Originally Posted by Dude
If you're participating in the medical insurance market at all, then as a fellow rate-payer, you are requiring me to help finance your treatment, without asking. That's how insurance works.

And as illustrated in this analogy, that's a lot smarter than adopting an every-man-for-himself philosophy. Civilization is built on such cooperation and mutual support.
As mentioned upthread, the American society is based largely upon reciprocity.
- Some examples of participation by choice: charities, go-fund-me and other online contribution systems, health insurance -vs- self-pay.
- Meanwhile taxation is compulsory: National Debt incurred by what we spend now is foisted on the next generations, who have no say in the matter.