If I'm choosing one, my first question is "what are the odds"? Well, there have been fifteen shark attacks in Humboldt County, California since 1990. In fact, Humboldt County hold the dubious title of Number One spot for the most shark attacks in California. Surprised? Well, compare that to lightning strikes in Northern California -- in one week (August 2009) more than 50 fires were started in Northern California from lightening strikes. What are your odds? Generally speaking the odds of being struck by lightning in your life time are 1 in 6250. The odds of being attacked by a shark in the USA are less -- even in Humboldt County -- but rare as both might seem, they do happen. It really isn't safe out there in the water or on the land.
Shark Attack or Hit By Lightning?
So which did you pick? The lightning bolt will deliver radiation equivalent to 400 x-rays plus three CT scans. The shark attack is 3000 razor sharp teeth delivered by a 5000 pound fish that doesn't chew (just uses the teeth to capture, wound, and break into bite size chunks the prey of its choice).
Clearly the choices offered here are extreme but we never know when it is our turn to be the one of millions for an tragedy. Benjamin Franklin was a great supporter of insurance (take it from a guy that played with lightning to found an insurance company to protect home loss in 1752).
Today there are many types of insurance, some required by law, other required by just good common sense. Health insurance is in a period of massive change, but it will take time for the changes to be reality.