> Talk to someone with private insurance, they essentially have fight off all sort of unnecessary tests even if they go in to get a flu vaccine. I have private

> Talk to someone with private insurance, they essentially have fight off all sort of unnecessary tests even if they go in to get a flu vaccine. I have private insurance, and I've never had to fight off anything. The main difference is that I'll usually get an appointment on short notice and my provider pays for my glasses and good dental work. And you're absolutely right, they aren't necessary for any system to exist, but they are necessary for this system to exist at this price. If doctors didn't pay the rent with private patients, they'd go bankrupt.