[ollysb]

Free at the point of use is how it's usually expressed.

[seneca]

Sure, but that hides most of the facts about how it works. There are a lot of parties involved in this, including people paying for it and being paid for it, and those paying probably out number those getting it for free at point of use. Sweeping that under the rug is just a sales ploy, which shows what the outlet wants you to believe about this program.

[benregenspan]

I wouldn't call using the most commonly accepted (and concise) terminology a "sales ploy". If you want every service to be accompanied by a wordy explanation of how it works, then every article would need to mention that the current status quo involves complicated taxpayer subsidy in the form of dependent care FSA accounts and a host of state-level programs.

[n4r9]

What else could it mean for a state-provided service to be "free"?

[plorg]

Might as well complain about how we get free roads and fire services.

[justin66]

That taxpayers pay for government programs isn't the big revelation you seem to believe it is.