>>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prescription_drug_prices_in_the_United_States
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>No, that one definitely is true and contributes to the massively more expensive healthcare in the US.
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>See http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2015/oct/us-health-care-from-a-global-perspective
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>Exhibit 6 confirms your pharma isn't just more expensive, you consume more of it- but compare last equal NZ's overall cost to see how the US cost is racked up. Exhibit 7 shows that US price for MRI scanning is not so different from others but the price for procedures is far higher - e.g. the price for a bypass procedure in the US is twice the cost in wealthy Switzerland- and the price for pharmaceuticals is twice that of Canada or the UK but only 20% more expensive than Switzerland with all its powerful pharma companies.
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>Also worth reviewing Exhibit 9-13 showing that despite spending the most, the US comes last/does badly in a basket of outcome measures. Interestingly, only NZ is worse than the US for ischemic heart disease mortality, but mortality is a tough one as we all die in the end(!) so you need to consider whether that's tied to reduced longevity (Exhibit 9)

Exactly, John
So... do you still feel that the problem with Medicare is that some poor slob who works all his life and pays into it is looking for a free ride?