"I live in New Jersey, which is a fair coverage state, so I’ve never had to deal with being rejected from a plan because of pre-existing conditions."
This is a huge omission. If you don't live in a fair coverage state, you have a high chance of being ineligible for individual health coverage based on preexisting conditions. Preexisting conditions include migraines, depression, and benign conditions with scary-sounding names, like "subaortic stenosis." There was a Planet Money interview recently with an insurance broker who generally rejected 50% of applicants. Granted, this selects for people who think they need health insurance, so the actual number may be a bit lower, but it still stands to reason that a large number of people are getting denied coverage.
If you don't fit the platonic ideal of "healthy," you may have no choice but to work for "the man."
This is a huge omission. If you don't live in a fair coverage state, you have a high chance of being ineligible for individual health coverage based on preexisting conditions. Preexisting conditions include migraines, depression, and benign conditions with scary-sounding names, like "subaortic stenosis." There was a Planet Money interview recently with an insurance broker who generally rejected 50% of applicants. Granted, this selects for people who think they need health insurance, so the actual number may be a bit lower, but it still stands to reason that a large number of people are getting denied coverage.
If you don't fit the platonic ideal of "healthy," you may have no choice but to work for "the man."