Our situation is almost identical. I refuse to even go to the doctor unless I have something I suspect is going to be life threatening. My wife thinks I'm nuts, but she understands. I grew up in Europe under the "socialist model" and I miss it dearly.
If I need to go because I have an infection, I go to the indigent clinic, and pay the $25 for anything they need to do. I then go around the corner to the indigent pharmacy and get my $4 RX.
Yes, we have insurance. But it's still so freaking expensive to use it I never go. Insurance premiums, co-pays, RX costs. Why even go unless you HAVE to go. My wife takes the children to see the doctor when they need it. I refuse to go. I've not had a physical since the early 90s and I don't plan on going. I refuse to enrich the system. Now that the mandate has been undone, I may drop myself and cover my family alone. I can always go to the indigent clinic. Anything more serious and I just cannot afford to pay. I do not want to leave my family in medical bankruptcy or massive debt. It really sucks that in America, one has to first consider whether one can afford to visit the doctor in the first place. And I cannot convince my wife to consider living in Europe or Australia, both places we could easily move to and adapt with our relative skill sets.
While I admire your principles, it seems that by not getting physicals, you appear to be trading off your health for your principles. It is a choice for you to make but might I suggest that if the insurance/healthcare that you get is too expensive, it might be worth making an annual trip to a suitable country to get the physical done. Alternatively, consider paying a doctor with cash for a pre-negotiated price.
These are unsolicited suggestions on my part but my concern is that by not getting these physicals, which arguably have a significant impact in early detection of preventable diseases such as high cholesterol, you are endangering your life. Just my opinion.
If I need to go because I have an infection, I go to the indigent clinic, and pay the $25 for anything they need to do. I then go around the corner to the indigent pharmacy and get my $4 RX.
Yes, we have insurance. But it's still so freaking expensive to use it I never go. Insurance premiums, co-pays, RX costs. Why even go unless you HAVE to go. My wife takes the children to see the doctor when they need it. I refuse to go. I've not had a physical since the early 90s and I don't plan on going. I refuse to enrich the system. Now that the mandate has been undone, I may drop myself and cover my family alone. I can always go to the indigent clinic. Anything more serious and I just cannot afford to pay. I do not want to leave my family in medical bankruptcy or massive debt. It really sucks that in America, one has to first consider whether one can afford to visit the doctor in the first place. And I cannot convince my wife to consider living in Europe or Australia, both places we could easily move to and adapt with our relative skill sets.