Is it personally responsible to not have health-insurance and pass the cost to taxpayers...?

through emergency room drain? That doesn't sound personally responsible to me. It makes sense to have everyone purchase health insurance because if they don't, that cost gets passed to everyone.
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The cost of private health insurance is out of reach for many people. If one isn't working, because they can't find a job, even the cost of Cobra isn't much cheaper. If one can afford it and doesn't have it, then it is irresponsible for them not to have health insurance. If one is poor, or near/at the poverty level states have state funded insurance, Medicaid, or in California, Medi-Cal. Given that there are health programs for low in come people, they should take advantage of it. I believe it's free, so there would be no cost for the individual, they would have a Doctor and wouldn't have to go to emergency rooms. Without getting into a discussion about illegal immigrants, they will go to emergency rooms. As a nurse I know that the legal, or illegal question isn't asked and if these patients need care, they would be transferred to county hospitals for further care. Illegals also somehow get state funded insurance, but my experience has been they are only covered for emergencies. The illegal immigration problem definitely a burden on tax payers, but that's all I'll say about that. It is irresponsible not to have health insurance if you can afford it, but don't want to pay for it and equally irresponsible not to have Medi-Caid, ot Medi-Cal if you qualify.
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