By just having premiums tax deductible does nothing toward the current problem. I get insurance for my wife and I thru my former employer (retired). can't afford the premiums for the full coverage I received when working so I have a catastrophic pollicy. on any major illness, I will pay at least $6,000 out of pocket first. I pay with "after tax dollars" which has gone up over 65% over 6 years. $81 a month this year. a tax deduction will not help this - its the huge increases every year. money is spent on mailings, systems, profits, prevention maybe. Huge sums are spent to track everything. Why is so much spent to track my bp medication? In most places in europe, just walk in with my old box, get a refill. If I need blood work, take a doctor's order down to the lab, they do the tests, usually back the same day, or maybe the next, thy give ME the results. they also will provide some explanation. then its up to me to take them back to the doctor. wow, a silly notion that I must be responsible for myself. We, as americans waste money in healthcare and many are making huge sums. its the big money makern in the american economy. We pay more than anyone in the world, but we don't get even close to top care. Insurance used to be for protection. now, it pervades every medical decision. If we had car insurance like this, we'd have to get permission for an oil change.

RickF S/V Calaloo