RK>More disingenuous posting. There was no health care for the working-age
RK>population until after WWII. How do I know? I belonged to  that
RK>population before, and after WWII. Health care was not offered until it
RK>necessary to attract employees during the boom years. So to say that he
RK>care was provided without federal involvement is patently false. Even
RK>today, health care provided by employers is NOT part of a benefits pack
RK>with not out-of-pocket cost to the employees except for, perhaps, those
RK>employees in upper management or professional. For example, food store
RK>chains provide health care to permanent employees at some cost to the
RK>employee which is deducted from his or her paycheck.
	Actually here with is the root of all evil..divorcing the locus of
decisionmaking from who pays for it... But I digress.   You actually ask
the question Matt did, although your stats are closer to the truth. To say 
there was any federal involvement (outside of tax-deductiblity) from WWII 
through to the Mcare and Mcaid is patently false (except government as 
employer). Private sources from employers to charity care through the 
religious-based orders running many hospitals provided the care without the 
need for the Federales to stick their nose in.
 
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 * PW * "Read my Lips, No New Kennedys"
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