After working decades in healthcare and disability management I came to the conclusion that our so-called "free" system enables people to severely abuse their health.  I worked closely with very ill employees who eventually made it to long term disability insurance through the workplace.  I estimate that 60% of those had lifestyle related conditions that could have been reversed if they'd followed their providers instructions.  One employee who was too obese to work and was close to requiring dialysis refused to attend a rehab program (that the employer was paying for) because it cost him too much for gas to get there.  Yet the same fellow took his whole family to Disneyland.  Would research show that these preventable conditions are clogging our system?  I'd say yes, it's a public health disaster and those of us who try to maintain our health get caught in these huge queues.