"Consumer awareness on many health issues is not an incentive problem. Do you really think that someone wrecks their body with a poor diet over 20 years is goin

"Consumer awareness on many health issues is not an incentive problem. Do you really think that someone wrecks their body with a poor diet over 20 years is going to change behavior based on how much they pay for health care? I really wish it was that simple." You're assuming that the problem with the US health care system is that people eat too much and are willing to pay so they don't die? Come on. That's universal human behavior. Diabetes and obesity are world-wide epidemics. I agree that expanding Medicare systematically would be a decent idea -- in fact, it was one of the ideas that got sunk in committee. In a nation where for-profit health corporations have a lot to lose from government competition, the specter of expanding the (efficient and cheap) Medicare system is terrifying to a lot of rich people.