Maybe I missed it, but don't think I've seen a discussion of "improvements in medical treatment, technology, pharmaceuticals, etc..." as part of the problem. We can now innovate a lot faster than we can figure out how to pay for the improved medical care. Maybe that's a good thing! What better way could you spend money than to extend your life and the quality thereof?
40 years ago, blocked coronary arteries were a death sentence (with cruel and unusual punishment as part of the process!) Now, we have open heart replacement of arteries, balloon angioplasty, stents, statins, etc. etc. etc. NO ONE wants to stop this amazing progress, but at least one of the elephants in the room is that this is a huge part of the "problem" of health care costs today.
This ability to treat (or even cure) disease that was untreatable or incurable before is creating an ever increasing devide between "haves" and "have nots" when it comes to this kind of care.
In the old days, you got nitro tablets to ease the angina before you (perhaps mercifully) succumbed to the underlying heart disease. Now, if you have the money (aka insurance or a big stash or both) you can have the treatment. If not, here's some nitro pills!
Is that "right", or "fair" or "equal under the law" or...? Where (for instance) is it written that everyone has the right to any and all and the best medical care? Realistically, a law "guaranteeing" good nutrition to all would be cheaper and more effective in insuring a long or at least a healthy life than would "free" health care.
Please don't misunderstand me. I'm not suggesting any particular "stance" on this. I just don't think I've seen this important aspect of the issue discussed. IOW at some point, we could spent 100% of our GDP on health care and people would still die, so there would always be "more" we could do to extend life, reduce suffering, improve quality of life, etc. etc.
Health care issues seem so intractable that I guess I'm sort of at the "throw up your hands in despair" stage.
Again, I'm not smart enough to suggest a solution, but I don't think there are any easy, quick, effective "fixes" to this problem. Any politician who tells you s/he has "the answer" is straining credulity.
We've all suggested "fixes" and I'm not necessarily disagreeing with any of them. But for every "fix", someone else can show a direct or unintended consequence. It all comes down to "you can't get something for nothing". Push it in here and something pops out there. If it really is "20 % GDP and rising" there isn't going to be any magic bullet to change that. Only thing we can change is who pays.
Man, am I depressed!!
Any thoughts on this aspect of the issue