I've been without health insurance in the U.S. for long periods. It wasn't great - but you can make do. I've been overseas without health insurance. That's a lot easier than doing it in the U.S., and is pretty darn good for minor ailments and maladys. I've been to what was essentially govermentally funded healthcare in the U.S. - and it blew big beefy chunks - but it was free. More interestingly, at the state-run free healthcare places I've seen in the U.S. the system was roundly abused. If you're not paying the bills, there's no reason to exhibit any measure of self-reliance or good judement.
I've also had family members in long-term care in both private and state facilities, with funding coming from all over creation. The private facilities (oddly enough) didn't hold a candle to the VA facilties. This, I think, has a lot to do with the influence on VA care at the state level, and it just happened to be in a state where they gave a rat's ass about their vets. On the other hand, getting the social security office was a complete disaster and screwed me out of some $30 grand. The VA facility was, if I remember correctly, after VA and SS benefits, something like a buck per day.
What does this have to do with anything? About as much as CA's posts do with the topic at hand - interesting stuff, but just not pertinent to anything at all and certainly not a reasonable basis for forming healthcare policy.