Constitutes one-sixth of the U.S. economy, with costs that continually rise at a rate much higher than that of inflation and seven times greater than increases in wages.

Ranks well below 25th place in the world in effectiveness, below 70th place in overall performance, and below 20th place in life expectancy.

Offers little or no competition among hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and most health care providers — there is no “free market” in medical care (and the previous administration handed the drug companies a multi-billion-dollar lagniappe by requiring a provision that the Medicare drug program not be subject to competitive bidding).

Spends nearly five times as much on health care as national defense.

Has constantly increased premiums for those fortunate enough to have employer health insurance (employment-based premiums rose 120 percent from 1999-2008), while reducing benefits and increasing co-pays (and driving up costs for businesses, small and large, that provide insurance for their employees — the fastest growing cost component for employers).

Is responsible for more than 60 percent of the personal bankruptcies in the U.S. (68 percent of those were people who had health insurance, but were left with costs either denied or not covered).

Is centered on insurance companies that use every excuse possible to deny payment and/or coverage to those who have pre-existing medical conditions or aren't healthy enough to meet their coverage requirements.

Supports a handful of megalithic health insurance companies that offer little or no competition, pay their CEOs multi-million yearly salaries/bonuses, and spend 18 cents to 21 cents of every premium dollar on administrative costs (compared to only 5 cents to 6 cents for other industrialized nations).