>>There are other things that drive costs up significantly which have lead that the average American pays twice or triple as much than in other countries for only mediocre quality of healthcare.
Youch. ;-) Actually the quality of care for Mr Average USA is pretty good... not that I dare post reasons why the US keeps coming bottom in the Commonwealth reviews in case those points become sound bites. ;-)
"... They ne'er cared for us
yet: suffer us to famish, and their store-houses
crammed with grain; make edicts for usury, to
support usurers; repeal daily any wholesome act
established against the rich, and provide more
piercing statutes daily, to chain up and restrain
the poor. If the wars eat us not up, they will; and
there's all the love they bear us."
-- Shakespeare: Coriolanus, Act 1, scene 1