Dave and others
Couldn't agree more about the benefits of public health system. Having lived under both the US and NZ health systems (also sampled UK & Aust.) I've experienced the differences first-hand. In terms of quality of care - in most situations there is little difference between the two systems. In terms of cost to patient the public system wins hands down - the costs are shared by the whole population. Private unaffordable medical access just adds to misery and restricts patient care for low income. The major difference seems to be in timely access for non-urgent treatment.

As a brief example of the cost difference - 1990's in California, a co-worker had a hand injury - 4 stitches $400.00 US. A few years later back in NZ I had a very similar injury - 6 stitches $16.00 NZ (under our Accident Compensation scheme this was my co-pay). I was frequently told part of the high medical costs in the US is due to legal liability insurance which is part of all medical billing. This additional expense is not a major portion of health costs under public systems.