Few in the US have any idea how socialized health care will bring out the hypochondriacs.
As the perceived cost approaches zero, demand will approach infinity. The only "solution" is rationing of the product.
I agree that few realize the workings of socialized health care. I am not sure that people in countries having socialized medicine understand it either. Until you are sick, the system seems fine. The problem is that treatment is rationed when you need it. You do not find out until it is too late.
I am not sure that experience with socialized medicine in other countries will be a good predictor of the experience here. In the short run, everyone will be happy here. Slowly, the dam will leak leading to price controls, rationing, and blame seeking. In the long run, our experience will be much worse than other countries for the following reasons:
- Litigation lottery
- Proportion of dollars spent on elderly health care is much larger than other countries
- Illegal alien health care
If the dims have enough votes to pass universal health care, they will have enough votes to pass an amnesty. The next amnesty will be tantamount to open borders. The health care system, even the current one, will be overwhelmed when open borders takes effect. The system may be self correcting to a degree in that people with means will seek health care elsewhere.