rm>> No, major care is quicker in the USA than here in Canada but the cost
  >> for decent insurance has always been very high for lower/medium income
  >> people.

MP>I would not say "always."  IIRC, the cost took a big jump sometime between
  >1994 and 2000 and hasn't stopped since.  Before that, it wasn't unheard of
  >for large employers to pay the premium 100% for an employee with no
  >dependents on the policy.  During the time frame I gave, that became pretty
  >rare (unless you maybe were in a union?).

I just remember talking to someone when I was in Florida back around
1986 or 87 and he mentioned that he was paying over $400 a month
for insurance back then. You can almost triple that money to put it
into today's dollars..

That said, back then once I was out on my own, to keep my medical
coverage going I had to pay a premium as well, about $85 I think.
It's far lower than that these days if you have to pay it yourself.

That changed somewhat over the years. Currently if you aren't
working for some company or if you are making under $20,000
a year you pay nothing.

And as a senior, I've paid nothing for ages..

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 * SLMR Rob  *   ----'--,-(@    Would not a rose by any other name...
 * Origin: Capitol City Online (618:250/1)