[long_time_gone]

==We have at least 3 different taxpayer funded healthcare programs specifically so not everyone can get access to equal care==

Add in CHIP and the VA (Tricare). We've taken every vulnerable part of society (older, poor people, poor children, injured veterans) and given them government-paid, universal healthcare. This is around 100 million people.

Everyone left over is thrown into the private insurance pool. These people are typically working age population (18-60), making them both the richest and the healthiest. This is around 200 million people.

[lotsofpulp]

>given them government-paid, universal healthcare

This is meaningless if the quality of healthcare is not the same. There are numerous hurdles placed for various different people to get the healthcare, effectively restricting access to healthcare itself.

[long_time_gone]

No doubt. I wasn't trying to comment on the quality or access, just a point on how we have "solved" the healthcare problem over time.

Taxpayers cover the neediest, leaving the healthiest to for-profit insurers. The healthiest have no incentive to make sure the programs for the neediest actually work or are accessible.

[lotsofpulp]

Oh yes, I agree with you. I remember how pissed people were when ACA caused their premiums to go up, because they were now subsidizing everyone who used to simply not get healthcare.