Clark Howard, who is a consumer advocate on the radio based in Atlanta, GA, has said we should abandon health insurance and let providers and consumers figure out the charges on a case-by-case basis. I’ve never thought that idea all the way through, but I do like the sound of it. Since consumers would not know what others were charged, basing charges on ability to pay would be more feasible, not less — none could complain about their bills based on such information. Providers could do their own ‘price averaging’.