Just saw an interesting item on the news this morning. The Swiss adopted universal health care in l994, and legally defined it as a human right. All Swiss citizens are required to carry health insurance. The insurance companies are required to provide it, and apparently are not permitted to make a profit from it. All premiums are allocated to the cost of the health care of the citizenry. The premiums run $3,000 -$4,000 per annum depending upon the deductibles. Government assistance is available to those that cannot afford it.

Sounds like the senate bill in the U S is somewhat patterned after the Swiss example. Except I do not see any meaningful price control on insurance company profit. Seems to be the week point of the bill which the government option was supposed to control through free competition. The Senate is already being accused of cutting back room deals with the insurance and pharmaceutical industries to get the 60 votes needed.  Hopefully the sponsors of the House bill will show some back bone when the time arrives for reconciliation of the House and Senate bills.

The news made a point of mentioning that the Swiss are fiercely in love with capitalism, but are very happy with there health care.