There is another reason for the high cost - the uninsured who use the ER because they are now so sick from being untreated for something that would have been easily treatable had they had health insurance to go see a doctor. Now they are on death's door and the rest of us have to pick up the cost.

This is why universal health care is needed. You can call it Socialism, Medicare-for-All, Kenyan Care, Single-Payer - it doesn't matter. The two biggest costs to our current health care scheme are the uninsured and the bureaucratic costs involved in processing the insurance claims. These go away with universal coverage. Other factors are the student loans which force doctors to have to charge so much, the pharmaceutical industry (and their false claims about R&D which is actually done for them by our universities), as well as American's wanting to have an MRI facility on every corner. Oh, and the cost of end-of-life care where 90% of your health care costs are spent in the last couple of years of your life. We treat our pets better - Let Granny Go!

And I love at the SOTU he (I can't say, or make fun of his name) tosses out the bone of "Socialism - BAD!"

Socialism in the USA:

- Our Military
- Social Security
- Medicare and Medicaid
- Police and Fire Departments
- The Veterans Administration
- Public Parks, Toilets, Drinking Fountains
- Public Libraries
- Public Schools and Universities
- Roads and Highways
- Water and Sewer Systems

And that doesn't include Corporate Socialism/Welfare (which the Republicans think is just awesome):

- Tax subsidies for relocating businesses (I'm talking to you, Amazon)
- Sports Stadiums
- Food stamps and welfare for WORKING people at low-paying jobs (I'm talking to you, Walmart)
- Hedge Fund Managers (The REAL Welfare Queens)

Democratic Socialism does not equal Communism, Fascism, or Collectivism.