Reply #1: You don't say? Mandating insurance doesn't solve all problems, eh?

[Oregone]

Yes, it really is insufficient cost controls. Uninsured people maybe add 8% onto the cost of premiums. On the other hand, 30%+ of premiums go to private shareholders profits, exec pay, advertisements, and other miscellaneous overhead. On top of that, an estimated 10% of payouts to the medical delivery end is used for onsite or outsourced medical billing.

It is silly to look at the uninsured as a major focus for cost-control. The more obvious problem is private insurance (private profits and inefficient companies), as well as 400+ insurers to be dealt with on the delivery side.