Should a perfectly healthy person buy healthcare coverage if they don't even expect a financial return from it net of premiums? YES it makes perfect sense.

The expectation for this healthy person should not be to get a financial return from the insurance net of the premium paid. Rather, this person is taking this as a precaution from an unexpected financial burden that would be difficult to recover from.   In this particular illustration it makes perfect sense for the healthy person to be content with his current financial position and also be willing to pay a ‘premium’ for financial stability beyond what he/she expects to receive from his health coverage over time. Similarly there is a significant misconception in what hedging is meant to do, even though the ideas are similar.

The small businesses that employ 50% of Americans, and produce 50% of US GDP should have access to form of fuel coverage as a financial precaution, just as healthy individuals should buy health-insurance as a precaution.

We advocate that people try understand their major financial risks and plan ways to absorb shocks to their financial budgets. The process is similar to building a sturdy bridge or building. Civil engineers will figure out the maximum forces that a structure will sustain, and then build in supports and shock absorbers to withstand a multiple of those forces so the structure becomes very safe.