rick, could this not be part of the grand design of the government to take over the healthcare in this country. you know, make it so unaffordable that the people will then scream for the single payer option to reduce costs thereby granting the government the power. would it be so expensive if they regulated what the health industry was allowed to charge for procedures, limit what a claim can be for malpractice lawsuits, and allowed insurance companies to sell their products across state lines. there are many things that would help drive costs down, but they don't act.