Like what? *sigh* Of course I understand the distinction. What I can't understand is how someone could possibly live without medical coverage. One visit to the hospital and you are in the poor house, no thanks. This is why I see no difference between the two... a tax, or a fee that you can choose to pay, but if you don't then you're fucked. Sorry, Canada isn't ethnically diverse? [it is quite possible I am misunderstanding what you were saying there as there were quite a few big words. ] Yep, it was a problem for a while there, and guess what? They used our tax dollars to fix it.