Ok, but do you realize that one bad accident can RUIN your financial future just because you won't buy health insurance?? It can happen in the blink of an eye--car accident=$300,000+ in medical bills--how would you pay those off???? Forget the house you want, the vacations you like, forget ever getting a car loan, NOTHING. Put $100 into your vacation fund and at least get a catastrophic plan so you don't ruin your entire future.
Car accident is a bad example because our car insurance would cover that (of course, to the limitations of our policy). My insurance agent's husband died two weeks before Christmas in a car accident where a drunken, un-insured driver hit him.
Uninsured, underinsured and medical payment coverage was the first thing she sold me on up'ing above the state limitations. We both carry full coverage, as well.
If you can find a healthcare premium that a 21-year old college student in West Virginia can afford, fine. Good luck.
At the end of the day, it doesn't make sense to us. Like you said- my husband is covered. He loved the time he spent in the military but when his contract for active duty ran out, he left to better himself through college. He will more than likely go back in-- and then we'll be covered. We're lucky in that sense.