flstf

I'll take a shot at these if you don't mind. Although I am just a consumer and not in the business so Ustwo will probably have a better perspective.

The easy answer to this is of course yes. but it does not seem to be that simple. Healthcare like national defense is loaded with exhorbitant costs. I am sure that when Boeing charges the government $800 for a screwdriver or when a hospital charges us $125 for a box of tissues that they can justify these charges on paper and show that with overhead etc.. that's the real cost to them. Since national defense is a necessity it is provided by the government and I am beginning to think that perhaps healthcare should be considered a necessity as well.

Again the easy answer is yes. I am concerned that many people may be going to the doctor and using prescription drugs, etc.. much more than is necessary. I have no data to back it up but do we really need to spend over $200 billion each year on drugs? I see all the commercials for viagra, wellbuten, anti-reflux, etc..and wonder if we are not going overboard.

This one troubles me the most. If you are very wealthy or very poor you will probably be alright. But the working poor and middle class are just one illness or injury away from financial ruin. I know several middle class people with what they thought was good insurance who have been devastated by hospital bills. The fact that they were not working does not keep the hospital from using collection agencies to get the house equity, cars, bank accounts etc... Insurance only covers so much. It is troubling to realize that everything you worked and saved for over the years can be gone with one long illness or injury.