The only way to hold down costs is to ration heathcare. This is a prime ex  

"And you think single payer heathcare would be a good thing.

"We have said over and over that single payer does not and never has treated patients fairly.  The only way to hold down costs is to ration heathcare.  This is a prime example of lack of service, so the treatment is prioritized, "NOT TO THE NEEDY", but to the flavor of the day."

We already have single payer healthcare. Who covers the unpaid bills at hospitals? Tax-payers, to keep the hospital open. The law requires healthcare providers treat anybody on the property regardless of ability to pay- EMTALA.

If you have health insurance, your medical care is rationed by the insurance company. The doctor recommends X, Y or Z, but it's not unusual for that insurance company to refuse authorization. Quoting Handel (Bill Handel, "Handel on the Law") "Insurance companies aren't in the business to pay claims. They're in the business to deny all the claims they can." You either fight the insurance compay to authorize the recommended care or pay for it yourself.

Do I think 'single payer health insurance' would be a good thing? No, I think a financial responsibility law is the solution. One can model these on state automobile self insurance laws. If one doesn't have sufficient assets or you don't want to pledge them to healthcare liabilities, then you should be required to buy health insurance to protect taxpayers from your healthcare liabilities. Like it or not, you will require healthcare at some point in your life. The unplanned treatments tend to be the most expensive.