Insurance is "take the bank". And the way insurance tends to work is that everything is fine until you need. Then you're screwed. That's the nature of it.

[edit] My point is: While health insurance may be a barrier, a paycheck should not be.

[edit2] I'll definitely explain; I apologize that it wasn't clear.

I'm not trying to argue that a paycheck couldn't be a barrier to launching a startup; I'm arguing that it shouldn't be one. Requiring a paycheck translates to requiring job security, and a startup is not necessarily the path to take if that's the case.

In contrast, health insurance cannot be helped as a barrier to launching as, paycheck or not, a lack of health insurance can completely ruin you in the event of an accident, which you cannot control.

People flock to the Valley where money is easier to come by not because they need a paycheck personally, but because it's easier to fund your startup. I'm not even saying that, at this point, you shouldn't cut yourself a small check to live off of. Being able to pay yourself is an awesome goal, and something that everyone should look forward to. However, if you require job security (which many do), then it would likely be to your benefit to get to a point in your life where that's not a barrier before launching.

And cosgroveb, if you're suggesting that I only believe those born into money can be successful founders, you're simply incorrect. Anyone from any socioeconomic background has the ultimate ability to launch a startup. No one is questioning that. The actual question, though, is when should you launch a startup?

[edit: my question is "why?" I.e., could you explain why health insurance is a barrier, but a paycheck is not?

Also useful would be explaining why startups flock to the valley and NYC, where access to capital/a paycheck is easier, rather than MA where access to health insurance is easier.]

I can have access to a paycheck by selling stuff.

I can have access to affordable health care through some combination of public policy, state and federal programs, laws that may or may not end up being repealed or enforced, regulations on the insurance industry, reforms on the legal industry, pressure from consumer advocacy groups, happening to live in the right place, hoping that my insurance company doesn't raise rates too much, or possibly marrying someone with good health insurance, or being the right age to be on my parents' plan, if they have an affordable plan to begin with. Also I can choose not to smoke or have kids if I want to keep my costs down.

If you live without health care you throw dice with high stakes. Point is, when you get older the dice get loaded.

My remaining hair is gray specked, this is something I considered carefully when I accepted to be outsourced to East Europe (-: love it so far, the city is almost called Kludge! :-).

Edit: Made a little bit clearer.