[mike777]

One number I see popping up alot in the media is that about 45 million Americans are not covered by health insurance in 2009.

I do wonder if we go to some version of a single payer system if that will crowd out what we call private health insurance to the point it no longer can compete.
If so I wonder whatever surviving system of health care will effect:
1) rationing
2) technology and innovation in health care.

As for illegals it is my understanding that currently they are entitled to free medical care at least to the point of stabilization in the USA at which point they may or may not be deported back to their home country. Not sure what the rule is in Europe, Mexico, Africa, South America and Asia.

[blackshoe]

As I understand it, it would be severely unethical for a member of the medical profession, and by extension for an organization composed of such members (for example, a hospital) to deny urgent medical care to anyone on the grounds of inability to pay. And that's independent of what the law may say.

OTOH, my understanding of medical ethics comes from my father's teachings (he was a cardiologist) and he's been retired for over 20 years. Maybe things have changed.