"The interest groups that would be most directly affected by health care reform were substantial contributors to the Democratic Party in 2008 election. This had an impact on the course of the debate, limiting the depth and scope of the reform. The problem of comparatively very high costs and of relatively low service quality has hardly been solved. If anything else will prove impossible, the United States can just directly allowe Medicare beneficiaries to buy into the health care systems of other countries. This would not only lead to substantial savings for the Medicare program, it would also likely lead to lower health care costs in the United States as a whole. If a substantial portion of the population aged more than 65 goes elsewhere for their care then it would lead to a sizable reduction in demand, which would be expected to lower health care prices."

Support: Paper