Single payer is not the answer. Check out the UK.  They are single payer, but 1/3 of the population buys private insurance.  Why?  Access to better doctors outside of the government system, quicker access to care without the long wait for medical procedures, and the ability to choose their own path for their healthcare needs without the government intervening.  If you don't think we would have longer wait times for care, rationed healthcare, and a lower quality of care, think again.  All you have to do is look at the number of stories of foreign people coming to the U.S. for specialized healthcare to see that we still do have the best medicine in the world.