I don't know how you should define it but I wouldn't say that 90% of the poor really aren't poor. This is especially true with all of the long term job losses in this recession. We have to cover the poor - the uninsured with no savings, because they lived paycheck to paycheck.
We have to change that behavior, not encourage the same.
Figuring out how to do that is one of the most important things.
People need to learn to not live paycheck to check, to build a savings.
Actually, many elderly can afford it, you are correct. There are many elderly who would be considered poor, that would need covering. Plus the fact that their care needs are so great they could be considered sick - high incidence of health care utilization.
We also promised them Medicare.
I do agree that
some are very low income.
I don't have a problem helping them, but we have to make sure it doesn't turn into a lifestyle subsidy.
We have a disagreement. People with Diabetes should absolutely be covered. Type 1s are not obese - they cannot process sugar at all and risk hyperglycemia without Insulin and hypoglycemia with Insulin - both deadly. Type 2 has high IR, thought to perhaps be caused by obesity or thought to actually cause obesity. I am Type 2. I cannot control my Diabetes by diet and exercise alone. I take 90 units of Insulin a day, which is a lot. I am still not well controlled. I will lose my eyesight, have severe pain in my legs prior to amputation, possibly have renal failure and other Neuropathy effects. I take $900 or medications a month. I got rejected for pre-existing conditions several times. I am sick. Luckily I have a job and group coverage. Without, I would be screwed....was screwed.
I do not like your overly restrictive definition of what counts for sick.
Do you consider diabetes to be a disability?
I'd say it's a sickness but not a disability.
A lot of people can benefit from diet control diabetes management.
I don't know your specific case, so I'm not saying whether or not you can.
The point is, though, that people aren't making life changes to adjust for these problems or changes to prevent them.
As an example, a guy I work with(in his 50's) has high blood pressure and complains about the cost of his medicine.
He smokes and drinks lots of salty soft drinks.
He could, in theory, help his high blood pressure by quitting smoking and not drinking soda.
No plan has addressed behavior.