looking for data

So yesterday Congress dived into the health care issue feet first, no doubt holding it's nose and dreading the splash. Here's my thought, at least for now, on the situation:

Somebody ought to figure out just what level of taxation would be required for a fully covered, government-run, medicare-like (though VA-like would be better), single payer system to be established in the U.S. I wask this because our family currently shells out about 10 or 12% of our income every year in order to get the full "benefits" of our health insurance (i.e., after deductables*), and we're "lucky" enough to using the cheaper plan available at my place of work (my wife's plan is about 60% higher). I'm wondering how this number compares to the level of taxation that would be required for us to get "socialized" medicine.

Health insurance is just legalized gambling, and just like a casino, the betting is stacked in favor of the house. Really, when you think about it, it's not really health "insurance", because with insurance you pay a bit of money in the hope (and the real possibility) that you will never need it, wereas everybody will need some form of health care.

I'd run down these numbers myself, but I am neither skilled nor ambitious enough to do so. If anyone comes across figures that would fit the bill, I'd appreciate it. Personally, I'm willing to bet that if people did the math, most of them'd find out that they'd be saving money (or at least recieving health care at all). Everybody pays, everybody gets health care. That seems fair, doesnt it?


* If we dont use the coverage, except for regular visits, and so dont spend towards the deductable, it's still around 7% of our gross.