[mrweasel]

> Because we are paying for the rest of the world.

While I don't know if that covers all the expenses, I don't think people appreciate how much funding the US system is contributing to new med-tech development.

A previous client created some analytics software, they have EU regulatory approvals, but those are almost secondary, without FDA approval they would shutdown. All of their client, except for a few UK customer (who just bundle and resell in the US) all of their clients are in the US. For a lot of smaller medical companies, even in the EU, the US market is their number one source of revenue.

I might be wrong, but it's also my impression that if you do have the money, you'll get much more in-depth care and treatment in the US. And it's from this segment many companies find the funding to develop new technology that will only much much later trickle down to public healthcare systems else where in the world.