Can you state the problem and tell me how free market properly addresses said problem?
The problem most people seem to percieve, is health care costing too much and some people not having insurance.
Thirty years ago medical care was cheaper, but the overall quality was not as good... or less high-tech anyway. Bypass surgery was very risky, for example.
30 yrs ago most people had medical insurance that only covered "catastrophic" illness, like major surgery or a long hospital stay. If you went to the doctor's office you paid cash; it didn't cost very much, and there were still docs who made housecalls.
If you needed surgery and had no insurance, they'd still treat you just like they will now... it might mean you're in debt for the rest of your life and your estate goes *poof* after you're gone, but you'd be treated.
Then the goobermint got involved and started making mandates. HMO this and PPO that, and the cost of both health
care and health
insurance both went through the roof. I watched this happen.
Now we are lead to believe that the solution to a problem largely created by government mandates is.... more government mandates?
Some of the rise in costs is due to new technology. I had a stress test twenty years ago, it was just an EKG while on a treadmill. Now, it is that PLUS a 3-D radioscopy of your whole heart, and costs a lot more (but is a lot more accurate!)
The free market promotes competition for both price and quality. Lasik eye surgery and liposuction are not covered by most insurance; most people have to pay cash, therefore most people shop around and the doctors doing these proceedures are in competition.
I had a colonoscopy covered by insurance that took 2 hours and cost $11,000 total.
Lasik eye surgery costs under $1500 per eye. Liposuction can be had under $5000.
Free market is cheaper.
If someone chooses not to have health insurance, they just have to take their chances. Unless you're really really dirt poor, some kind of health insurance can be had for a half-way reasonable price... you just can't get the kind that pays for EVERYTHING. Your choice... maybe they should drop their Direct TV subscription and start an HSA with the money saved.