That can only account for half the increase, since the countries with the next highest cost for health care spend roughly 50% per capita compared to the US......
I would instead say the problem is:
1: Monopolies and oligopolies (patents, letting the AMA control medical school accredation, etc). Solution is to charter mini-AMA's to provide competition, and to enact compulsatory licensing of patents in medical fields.
2: The fact that the health care and health insurance markets are both entirely consumer opaque. Consumers don't have any control over their money in these markets and the common-sense protections are missing. For example, when I go to get my car worked on, I have a right to a written estimate before repairs are begun. Why don't I have a right to a written estimate before non-emergency medical care is provided?
The first thing you have to recognize is that when Democrats and Republicans both talk about reforming our medical system to address these, they believe that more corporate power, and less consumer power will correct this problem. Unfortunately, pricing is a coercive negotiation, and so that will only accelerate the problem.
I would instead say the problem is:
1: Monopolies and oligopolies (patents, letting the AMA control medical school accredation, etc). Solution is to charter mini-AMA's to provide competition, and to enact compulsatory licensing of patents in medical fields.
2: The fact that the health care and health insurance markets are both entirely consumer opaque. Consumers don't have any control over their money in these markets and the common-sense protections are missing. For example, when I go to get my car worked on, I have a right to a written estimate before repairs are begun. Why don't I have a right to a written estimate before non-emergency medical care is provided?
The first thing you have to recognize is that when Democrats and Republicans both talk about reforming our medical system to address these, they believe that more corporate power, and less consumer power will correct this problem. Unfortunately, pricing is a coercive negotiation, and so that will only accelerate the problem.
Empower consumers. Disempower corporations. Bring prices down.