My insurance costs paid by my employer add roughly $12K to my annual compensation. So, $1,000 per month, around $6.50 per hour. Most minimum wage jobs, whether they pay 11, 12, or 15 dollars per hour, don't include benefits. So what's your point? Your first job should have both higher pay and health coverage? So, 21.50 per hour for a new hire counting the cost of benefits? Or that getting a government mandated raise from 11 or 12 to 15 per hour will let one buy it for themselves? Because it won't.

Other than that, obviously we are looking at the opposite ends of the spectrum. You and Ghavrel are focusing on those who are still making minimum wage through no fault of their own. I'm focusing on those who are there because of choices they made. I suspect my group is larger.