If your family is in really good health, you can buy private ins. - if you opt for a high deductible, you can get fairly reasonable rates. If you or your children have any preexisting conditions, or in less than optimal health, the rates will be significantly more.
I'm not sure how much you know about how the health insurance business works, it is very complicated to explain.
I worked in a nursing home up until 5 mo ago, the problem is, they don't cover much of the premium - only like 50% (at least the one I worked for). Acute care facilities -esp. the large ones - provide much better ins. at reasonable rates.
Universal healthcare, anyone???