It's everyone's responsibility to have "skin in the game"

Wilson talks about the policy on individual responsibility. In 2006, the House of Delegates adopted a final key element that tied together all the other provisions of the AMA proposal for expanding insurance coverage and choice. That element was physician's individual responsibility policy: that insurance be made available on the open market, that everyone be required to purchase insurance, and that those who cannot afford it have help in doing so. Moreover, he believes that it is important that everyone have "skin in the game," so to speak, and be willing to take greater responsibility for his or her health care needs and those of dependents. The reality is that those who voluntarily choose to be uninsured are the reason the rest of them in society have to pay for their care involuntarily--through paying higher premiums, providing uncompensated care and having tax dollars used inefficiently to make that care available where it costs most--in emergency departments. That is simply not fair, nor is it sustainable.