I have worked in healthcare my entire career on both sides of the border and I see the positives and negatives to both private and single pay. Like you Steve, I would be worried if the government took over as well. All other countries went to a single pay system when governments were a lot more honorable 50 or so years ago. They are now institutions and most countries are proud of. It's not perfect and there huge holes that needs to be addressed but they do their best to do right by the people they care for.
Sadly a little of that is missing in the US. My oldest is an ICU nurse in Washington State who graduated in Canada. She came home and bought 4 epipens, cost at 108.00 CAD each. She said they were almost 500.00 USD each in the states. I'm all for making a good living and I have in this field but I don't believe anyone has the right to become wealthy on the backs of others illness. That's shameful behavior. That was norm even when my girls were born in the US.
I agree, things have to change, and it's beyond a change in government. It's society itself. And how we want to treat the sick.
Good post Steve