Agreed -- with the proviso that unemployment of various sorts isn't always a short-term condition. I've been working a lot recently, but I still don't have a r

Agreed -- with the proviso that unemployment of various sorts isn't always a short-term condition. I've been working a lot recently, but I still don't have a regular "job" (which would provide me with health insurance benefits). Paying for my own insurance is really expensive. The premiums are also increasing much faster than cost-of-living or inflation, too, even though the benefits are unchanged. It's like the insurance companies are trying to price individuals out of self-employment. This is another instance of a common case: it's really expensive to be poor! Tying insurance to employment is a "hit 'em while they're down" situation.