The problem really was that we already had universal health care. Most county's have some kind of free clinic system and you can get care there without insurance if you need it. It's a pain in the ass and takes all day but you'll get care. Hospitals won't turn you away if you don't have insurance and need immediate care. Real change would have been expanding those systems and providing better services. Instead what we got was a massive gift to the insurance industry.
What we really need to do is separate the idea of health care and health insurance. Regular check ups and problems that everybody will face should not be covered under health insurance. Your car insurance doesn't pay for your oil changes or other expected wear and tear on your car. It pays for unforeseen and rare events. That's all health insurance should cover.
Health care on the other hand is your routine interaction with the medical system. Regular check ups, minor infections, etc. - things 99% of the population has to deal with - should all be paid out of pocket, by your employer as a perk, or subsidized by the government for those who can't afford it. That's what we do for other critical goods and services like food and housing.
What we really need to do is separate the idea of health care and health insurance. Regular check ups and problems that everybody will face should not be covered under health insurance. Your car insurance doesn't pay for your oil changes or other expected wear and tear on your car. It pays for unforeseen and rare events. That's all health insurance should cover.
Health care on the other hand is your routine interaction with the medical system. Regular check ups, minor infections, etc. - things 99% of the population has to deal with - should all be paid out of pocket, by your employer as a perk, or subsidized by the government for those who can't afford it. That's what we do for other critical goods and services like food and housing.