How many Americans would be uninsured without government programs?

[Still a Democrat]

We hear a lot about the number of uninsured Americans, and the tendency is to think our private system is taking care of those that have insurance. But if you exclude Medicare, Medicaid, the VA and other programs at every level of government, how many people does our private "market" system actually cover?

[Drale]

1. Without government

there would be no need for insurance, because there would be pure anarchy.

[Still a Democrat]

4. Sorry, edited the OP for clarity n/t

[eleny]

2. That's a darned good question

We might very well be deep into socialism by now.

K&R

[Duer 157099]

3. Even better, we should refine the question further

So that the question is about adequate health care, because even those lucky few who *do* have health insurance, many illnesses go untreated because of co-pays and whatnots.

The whole dialogue needs to change radically to reflect reality.

[harun]

5. Health Insurance != Health Care.