> "The most important source of cost savings under single-payer is that large government entities are able to negotiate much more favorable terms with service providers. In 2012, for example, the average cost of coronary bypass surgery was more than $73,000 in the United States but less than $23,000 in France."
A more useful comparison would be the average cost of coronary bypass surgery for someone with a employer-provided health plan versus the cost that Medicare, Medicaid, or the VA pays. And then compare the average wait times of each along with recovery time/effectiveness.
Out of pocket is only one "cost" in this picture.