Here is the health insurance answer
The reason health insurance is so high is because of all the $10 dedcutibles that people feel they have to have so they can run to the doctor every time they have a runny nose.
If you cut the co-pays and the $10 deductibles out, it's amazing how cost-effective health insurance can be.
If you are self employed or are not happy with your company's plan, please check into Health Savings Accounts. For real. Open one of those puppies up, pick a high-deductible plan and start saving money.
My deductible is $5000 per person per year. It sounds like a lot but after we meet the deductible, the insurance pays 100% after that. Our payments are $175 per month for 5 people, which is appx $300 less than Blue Cross's program we used be on. You can see how the savings quickly would offset the higher deductible.
This is THE answer to the health insurance delimma in this country...but the co-pays have people brainwashed. Just like you don't use car insurance to pay for new spark plugs or oil changes, you shouldn't use health insurance to pay for your yearly physical or routine doctor visits.
The other thing is, this way your insurance follows you. No longer are you screwed for insurance if you get fired or if your company goes bankrupt.