I'd see the doctor more often.
I'd have all the Dr. Recommended tests done, without worrying about not being able to get into a plan because of pre-existing conditions like high blood pressure or high cholesterol -- yes, yes, I held off on those because my wife's job was in jeopardy last year and I knew I'd have to buy private insurance some day.
I wouldn't worry about losing our house and becoming homeless if one of us got seriously sick.
I wouldn't put off medical concerns for fear that it would destroy my family financially...
...And I wouldn't feel stupid about going in about something that turned out to be nothing at all, while having to pay hundreds of dollars out of pocket just to have a doctor glance at me.
If I didn't have to worry about private health care...unemployment in the family would be a lot less stressful.
If I didn't have to worry about private health care, my wife's second pregnancy would have been more joyful and less stressful. And the new baby wouldn't come into my hands with my worrying how we're going to afford to pay for the delivery.
I wouldn't have to make call after call after call about why this or that wasn't covered or reimbursed, only to get half responses, put on hold for a half hour, and then just dismissed out of hand.
I wouldn't have to appeal and be denied my claim for coverage because the private insurance company pulled a bait and switch.
I wouldn't have to meet with a parade of health insurance agents who each reassure me that they're working for ME, and each confidently tell me that their insurance will follow through on its promises...despite the small print.
My talented friend with diabetes could quit her dead-end job where they pay her peanuts and offer an anemic medical plan, and she could start her own practice as a child therapist and hire her own office manager.
My friend who owns a software company could hire another programmer, and businesses around the country could do what they do best and be competitive, and not have to double as America's social safety net.
I wouldn't have to hear my friends' stories about how group insurance premiums skyrocketed so their positions were eliminated and they were hired back as "contractors" with no benefits.
Manufacturers' legacy costs would be much, much smaller, their products would be less expensive and globally more competitive, and potentially thousands of jobs could have been saved.
If I didn't have to worry about private insurance, the worry over my child's midnight illness and high fever wouldn't be compounded by the worry over a hundreds of dollars visit to the emergency room.
Maybe my take-home pay would be a bit less. But it's already less, and I could budget around it.