Dear Spot,
I was just finishing putting the dishes in the dishwasher when there was a loud banging on the door. I went to answer, but just as I reached it, it burst open and two largish individuals in suits barged in. I started to protest and the first one interrupted with, "Shut yo fuckin mouth! Da boss's turn to talk." Then we both quietly turned to look at the other one. He looked around the room thoughtfully, nods and tells me, "You gotta real nice family here, if you want to health care for 'em you're gonna have to go through us. If you don't, when they need somethin big, they ain't gonna get it." I politely asked what he had to do with my doctor. He tells me that they take 30% off the top and use the rest to pay for medical emergencies. The thing is that I have to pay up front, every month. Every month they will take their 30%, and then, if we eventually need something, they will pay for it - if they think it is important. I did not know things like this went on in any civilized country, and I must have looked skeptical because he looked at me and said, "Look, we got a legit business here, this is how it's done in this country. Now I'm puttin you down for a thousand a month, if you don't pay it's your kids that'll have to suffer."

Spot, is that really how they do it here in the states? If I don't give these guys a cut, I really have to do without health care? Why?