and it is a big one. If everyone is left to buy insurance or not, then many people will specifically choose not to have coverage because of various reasons (generally healthy, can't afford it, don't want to afford it, etc.) But when that same uninsured person gets sick or has an accident, because we are a generally compassionate society that won't allow someone to just die without treatment, they go to the hospital and get care. That care will then be passed on to everyone through higher premiums.

Having the government (in my opinion) be the central clearing house for health care seems to be the most efficient way to do it. The trick is how to get people to pay for it.

-terrell