The rhetoric is wrong as I have verified the data with the authors of the study. There are NOT 46 million uninsured Americans but rather 46 million uninsured consumers of American healthcare. This is a big difference as this figure includes up to 30 million illegal aliens that are raping the system.

Marge Wooe, Atlanta, USA

60 BILLION to insure 46 MILLION?? Someone is getting a good cut...US govt really doesnt understand economics. Oh yeah, they gave BILLIONS to the banksters for bonuses and so forth...Billion...Million...what's the difference? And here I am worrying about a couple hundreds dollars for feeding my kids.

Tom, Idaho, US

Why do you keep forgetting that if any government ran the Sahara there would be a shortage of sand?
For my money, any government controlled/imposed health care scheme is a thinly disguised eugenics program. I want the government to keep its grubby paws off my body and my medical records.

Paula, New Mexico, USA

Our US "health care" system is really a "disease care" system. Congress can best improve our health by making all over-the-counter natural supplements tax deductible. Universal insurance will only perpetuate the obscenely high prices presently charged by health care providers and drug companies.

Joan X, M.D. in Seattle, Seattle, USA

When will the government finally get around to reigning in the costs from the medical and drug suppliers???

Joe Black, New York City,

Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. To turn a blind-eye to the fact that tens of millions of Americans lack sufficient is abhorrent crime that should be remedied.

And please visit a British hospital before you criticise them. The NHS treats anyone including holidaying Americans.

Chris, New York, USA

The NHS may have its fault but its the one thing I miss about the Uk now I live in the US. Here in the States if you are struck by bad luck and fall between the cracks you are on your own, I would never wish that on anyone in such a great country.

Ronny, Boston, USA

Congratulations Obama on his plan to provide every American with health insurance. I think that the best system that the United States could follow is the British after ironing out its faults. If you go to war to protect your people from outside enemy's then isn't disease a number one inside enemy?

John Santilli, Rome , Italy

"The comments about the illegal immigrants are truly shocking. The purpose is to ensure all US citizens"

Penny, why shocking ? You say it yourself, care for *citizens*, not every freeloader non-citizen who shows up at the county hosp. my taxes pay for.

Stan(expat for now), USA, USA

Truly shocking how persistent drug companies have persuaded US citizens that universal coverage is 'socialism' or represents 'lowering' of standards. The NHS has many faults, but by and large, it is the gold standard for health care in the UK, and costs a fraction per citizen compared to US options

Steve Jones, London, UK

We dont understand in the UK, people pulling their own teath, getting medicines from Phamacies, dying two years before on average. Will the USA do it, I hope they do but it will be a point of no return. 1% of GDP at least. Good Luck

Eric, Brighton, England

Having traveled to many countries with universal coverage, I have been staggered by the poor quality of services--- they may be free but there is no comparison to the service most US citizens get. Agree that the illegal immigration problem is disastrous but universal coverage is NOT the answer.

Robin Willcourt, Newport Beach, USA

American's have a very limited view of their system. if you have good insurance and are linked to a good healthcare provider it is very good, but for many the experience is very disconnected and expensive. Standards are generally higher than in UK, but that is more of a UK management issue.

Mark Peterson, San Jose, CA, USA (ex UK)

Bill, can you explain how a family on $40K a year who is asked for $1K a month to insure their family, or who has any major medical event in their history and is automatically denied coverage is chosing not to have it?

Mark Peterson, San Jose, CA, USA

Ignorance is not bliss-it leads to socialism.
Any US dweller can walk into an emergency room & get stabilized without regard to costs. "Illegal" immigrant ,means just that -they are NOT citizens & have broken the law. The US cannot afford to give away healthcare to all of the world's population .

wilfred knight, orange county, usa

The comments about the illegal immigrants are truly shocking. The purpose is to ensure all US citizens get healthcare when they need it, which is highly likely just that time when people can least afford it.

Penny, London,

This will be the same sort of colossally expensive, bureaucratic disaster as the UK's National Health scheme.
250 + million Americans have perfectly good healthcare.
about 15% of them do not; which is their choice, and should be left that way.

bill martin, new york, usa

Then Canada must not be an industrialized nation since those Canadians that can go to the US for any serious treatment. And our hospitals are not havens for infections like the UKs. Another poorly written propaganda piece.

Rich, Louisville, KY

The US healthcare "system" is a national disgrace, negatively impacting every aspect of American society. National health care is so much better than nothing, which is how much the first two people seem to care about those who keep the US economy alive, "illegals" or not.

Warren, Cambridge, UK

Nevermind the illegal immigrants, what about the millions of Americans who will benefit!! Let me guess you two have medical insurance. How's about looking after people less fortunate than yourselves!!

Colin, ellesmere port, uk

Tsk tsk. Do some research, please. That forty-odd million figure includes around 30-odd million illegal aliens. Obama's pledge is to provide, at taxpayer expense, health benefits to those illegals as well. It's a clever ruse of statistics to omit inconvenient facts surrounding those numbers.

mike, Dallas, USA

Does that 46 million figure include all the illegal immigrants in the U.S. ??

JENNIFER, CLEVELAND, USA