> You've got a situation where there is typically no competition and little or no information available to the consumer. Free market economics simply don't app

> You've got a situation where there is typically no competition and little or no information available to the consumer. Free market economics simply don't apply. I think a bigger issue is that during an emergency, even in the case where you are conscious and cogent, you will often have no ability to determine if you should get treatment at that hospital, or another. I think it's utterly insane that life-critical procedures could result in someone being in massive debt (or bankrupted) through no fault of their own. This insanity is one reason why when people ask "Would you be interested in working in the US?" my immediate answer is "hell no". Even if employers were offering gold-plated top of the line insurance (doubtful), the insurers have so much wiggle room with bullshit about lifetime limits and whether they will cover X treatments, and whether specific hospitals are covered.