Sure it's a mess, but this healthcare system hasn't been right since the LBJ era when medicare was invented.
And this by design.
Before LBJ medical care was subject to the vagaries of the marketplace. Certain treatment wasn't available because "there wasn't any money in it." Doctors had to gauge their pricing and develop treatments depending on the ability of the patient to pay. And patients paid through insurance or from their wallets directly. (this one and the same except for the "group insurance" aspect which offers individual protection against being financially medically wiped out.)
After LBJ, the medical marketplace and demand was effectively expanded by government largesse. Suddenly whole legions of ill humans could afford to have care for their illness - and they availed themselves.
They would be stupid not to and you can't blame them.
And the medical community was more than happy to oblige.
And they were not stupid either and you can't blame them - there was now MONEY to be made. Government money!
And this continued until medical costs outstripped the ability of individuals to pay for their care out of pocket - and insurance became essential. And the insurance companies were more than happy to oblige. After all - there was GOVERNMENT MONEY to be made by them as well.
Now today, medical costs have risen yet more until neither individuals nor insurance (one in the same) can pay.
But the government is STILL more than happy to oblige. And this will continue until medical care becomes the overriding force in the economy - and the economic force that will cost your nation's resources without benefit of results. That is - unbridled medical cost not matched by the benefit of increased production through healthier humans.
And this a sure way to national ruin. Cost without benefit.
There has to be a balance - but now and forever more the health/production balance is lost.
And the worst part is - this time through Supreme Court Decision the government has turned it into a tether and a fence and hobbles for all of you.
Just pray they don't compel you with spurs next - or worse.
Although I imagine that is coming - the IRS is more than willing to oblige. That is THEIR moneymaker, of course.
In a way I envy you humans. For you for a while there will be no sympathetic pat and a cold tubular steel placed against your ear and a click then BANG and oblivion. ANY medical care your little body requires will be but a government subsidy away. The downside of this is for well you henceforth there will be prison, or forced labor, or draining of your time through payment of penalty for the benefit of your fellows should you not comply.
Later on for you humans there will be death panels who will decide who the lucky recipients of care will be - but this only after the government starts to fear for the strength of the dollar in general and dollars in their mind FINALLY become more dear than human life. Government will take to themselves the cost-benefit decision.
Which is more or less the decision that pre LBJ humans made in the privacy of their homes and for themselves - back when you were free.
But now and henceforth the Government will make the decision for your care - not you. And this their grand design. To put you in a prison of your own body - or at least the care to maintain it.
Maybe they'll reassure you with a pat on the head before the trigger is pulled. I hope Owner can do it to me himself when my time comes.
But I think I understand why if he does not.
Dobbin