>But what it boils down to is that healthcare costs are spread across the board, and those who have the greatest need are not left bankrupt/unable to pay as is the case in the US.
>
>I lived in England for 2 years and I saw first hand that this was just a way of rationing health care services. Unless you were suffering from something life-threatening, you might have to wait for over a year to get medical attention for what could be a very painful condition if you did not also have private healh insurance. Now, by my reckoning, between employer and employee share of NHS contribution (I have to pay both because I own the company) and the necessary private health insurance costs, I paid more for insurance in England that I do in the US - and believe me - what I pay here is not cheap.

Maybe England is not a good example. Maybe you should look Cuba or old Bulgaria. My father-of law says "When I was at Bulgaria health system was excellent. All of them free and same for everyone. When one of my children is had a fever, ambulance was coming my home". Bulgaria left the socialism and now they have a terrible healt-care system now...