It can't work in the United States because it's been tried for decades, socialist entitlement programs bring out the absolute worst in people.
in what sense though? I mean if somebody needs a heart bypass, they need a heart bypass no?
Your Knee hurts.
You could go to a local GP.
You could go to a local clinic.
You could go to an urgent care.
You could go to a hospital and make an appointment.
You could go to the ER.
Which do you do?
Well let's look at the incentives. Under a free health care system, the cost to you is equally nothing, no matter where you go.
Why would you go to a GP, when you could go to the ER, and get seen immediately, for no extra cost to you?
When Massachusetts enacted universal health care, the first thing that happened was wait times at the ER drastically increased. Nearly double the wait time of the national average.... of course the average include non-public hospitals that charge fees for usage.
This is unavoidable. This is why in many government run systems, you have no choice but to see a GP first, who must prescribe you going to a specialist, who must prescribe you going to a clinic, and so on.
It's a method of rationing the care.
Another example is, the doctor asks you how much it hurts, and you say.... 10 out of 10, so he gives you prescription for oxicodine. Does it really hurt that bad? Maybe you could deal with something less powerful?
But since the cost is the same to you, why not go for the best stuff you can?
I had a co-worker that said they made $500 a month off of selling extra oxicodine. When the doctor asked how much pain he was in... oh yeah massive pain. Of course medicaid was covering most of the cost. Great for the doctor, great for the druggies, and great for him. Bad for the country.