[b_t_s]

>ER wait-times aren't 2-4 hours just because.

ER wait times are long because ERs are the only place in the country where we effectively have medicare for all, albeit in a particularly perverse and dysfunctional form. Everyone gets treated at the ER even if they're broke & uninsured as long as they're willing to wait long enough. Now imagine if those folks could go to any primary care doc or even use One Medical, CVS walk-in clinic etc. That would go a long way toward fixing our overloaded ERs. We've legislated quazi-medicare for all but only in the most inappropriate part of the system.

[mekdoonggi]

Agreed. We all collectively understand that we can't allow people to die in the streets because of their lack of health insurance. We already have universal healthcare, we just have the worlds dumbest way to pay for it.