What a lot of crap arguments ...
I can't believe the arguments people are making here. I can also bet that all of them are relatively healthy and or enjoy employer paid health insurance benefits. I can also bet that they too will do a flip flop - Romney style - if someone in their family meets with some mishap and needs the state sponsored/assisted services not covered by their current insurance.
We in India have everything. Free health services for the masses, insurance bases medical services for those who can afford it and out of pocket paid services for those who are generally healthy. I have lived in the US for 6 years and have seen first hand how it is practiced and charged for. The biggest culprits are the stupid judges who award ridiculous malpractice awards and the fat-cat lawyers who get even fatter on other peoples' misery. The medical practice is so defensive that more than 50 % (by cost) of the tests done are just to preclude any grounds for malpractice suits.
Take the cost of medicines. Even without converting for foreign exchange rates they are cheaper in India. and at par in quality and effectiveness. We have medical tours coming from European countries, especially from UK where full medical procedures + post procedure recovery + genuine 5 star tourism + air fare costs less than just the procedure alone in their home country. These include knee / hip replacements, Lasic eye surgeries and what have you. A while back I watched a documentary on legalising euthanasia for cancer and other terminally ill patients in the state of Oregon, I believe. Most objections came from Hospices and Doctors who saw it as loss in potential income. Until the Americans start empathising with their fellow citizens there is no hope! All those involved in the medical field - doctors, nurses and especially the pharma companies - have to become less greedy if the lot of the general American citizenry is to improve.
