"kinda confused. havent we already had a free market economy?"

We'd be much better off if the insurance companies could compete across state lines. It would force them to have to care about their customers and negotiate better to keep them. When you've only got one or two insurance companies to choose from in your area that's a monopoly meaning they have no incentive to get better, but rather price gouge.

"I figured out a long time ago that its cheaper to have no insurance and pay out of pocket. This is the same way I feel about insurance. Why do we need the middle man? What are they really bargaining for if they inflate prices to provide a few jobs and line their pockets? What would the free market look like without insurance?"

I totally agree. In fact, I think you may benefit from this video, but it sounds to me like you've already figured it out for the most part.

"Then there is the AMA, whose huge lobby has tried its best to exclude competition from any alternative practitioners, complaining that they arent "proven" safe and effective. Needless to say their yardstick on this is skewed, since most meds have "acceptable risks and side effects"."

Yeah, "acceptable risks and side effects" smacks of GRAS or "generally recognized as safe and effective." In many cases, it's a bullshit phraseology, one that will result in people dying. However, as long as a certain number of people don't die in the short term rigged-studies conducted and or funded by the drug manufacturer, then it's "perfectly okay." Or that's the spirit in which those responsible will convey it anyhow.

"The other reason free market wont work is because of a dumbed down consumer. We are fed halve truths by doctors about what we need to be doing for optimal health. The government is also culpable, with "business can do no wrong, buyer beware". We are bombarded with ads and marketing that trigger our strapped middle class to purchase processed hormone laden bio engineered and fast foods."

The many local monopolies have to be broken up for things to get better. If you think back to that analogy where the government forces you to buy a cellphone and a computer from the '80s from two different companies—if that had happened then none of the advancements in computer and cellphone tech would have happened. There is no need to improve if you're guaranteed a customer base. You think things are bad now, and they are, they can get a whole lot worse, single payer is a false solution IMO. When you have to wait months for a simple doctors appointment or are subjected to care rationing and death panels. Things can get a whole lot worse, the underlying problem is these companies simply do not have any motivation to compete.

"Health education rarely covers all it needs to in school. I remember I got a semester of it and most of it was dedicated to sex ed, when what it really needs to do is cover how to make nutritious affordable food on a budget and the ins and outs of choosing a medical provider that fits our needs."

"Definitely agree, what is that saying: "an ounce of prevention is a pound of cure". I still have yet to learn to to make nutritious affordable food on a budget, is that even possible?