Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements to doctors and hospitals are rationed and cost contained.
Why are geriatric doctors understaffed and underpaid? Government reimbursements are low.
A lot of doctors are moving toward a cash only policy because there is less paperwork and fewer restrictions. They can focus on patient care rather than wait for insurance reimbursements.
The main problem in healthcare in USA and most of the world is over reliance on third party payment.
Look at areas where there is no insurance: plastic surgery, LASIK surgery and fertility treatments such as IVF. These specialists are the highest paid in general.
American healthcare was cheaper and better before 1966. When did Medicare and Medicaid start? Answer should be obvious.