My life=My choice

Why is it that some people cannot seem to understand other people's choices in life? And that many things in another's life are NOT a choice?

For instance, I'm in the midst of a discussion/debate on health insurance right now on a political forum. I've explained that at one time I thought I had decent insurance and that I had thought that coverage would be for life, because it came from my late husband's employer. Reading the documents I was sent at the time of his death, it stated that, while, when I qualify for social security, my pension would eventually reduce to $0, my health insurance would remain in effect for the rest of my life. Then, 2-3 years ago, they 'restructured' the retiree/surviving spouse insurance to the point that I ended up with nothing, because I cannot afford to pay for it.

I haven't been to a doctor in 10 years, because I was never one to head for the doctor's office for every little ache or pain. Now, even if I felt I needed to go, I cannot afford it. My income is just high enough - and with two other adults living in my home - I cannot qualify for medicaid or even food stamps.

So, what do the fools say to me? They actually accuse me of 'choosing' not to afford health insurance! What do they not understand about the fact that if I could find a company that would insure me, it would likely take ALL of my very limited income? What do they not understand about the simple fact that most health insurance companies would likely deny me coverage because I haven't been covered now for several years, and thus may in fact have a 'pre-existing' condition of which I am unaware BECAUSE I haven't been able to afford even a cursory examination, much less any kind of complete physical?

And it's not like I haven't looked into insurance. I've heard too many 'horror stories' from friends about their health insurance and what it will and will not pay. I have one friend who was forced by circumstances to switch insurance companies and suddenly her 'pre-existing' diabetes and the necessary insulin and testing equipment weren't covered for a year! I have another whose husband was forced by the economy to change jobs in the last year. He went from an insurer who would pay 90% of all medical bills to one who only pays 50%. Since he works and she doesn't, suddenly his glasses and medical exams became more 'important' than her's in their budget.

Between that and my extremely limited income, I just cannot see spending half or more of that income on insurance for something I might never need.