We used to do this within small communities and on an informal basis, neighbor by neighbor. Regarding major medical stuff, so much more care is available now. Cost for all these new drugs, services, procedures, have to be paid. But we should address these issues broadly, and try to reach some consensus as a larger community.
Care is now unfairly divided along class, income, location lines.
Hands on nursing care has been spread so thinly that hospitals feel scary and lonely and dangerous, not like safe places to get well. How much more fair it would be to stop mandating profits for insurance companies and drug companies on a bit by bit basis. Adopt a single payer universal coverage system, Vermont's solid values make this an ideal state to do this in.