Behavior is going to be affected at the margins. For instance, would you saddle your familiy with millions of debt for one more week of life? You are much more likely to do that to my family!
Actually you point about market prices in LA is 100% correct. And it kinda illustrates my point. My lifestyle would be much enhanced to have your weather, but I am not willing to give up other things in order to get it.
Your notion that healtcare is unaffordable for the middle class is not borne out by reality. Who do you think is paying for it now (including the tab for the poor)?
I'm not playing games here. I'm talking about real hospitals facing real costs.
For instance, would you saddle your familiy with millions of debt for one more week of life? You are much more likely to do that to my family!
That's the heart of the problem. Basic health care - the entitlement part of it which is paid by someone else - must be limited and defined. Obviously it should include vaccination against communicable diseases.
Outside of the basics all medical services should be market priced and paid for. If you can't pay for it you don't get it.
It's at bottom a political problem, with definitions and advice provided by specialists. But I can tell you that the first place I'd cut would be in medical services to the aged and retired.
My lifestyle would be much enhanced to have your weather, but I am not willing to give up other things in order to get it.
It's a lot worse than that. Big city people with means are moving to smaller, poorer places to get more value for their money. They drive up prices and the locals get angry and bitter. It's happening all over the world.
Your notion that healtcare is unaffordable for the middle class is not borne out by reality. Who do you think is paying for it now (including the tab for the poor)?
Well, is it affordable?