I was in Florida in October, and had a really good conversation with a lady who was trying to make a living running a little shop, her husband is a builder and was having a really bad time trying to find work. They had a grown up daughter, and another of 11years, and she told me that they pray almost nightly that no- one in the family becomes ill or needs to seek medical treatment, because they just could not afford to pay the insurance premiums, which had risen dramatically. They used to be insured, but because they had made a claim, the premiums went up so much they could no longer afford to pay it. I was really very surprised because I just didn't realise the position many millions of Americans seem to be in.
I also went to a craft type fund raising event whilst I was there,to raise funds for a local charity which paid for the cost of running houses so that children especially, had somewhere to live. A speaker told the event that just the previous week they had been told of a young woman, only about 19years old, who was living in the woods, together with twins of about 3 and a younger child. When they were visited they were all lying on the floor, covered with bracken, leaves, etc, to keep warm. When taken into one of the houses to be cared for, there were insects actually living under their skin.
It really makes you feel grateful for the care and protection we get in this country.