>>How would you feel about a change to IRS regs where health care costs were a fully deductible expense, without having to itemize, and wiithout being subjected to a 7% “floor”. Would you not agree this would provide immediate relief for the uninsured and place them on a tax equal (or comparable) footing with those that have tax advantaged plans through their employers?

The problem remains that NONE of the surplus from early premiums will be set aside for the biggest healthcare spend, often in the last year of life in the over-65-year-old group. IMHO that's what you have to solve, since any change that doesn't address this will merely postpone the collapse of the Ponzi scheme.

FWIW, you might be interested in looking at the Australian medicare scheme, which pays for healthcare for all citizens of all ages via a 1.5% tax levy. It's not perfect, and many Aussies choose to insure privately as well, but it's certainly affordable and doesn't siphon any contributions into private pockets. While you're at it, check out the compulsory Australian Superannuation scheme: it accumulated over US$1.5 trillion in assets in its first decade, leaving the Aussies with more managed investment than any other nation. The US would have accumulated tens of trillions in a decade under this model, carrying your economy through the difficult times and eliminating the need to borrow abroad. Those of us who tried something different have every reason to be envious.