The US hasn't had compulsory private insurance up until about 10 years ago. Before that costs were going up even faster[1]. Even then if your employer is providing your health plan the amount of "shopping around" you can do is limited - most companies have 2 or 3 options (a PPO, an HMO and something with an HSA). This leaves only the uninsured (i.e. the poor) or previously uninsurable (pre-existing conditions) in the actual open private insurance marketplace. It's not surprising that premiums there will be crazy high and it's not really that close to being the Swiss model.
> our problem is something other than the payor model
I partially agree with that - the payer model is one facet among many. There are other problems with healthcare in the US. Hospitals can veto opening of competing hospitals in the area, complex billing, not enough residency spots leading to a shortage of doctors, whatever the F is happening with prescription drugs etc. GP was only asking for alternatives to employer healthcare though.
> our problem is something other than the payor model
I partially agree with that - the payer model is one facet among many. There are other problems with healthcare in the US. Hospitals can veto opening of competing hospitals in the area, complex billing, not enough residency spots leading to a shortage of doctors, whatever the F is happening with prescription drugs etc. GP was only asking for alternatives to employer healthcare though.
1. https://www.thebalance.com/causes-of-rising-healthcare-costs...