In 2011 the core inflation rate in the United States was 3%. I just got the annual renewal for our HMO and it had an increase of over 16% from last year. As of July 1, we will be paying $2,964 per MONTH or  over $35,500 per year for a policy with no dental, no eye care and high deductible/co-pays.

What percentage of the premium goes to non-medical expenses (advertising, business overhead, billing, accounting, profit, etc)? It is hard to imagine, as inefficient as the Government may be, that a national health plan could not be set up to provide better care at a lower cost.

Lucy and I directly pay 100% of our health care costs so it is easy to see exactly what the costs are and to feel the burden. Perhaps if everyone who received health care benefits as part of an employment package were paid more and then forced to write a monthly check for health insurance premiums, there would be a whole lot more support for universal heath care. The anti-heath care arguments of "government intrusion" and "rationed care" etc are ridiculous and grossly destructive to the fiscal health of the country. The United States cannot afford to devote greater and greater percentages of its economy on health care.

Just saying.