses, then you can -- although you will have to pay income taxes and there is an additional, stiff 20% tax penalty on early, non-health related withdrawals, so you shouldn't plan on doing that.

A better idea: if you get to age 65 and you were lucky enough to not have to spend your HSA money on health expenses, then you can withdraw the money for non-health related expenses without the 20% tax penalty. That's huge! (You'll still have to pay income taxes, though)

More reading:

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/090814/pros-and-cons-health-savings-account-hsa.asp

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_savings_account

That's very interesting, I've never heard of that. I'll have to look into it.

Can't drive legally unless you have car insurance. Health insurance is the biggest money stealing scam there is.

Ya know, it would be more fun and if you could become skilled at a game you might actually make some money (unless they kick you out). I do maybe think that liability insurance is right to be legally required but beyond that no insurance should be required. Too bad Obamacare requires health insurance (or you can pay a tax penalty)