The current system in the United States is one with private insurance companies where a patient pays (or is entitled to by an employer) his/her own insurance company, and some public insurance plans such as Medicare and Medicaid.  

In a perfect world, you could go to any doctor you want and receive an accurate diagnosis with minimally invasive treatment that will cure the ailment, and not have to worry about how much it will cost.  In a perfect world, there would be unlimited resources and unlimited coverage.  However, this is not the case.  In fact, the cost of health care is increasing.  One reason that costs have risen is that Americans are living longer and the baby boomers are aging, and older people generally require more care.  In addition, medical technology that did not exist until the past few decades is becoming more and more commonplace and often treats conditions that were untreatable before.  Although this is more beneficial to the patient, it is certainly more expensive.  And, as in other industries, and increased demand increases medical costs in the field of health care*.  

The medical field cannot stay in the state it is presently in.  Passively maintaining the status quo would mean an ever-increasing number of uninsured Americans (as of November 1999, there were 44.3 million (Queenan)).  A lack of change would also exacerbate the current problem of inadequate care and scandals, even for those who would have the means to pay for a better quality of care.  Currently, patients are also unable to see specialists or get the tests they want or may need without the consent of their health care provider.  Many physicians feel that they are not allowed the time or means to properly care for their patients.  If nothing is changed, there will be less freedom for both the doctor and patient.  The United States currently has the economic stability and state of peace to focus on reforming the system.  Many people feel that, since funds and resources are limited, people must decide between quality and quantity of health care for Americans.  But there are also a plethora of possibilities between the two extremes.