As one who carried private health-insurance for over 40 years (private, not employee-sponsored, so overall MUCH more expensive to me personally) I probably, as a VERY rough estimate in total, took about 3% of premiums as actual benefits paid to my personal benefit, not counting peace of mind. I realize that as part of a risk-pool some good portion of my premiums paid were used by other members of the risk-group I was part of in the insurance company books, and another share as administrative expense. I also realize that the remainder went to profits paid out in various ways over the system.

Call it a tax or premium or whatever you want, I'd feel a lot better paying the same amount of money...

As one who carried private health-insurance for over 40 years (private, not employee-sponsored, so overall MUCH more expensive to me personally) I probably, as a VERY rough estimate in total, took about 3% of premiums as actual benefits paid to my personal benefit, not counting peace of mind. I realize that as part of a risk-pool some good portion of my premiums paid were used by other members of the risk-group I was part of in the insurance company books, and another share as administrative expense. I also realize that the remainder went to profits paid out in various ways over the system.

Call it a tax or premium or whatever you want, I'd feel a lot better paying the same amount of money I did over my life knowing that more people were treated to good health than treated to earnings. It ain't rocket science.