"A new report says farmers and ranchers often can't afford the health insurance offered to small-business owners.

The report from The Access Project says family farmers and ranchers are insured at a rate higher than the general population, but that 10% of them were uninsured, or had an uninsured family member, sometime during the previous year.

The report was based on data gathered through a 2007 survey of farm and ranch operators in seven Great Plains states including Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota.

The survey found that more than one-third of the uninsured farmers and ranchers spent more than 10% of their income on health care. They were also four times more likely to have incomes under $20,000 than those with insurance."

===== This isn't even taking into consideration those who are under insured. Many people do not have dental, mental or vision.

That is ridiculous.

The risk for small businesses, the engine of job growth, is huge. No wonder they can't hire anyone because their insurance costs are so daunting.

From a radio show a few weeks ago: one man and his wife along with their boss in a small business had health insurance. The cost for them?$36,000/year....for 3 whole people.

Amazing.

Astonishing.

Ridiculous.

That is the abysmal state of health insurance in the country today. SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE is the only way to reduce costs significantly while improving care and providing coverage to 100% of Americans.

Imagine that.

Full coverage and cost savings.