Hello Rob,

 AI>> We need to pay for it one way or another, out of our pocket or out
 AI>> of our taxes. I'm not sure what is the best route to go.

 RM> What I have found is, when you are single, any 'plan' shafts you
 RM> royally. If you have a family, the bigger the better, you clean up
 RM> on it. Back when I worked for other people and had a company health
 RM> plan with half of the actual cost of the plan payed by the company
 RM> my part of the payment was still higher than if I just paid cash
 RM> to have everything done, dental, eyeglasses, prescriptions..
 RM> Guys with 2 or 3 kids were raving about how great the plan was..

That's true in my experience as well. It needs work but it could be done if
there is a will to do it.

 AI>> I lean toward paying out of our taxes so noone gets left behind.

 RM> In a perfect world..
 RM> What really happens is that it's too expensive so they drop the level
 RM> of care for everyone so that no matter what your income you still
 RM> get sub-standard care unless you choose to pay for everyone else's
 RM> with your taxes and then pay for your own on top of that..

In some ways we still live in the dark ages.. :) It doesn't need to be that way.

 RM> That's pretty close to where I am too..  Just made an appointment to
 RM> see the dentist but only because I discovered an obvious cavity.
 RM> I probably should have gotten new glasses 2 years ago but my eyesight
 RM> isn't so bad with these that it's critical..

I have noticed a couple cavities too. I'm going to forgo new glasses this
year (maybe next year) and get my teeth done..

 Ttyl :-),
         Al

... So easy, a child could do it. Child sold separately.
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