It is true that Americans save little and use credit more so than previous generations. Perhaps it’s a more prevalent "instant gratification" mentality, gotta have it now, and too easily available credit (though that has tightened w/the subprime mortgage mess). Many Americans live pay check to pay check, so when something unexpected happens, they can quickly spiral into financial difficulties.

However, their spending and saving habits aren’t totally to blame for lack of health insurance. Wages have not kept up with inflation and the cost of living. The average amount employees pay per year for family health coverage went up by 30 percent from 2001 to 2005. During that time, incomes increased by just 3 percent.

As insurance costs goes up, more employers raise premiums, offer less coverage, drop dependents from coverage or stop providing health benefits. Manufacturing jobs, often union jobs w/health benefits, are disappearing. Service jobs or part time jobs may not offer health insurance. In 2006, the number of uninsured was 7.2 million higher than in 2000.

Insurance costs increase as health care costs go up. Our population is aging and living longer, we require and demand more medical services, we use more prescription meds and high tech procedures and equipment (cat scans, mri, etc), more rely on emergency rooms for treatment, administrative costs are high, and Medicare costs will increase as baby boomers retire.. We’ve been aware of this looming health care crisis for decades. In 1993, President Clinton tried to implement health care reform. With health care costs 16% of our gross domestic product-gdp, and expected to reach 20% by 2016, our federal government needs to address the need to control cost and increase coverage. Its a complex, difficult and challenging problem, but one the next Administration must tackle and voters demand they do. .