&gt;&gt;The problem with this is that it creates moral hazard. There are lots of individual acts which are fun that I might engage in (e.g., gluttony, gay sex, inactivity, smoking, drugs) but which impose potential costs on others. Why is it reasonable for me to enjoy these benefits while others pay the costs?<p>Does it not work the exact same way with private insurance? If you require treatment, you increase premiums for everyone, not just yourself.<p>Anyway, I&#x27;m personally super happy with national insurance because I simply don&#x27;t have to think about it. I know that if I need an operation, I will get one. I know that if I have an accident, and they need to send a helicopter to get me, I won&#x27;t even see the bill for that. If I need to stay in hospital for the next year of my life, I won&#x27;t see the bill. If I lose my job and become homeless I&#x27;m still going to be covered. I don&#x27;t need to worry which hospital to go to, or which doctor&#x2F;dentist can see me - they all can, there&#x27;s no receipt produced, it&#x27;s simply not a worry I have. Right now I pay about ~$100USD a month for the national health insurance, and it&#x27;s an amount I am extremely happy to pay. Why would I care that other people are having accidents or smoking?