The US federal budget is 3.8 Trillion. Using parent's numbers, you would need $5.3 Trillion to just cover healthcare + housing, assuming zero inflation.
What tax rate are you proposing will genenerate $5.3 Trillion off of taxing the rich?
Trivial. Tax the top 1 percent at least 75 percent for about 2 trillian or more once you close off loopholes, ban insurance companies altogether and make hospitals publish their prices, and require estimates for any work to be done, and you suddenly have a balanced budget.
So to recap, the key to lowering prices in healthcare is (a) strip consumers of negotiating power (b) not try to haggle the prices down when providers consistently try to raise them?
The mechanism is open competition. Right now hospitals and clinics don't have to give you a price for their services, and you have to pay them whatever they ask for. It should work just like a mechanic or a lawyer, you are told the fee, you pay it, you get service. Don't like the price up front? Shop around.
What tax rate are you proposing will genenerate $5.3 Trillion off of taxing the rich?