The cost of healthcare in this country is of course ridiculous, but largely due to over-utilization of the system and "too much" care.  People run to the doctor for every little thing, not only for when they're truly ill.  They think care is "free" and that their health insurance plan will take care of it.  The physicians are afraid of suits, practice defensive medicine and order unnecessary testing and medications. I've seen very poor quality medical practice in this country in that regard.  Just because the technology exists, does that mean that we have to keep ordering MRI scans on every headache, for example??   Hell, if you could take all that wasteage and put it in some sort of savings plan, you could fund healthcare for the entire country, so everybody would be "covered".  The pharmaceutical companies are very greedy, and pharmaceuticals far and away represent the most expense in health care delivery, more than testing, surgery or doctors visits (which are actually inexpensive by comparison).  Take an elderly patient with just a few common problems: diabetes, Parkinson's, hypertension.  Total monthly cost of meds could be easily 1000 dollars or more.  Medicare doesn't begin to take the burden off.  And...we're all gonna get old  (well most of us).  

I am a proponent of a National Health Care system, that could/should be administered by each state (not the Feds).  It will probably never happen here, because the insurance companies are too powerful.  Tort reform will also never happen, because of the Trial attorneys (Edwards being a prime example).   Sooo...we're stuck.

Also, I we had more progressive legislation for Euthanasia.  I don't get it.  It's only legal in Oregon, but the Feds will prosecute, so no physician will get involved.  Looks like I'm gonna have to move to Holland as the time approaches.  Why can't we have the right to end our lives peacefully, instead of prolongation of suffering?  

Just some musings...

Gene