The cost question is huge. We spent what, 16% of GDP on healthcare, and socialized-care countries spend 8-11%? If anyone knows a good comparative study that engages this difference, I'd be glad to learn of it.

i'm a primary care doc, and can't point out the info you seek, but will say that malpractice/defensive medicine, which is mostly nonexistent in socialized systems as they are no-fault (ie bad things happen, here's the compensation, but the awards are not outrageous; of course, if there is evidence of true incompetence, that's different. most suits stem from a bad outcome but good faith efforts by MD's), is a big driver of cost.

the methods of payment for our health care cause doctors to essentially do piece work, doing more procedures to get payed more.