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I just have to remark on your use of the phrase "better than average" (viz., your own insurance). What is deplorable is what the average is in this country, not only counting those without any (part of the average, for decency's sake) for also what's happening to coverage even for those that have it through their employers.
We're covered under my wife's retirement benefits program from a company that used to be one of the largest employers (and businesses) in this country (AT&T, dating back to when it was *the* phone company, a.k.a., "Ma Bell"). Like many other big companies, AT&T (and its successor iterations) has fallen on hard times and, as a result, reduced our medical plan's coverage. We now pay about $500 per month for retiree+spouse medical coverage, an amount that approaches what we will get from her pension when she starts to collect this; and deductions and copays leave retirees in this plan paying for much of their "common" medical problems almost entirely. Fortunately, I'm employed in an unrelated field with my own employer's plans as well that duplicates hers, so we're no doubt better off than most (like you, "above average"), but I can't help wonder what single-earner couples (or even singles) are going to do when they can't afford to pay their medical insurance provided in their retirement packages.
And this is apart from those who have no such benefits (no retirement package) -- one of our nation's many shames, particularly under W. Is this new drug plan expected to make anything like!
This country's medical care is going down the tubes! We'd rather fight a war reminiscent of the crusades, under the guise of protecting our nation but really acquiring more oil power, than really pay less money to provide decent federalized health care to all our citizens. I know this is one of the "third rails" of politics, but let's (those of us facing retirement and medical costs) face it -- Hillary (of Bill's first year) was right on!
Canada knows the truth!
Thanks for letting me get this off my chest!
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Bush Explains Medicare Drug Bill — Verbatim Quote (We all know he's retarded but this is painfully funny)