“Today, there is no better nation in which to become sick than the United States.” —Doug Bandow

“Yes, as we’re often told, American medicine is the best in the world. . . . But good as it is, it still could be a lot better.” —Daniel S. Greenberg

The American health care system is the most expensive per capita in the world, with annual health care costs per person of $4,187. Many argue that this sum is money well spent, but others insist that such an outlay does not always translate into the highest quality of medicine. Many people contend that the American medical system does not provide consistently high-quality health care. They maintain that the level of care could be improved if the United States adopted the single-payer health care plan used in Canada.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in its...