http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2013/10/unnecessary-surgeries-you-bet-doctors.html

The article starts off by describing how doctors order unnecessary procedures in order to boost profits. While true, the problems in healthcare run much deeper than that, and the points at the bottom of the article are much more inclusive. Conflicts of interest abound on all sides. Naturally, neither the patient nor the economics of the situation are being considered. We're so far removed from the causes that only the effects are being looked at. What we have now is a Frankenstein created through a long history of good intentions. Those good intentions (employer-provided health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, the AMA, etc.) have all had consequences--and every one of those consequences have entailed driving up the price (either by artificially spiking demand or restricting supply). Not cost. Price. The true cost is close to the deductible that everyone pays, which, ironically, is exactly as it should be. There was a time in this country when people paid for health care, not health insurance. Insurance, by definition, is carried for unforeseen, catastrophic events. You don't have auto insurance for oil changes, but that's precisely what most people expect at this point. They want "free" oil changes, but every oil change has a cost. It has to be borne by someone. Now, through a ridiculously convoluted process, people are still paying for the healthcare they receive--but God forbid they get sick without insurance. For then they won't be charged the cost (or cost plus a fair profit). They'll be charged the price that is billed to insurance companies. And while insurance companies only end up paying about 30% of that price, uninsured people are billed the full 100%.

The system is a joke. Obamacare didn't make it a joke. It just made it worse.