The PBS Frontline video was very intriguing and thoroughly highlighted the inefficiencies of the current US health care system. The US health care system is extremely market-driven and in order for any sort of restructuring to take place, the current system has to be ready to accept some losses. The three concepts that I found most interesting that I believe the US system could in some way adapt was 1) that everyone was required to purchase health insurance and the goverment would take care of the premiums for the poor, 2) no one could be denied health insurance for a pre-existing illness and health insurance companies cannot make a profit on basic care, and 3) doctors and hospitals have to accept one standard set of fixed prices for services.
It's astounding to know that the US being the richest nation who spends the most on health care ranks so poorly in regards to health indicators and leaves over 40 million uninsured. The current system is largely for-profit and heavily influenced by economics. It seems unrealistic for the US to be able to reform the health care system similar to how Taiwan and Switzerland underwent reformation of their health care system, unless the US was willing to allow for more government control and less privatization of health care. The more time that passes without any action being taken, the bigger the mess and the more lives lost due to health care remaining a luxury to the 40 million without insurance.
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