If you didn’t have to pay into SS and Medicare, would you?

Medicare yes.

SS no.

If shown a graph of what their contributions would buy them, no one would voluntarily opt-in to social security retirement, IMHO.

If they could pick options a la carte, some might pay for the disability portion (but could probably buy better LTD on the market) and most would pay for Medicare (because there really isn't a market based, unsubsidized alternative to that because of the age you will be in receiving the benefits).

Medicaid is a needs based program (welfare) that comes out of the treasury, so there is no individualized cost to "opt-in" to this program.

No

I'm pretty sure you don't pay for Medicaid. It's a freebie.

Having paid into it since 1984, yes I would. If I were 18, no I wouldn't.

I'm going to be 37 this month and I've been maxed out on SS contributions for a while now, so the most pertinent question is if I could cut off all future contributions in exchange for not receiving any benefits, would I do so...

I haven't done the math, but my gut feeling is a resounding hell yes.

I imagine the tipping point is not terribly far off, but I'd have to spreadsheet it all out.

If it was left alone and only do what it was designed to do, I probably wouldn't fuss about paying into it. However, the politicians can't hep themselves and dipped into the fund too many times for other things.

SS is kind of like insurance. It is a terrible use of your money unless you need it. Like you, I don't plan on needing it and wish I could have opted out, but now I plan on living forever and turning a profit!

Health insurance is a horrible financial arrangement if you are healthy. If you do not plan on ever getting a major illness, or breaking any bones, or messing up your back, etc., then you would be fine without health insurance. Just bank the monthly premiums and pay your doctors out of pocket for your occasional visits. There is no reason for you to subsidize the health care of people you have never met and will never meet.

Of course, everyone should really have some type of health insurance, because you never know what will happen to you. The trick is convincing young, healthy people to go ahead and get the insurance so that the funds remain solvent and healthy (i.e., the old, sick people are sufficiently subsidized)

Similarly, SS is a bad financial investment if you plan on having a reasonably successful career and financing your own retirement. If you plan on having a 6 figure salary for a substantial amount of time, make sound investments, and never having to deal with a major market crash or other economic issues, then SS is a complete waste of money for you. You could be investing that money elsewhere, and pass it on to your heirs when you die.

So, the trick with SS is making everyone pay in, even though they may not need, or may die before they are ever eligible to sash in.

You never know what will happen in your future. I personally met some major roadblocks in my career that caused me to start over from scratch a couple of times, and paying that self-employment tax every year really sucks. I don't think I will "need" my SS payments when I finally hang it up, but my current plan is to cash every check, and keep demanding them and cashing them till I'm over 100.

Or maybe I'll die tomorrow and my money will be used by someone else. Same as my health insurance money.

Hell no. Both are scams.

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But, if I’m going to be forced to pay into all these programs, I better get every cent out of it that I put in

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If you’re under 45, that ain’t going to happen. Plan for retirement like it won’t be there at all.