The whole health care issue is very complex. In the US there are 2 basic types of health insurance PPO's and HMO's. The PPO's tend to be tougher to get decent coverage out of although you can typically "see your own doctors". The HMO's, like Kaiser Permantente tend to give complete care services with focus on prevention. My wife and I pay almost $1,500/month for our small group plan with Kaiser. We have been totally satisified with our doctors and have a very good plan that even covers eye care and dental. $5 doctor visits, $5 prescriptions, $10 lab tests, etc.

Socialized (or so called "universal") health care will never work in the US. For one thing would you want the government running the health care system? This is not to state that there isn't a need for a more accessible health care system for the uninsured and underinsured. People of means will refuse to give up the access to health care that they have enjoyed for many years - this is why Hillary went no where when she attempted health care reform during the Clinton sdministration. Even in communist countries, like China, there is a multi-tiered system of health care and the better, newer hospitals are where the top paid workers go for their health needs.

Further complicating things is that the main cause for the increase in costs is also tied to the pharmacuetical industry. It costs a lot of money to test and bring new drugs to market. Are there huge profits to be made? Of course but we do embrace a capitalist system here don't we? And companies are also in business to make a profit both for them and their investors.

Another dark side is that countries having socialized medicine typically have huge tax liabilities on their citizens.

Bill is absolutely correct about the state governments having their fingers in the pie as well. Arizona, for example won't allow HMO's, hence no Kaiser.