Presumably in the idealized scenario ( where individuals purchased health plans themselves and not through their employer) the individual would get a tax break for the cost of their health insurance.

Also, group insurance rates are often lower than the rates an individual could purchase themselves.

Man, it's almost like we just need some sort of mandatory group that everyone falls into, and then has to pay into. But, we could also provide some tax break, refund, or otherwise just not collect the fee, from, those who couldn't afford it.

If only someone had some sort of working template on how this could be done in a cost effective way. I'm sure everyone, regardless of where they fall on the political spectrum, would rally round such an obvious net good in that case.

(I know that bit of sarcasm is a bit of a tangent, it just feels like this whole subthread is missing the obvious)

> it just feels like this whole subthread is missing the obvious

I think we just skipped over the part that we already know is never going to happen, however much that might be the ideal solution.