Ed Cone points to an article on the front page of the Washington Post that highlights the dire straits that many (25%) of North Carolinians are in with health care.  Literally 1/4 of all adult North Carolinians, or 1.8 million people, are living without health insurance and an additional 9% are underinsured. 

Health insurance has become exorbitantly expensive. Insurance companies continue to raise premiums while at the same time reducing benefits. They can do this with impunity because they know that policy holders have no other choice but to pay what they demand, or choose to go without coverage. They also refuse to increase payments for services, continuing to pocket the growing difference. More and more people are taking the gamble and choosing to go without coverage.

I can tell you from our family's perspective it's hard to argue with him.  When we're spending over $8,000 a year on premiums alone, and we're doing pretty well compared to other families we've talked to, then you know there's something out of whack with the system.  It's also easy to understand how so many people end up having to live without insurance in the first place.