in days before hmos, and all the other cost increases, medical visits were much cheaper. the most competent people in society are the most productive. these are the people who are able to produce the miraculous advances that save lives today. they are the surgeons who steal life back from terminal patients etc. daily. if you dont think what they do deserves compenstation in terms of a free market, which this ceased to be long ago, then remove all the artificial costs which lead to the inflated costs of today.
Though I must point out that I'd rather have today's medical care than when it was much cheaper. Were I to have a heart attack today, I'd stand a good chance of walking out of the hospital a few days after being admitted. Years ago, I'd likely be a goner. yay, nsaids...
We do pay more, but we get more. The harsh truth is that we were brought up with a sense of being entitled to the best health care in the world--it must be paid for in one way or another. As a nation, much of the cost of our medical care includes all the expensive things we have put in place to AVOID that harsh truth...lawyers, regulations, socialism...