what is the purpose/function/utility of "health" "insurance"?

Quote Originally Posted by DiscoD69:

Be easy, you are right, but I don't see what that has to do with your point or the conversation at large...

How many people are sick or unhealthy and in need of healthcare services as a result of following the food pyramid or gov't guidelines compared to the amount of people who are unhealthy or in need of healthcare resulting from eating processed foods, HFC, Burger King & McDonalds?

My guess would be the latter, by a landslide 

Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain (as in “good health” or “healthy”).^[1] The World Health Organization (WHO) defined health in its broader sense in 1946 as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."^[2][3] Although this definition has been subject to controversy, in particular as having a lack of operational value and the problem created by use of the word "complete", it remains the most enduring.^[4][5] Classification systems such as the WHO Family of International Classifications, including the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), are commonly used to define and measure the components of health.

The maintenance and promotion of health is achieved through different combination of physical, mental, and social well-being, together sometimes referred to as the “health triangle”.^[6][7] The WHO's 1986 Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion furthered that health is not just a state, but also "a resource for everyday life, not the objective of living. Health is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities."^[8]

Systematic activities to prevent or cure health problems and promote good health in humans are delivered by health care providers. Applications with regard to animal health are covered by the veterinary sciences. The term "healthy" is also widely used in the context of many types of non-living organizations and their impacts for the benefit of humans, such as in the sense of healthy communities, healthy cities or healthy environments. In addition to health care interventions and a person's surroundings, a number of other factors are known to influence the health status of individuals, including their background, lifestyle, and economic and social conditions; these are referred to as "determinants of health".

• Over the last 10 years, the percentage of Americans who took at least one prescription drug in the past month increased from 44% to 48%. The use of two or more drugs increased from 25% to 31%. The use of five or more drugs increased from 6% to 11%.
• In 2007-2008, 1 out of every 5 children and 9 out of 10 older Americans reported using at least one prescription drug in the past month.
• Those who were without a regular place for health care, health insurance, or prescription drug benefit had less prescription drug use compared with those who had these benefits.
• The most commonly used types of drugs included: asthma medicines for children, central nervous system stimulants for adolescents, antidepressants for middle-aged adults, and cholesterol lowering drugs for older Americans.

looks like the problem here is, not enough access to drugs! We need people like me that work, to fund drug use of those who cannot afford it (because either they don't work, or they chose to forego savings for their personal health issues on iphones and 100$ per month phone bills and chrome wheels on shiny cars with 300+$ per month car payments)

Half of all Americans are on at least one prescription drug. that is beyond insanity. To ask me to fork over part of my labor to fund that bullshit is the height of absurdity,,,,i would physically fight someone to the death (if we lived in a world that allowed for that option) to avoid being forced to fund something i know to be so goddam wrong

Shameful that the USA is the only rich country in which serious health problems can cause financial ruin for the uninsured.  Sad that some Americans are so selfish that they won't help fellow Americans.  Many countries have universal healthcare systems and they are proud of them.

Without medicine, the world would be a worser place.  There would be more deaths and suffering.  Unfortunately, modern technology is expensive and insurance has allowed professional healthcare to become more affordable for most people. 

Drugs have benefits and risks.  But doctors are trained to prescribe only drugs that are medically necessary. Millions of uninsured Americans remain sick and suffer without access to healthcare.   Universal healthcare systems improve health of population by allowing more sick people to access healthcare that they need.