Wow, Kevin ... I'll bet you didn't know to what extent you would "liven up the board".   I've never seen any sort of level of response to anything ever posted on the forum as yours.  Amazing.

I haven't had a chance to read through ALL of the replies, but I'm glad everyone is talking about this.  I don't have any solutions.  Just problems with the current system.  Just had to lower my coverage this upcoming month b/c the premiums for my "good" plan (with the most coverage in case of the horrible unexpected" jumped $150/month.  I've had this insurance for 3 years now and it's jumped $100/month every year.  Just can't afford it.  Choice between health insurance for me and my kids or the mortgage this month.  Sadly, I chose the insurance payment b/c my own provider wouldn't even accept me as a new client under their stringent "pre-existing conditions" clauses (for issues that their own doctors don't believe should qualify as reasons to deny coverage).  So, if I'm late on my premiums, I run the risk of losing my coverage and not being able to get coverage from anyone else.  I do a lot of foreclosure searches - I understand the risk of being late with the mortgage ... but it stinks to have to make the choice.