The U.S. has a lower life expectancy compared to other wealthy countries. It stands out as a clear outlier on the "Life Expectancy vs. Health Expenditure per Capita" curve, as illustrated in the image below. While an unhealthy lifestyle contributes to this, data also indicates that the lack of health insurance among Americans at lower incomes plays a role.

Opponents argue that lower life expectancy is primarily driven by lifestyle factors rather than a lack of health insurance. However, the key question is whether the absence of health insurance plays a meaningful role—not whether it is the sole factor.