It always seemed to me like it's the government wanting people not to get services in order to reduce costs. But I suspect it's more the government being too obsessed with making sure only those who "deserve it" get services.
Just give everyone the benefit and take it back in taxes later. It would cost less in paperwork.
The real answer is more that there's a billion committees, each of which has something they absolutely have to push through, because they have to do something to solve the problem.
Also: The paperwork is the goal. Reduce that, and people lose jobs.
We all know the healthcare situation is terrible but the main politicians that want to change this offer 100% government controlled single payer healthcare as the only solution. That would take us from the least socialized system in the world, to literally the most socialized system in the world.
I don't think you have to try very hard to imagine why people are uncomfortable with that.
Edit: Never make one slight error on HN or your entire point is invalid, it would be one of the most socialized by the legislative proposals, but not literally the most.
Well there is Cuba. The best health system in the world, many say.
Single payer is “less socialist” than the UK system that has many of the healthcare providers working directly for the government.
Likewise, the US is not the “least socialist” today. In Nigeria most people just pay out of pocket for healthcare.