The root problem with the health care system in both the U.S. and countries with nationalized plans is the same: The buyer/user is not the payer. We buy health care like no other service. Who makes a benifit vs cost analysis of health care? No one. The medical industry knows this and exploits it for profit and research. Until the user is forced to make a better buying decision, cost will continue to increase. Medicare is a prime example of this disconnect. The elderly, by far our wealthiest demographical group, is given basically free health care while we debate how to tax their estates. Obviously we need a system to take care of those who can not pay, but allowing those who can to shed all payment responsibilities leads to the untenable situation we have today.
