While it may have been accidentally implied, I never stated that hospitals overflowing with customers is a good thing. I merely stated that if you offered the s

While it may have been accidentally implied, I never stated that hospitals overflowing with customers is a good thing. I merely stated that if you offered the same care for lower prices, you would have no shortage of customers. In addition, when there is competition between hospitals, a patient can choose one that has a lower incidence of return visits, for example. Demand is always an issue - in this case, high demand and a tightly limited supply have resulted in astronomical pricing. We can't really affect demand, other than to cure various diseases, but we can easily affect supply by easing the intense regulation and government-mandated licensing monopoly. I also never said that hospitals ought to be for-profit (though I wouldn't suggest outlawing for-profit hospitals, either). There are many advantages to a non-profit approach, and non-profits do not have to have the government's support to exist. I am only arguing that the government should get out of the issue, except when it comes to judicial matters of crime or civil suits. An organization can have a motivation other than profit - many do. Many organizations (the Red Cross, for instance) would be more than happy if they were unneeded and obsolete. I realize there are certainly some corrupt people who would try to use their position for unjust personal gain, but this is always the case, and would become harder to do than under the current model, not easier. (As a very firm Christian, I tend towards the idea that the best model for hospitals is to be managed by the church (e.g., the numerous and beneficial Catholic hospitals around the country), which would be in line with what I previously said about non-profits, though I realize I am probably nearly alone in that opinion on this forum. I don't believe that secular hospitals should be outlawed and all hospitals should be required to be church hospitals, merely that church hospitals are the best model.) Regardless, my point wasn't really to argue the free market position in this case. My comment was more to point out that the OP doesn't actually engage with the arguments he claims to refute, as he doesn't look at what a free-market advocate would actually say.