be paid. In the 1970's insurance companies were non-profits. Most hospitals were non-profit. Our lives are in the hands of Insurance companies not doctors. Lea | 3.22.10 @ 10:46AM I must disagree, in part, with you. They pay large malpractice fees not because the insurance industry demands it, but because our society has become litigation happy. If our legislators truly want to control healthcare costs, they should start with Tort reform. Then, and only then, will you bring down the cost of healthcare. BTW, most hospitals state they are non-profit. In reality, they are absolutely "For Profit". I've been a nurse for 20 years. When Medicare makes a reimbursement cut, the hospitals I've worked at start finding ways to make cuts. They complain when they aren't "in the black" and freeze salaries and benefits. I will agree with you regarding our lives being in the hands of insurance companies. If someone wants to sue someone, let them start with their own insurance company. TakeAnEconCourse | 10.6.09 @ 1:04AM Jerry, I want to talk about one of the points you made: "If you look up the statistics, you'll see that in 2009 1.8 million are expected to leave the U.S. to seek treatment in other countries and by 2010 that is predicted (Deloitte) to be 6 million. The number of people coming to the US from other countries each year is numbered only in the thousands (under 100,000). " Assuming that's true, you didn't mention what treatments people are leaving the