The Amish is a very interesting direction you are now taking. It is interesting how they pay for medical expensis.
I used to work with a guy that was Menonite which is like Amish light. They still were plain but they had cars but removed the Antena so they couldn't listen to the radio, they had electricity but no TV, radio, or internet in his house. He had many of the same philosophies as the Amish.
This guy only took medical insurance because it was company paid for. He wouldn't put his wife or children on the policy and when my company started making us contribute to our own insurance he dropped it.
His church was self insured (this was true for cars as well). They had a fund that if anyone had any unforseen medical or accidents, the church would pay out of the fund and ask the congregation to keep contributing to the fund.
Your statement is very misleeding as very few are able to dip into savings and pay cash for their health care.
It is an interesting philosphy and will work as long as eveyone contributes and noboday takes advantage of the system. For most people this wouldn't work because people would not pay their share or take advantage of the system.
Now when you say the Amish don't have health care and they pay, this is how they pay. Either have a fund or pass the basket to get your neighbor that much needed surgery. Most of the time, these people don't get regular care and let a small problem grow into something much more costly and difficult to cure. Also, the hospitals may give slight discounts for paying cash, but research has shown that what an insurance company pays is alot less.
The other intesting this with the Amish is how they are running into problems with genetic issues because many times people keep marrying in the community and it is not uncommon to hear that first cousins marry and have kids. This makes more medical issues for this group.
Now illegal alliens is another issue. We shouldn't be paying for their care. If you are here illegally, we should patch you up so you won't die and send you home.
It is what you learn, after you know it all, that counts.