How do other countries deal with these issues? Or, have politics become so broken in the US that this is a somewhat uniquely American problem?
I think this is a uniquely American problem, because individual (or small groups of) politicians have enormous power over these kinds of things in our current system. I think the answer is to not allow politicians to directly decide what is and isn’t covered - you leave that up to whatever federal agency is responsible for enacting the single payer system.
What you said about safeguards is true, but removing politicians’ ability to directly control what care is provided would be the first and biggest safeguard I think.
I think this is a uniquely American problem, because individual (or small groups of) politicians have enormous power over these kinds of things in our current system. I think the answer is to not allow politicians to directly decide what is and isn’t covered - you leave that up to whatever federal agency is responsible for enacting the single payer system.
What you said about safeguards is true, but removing politicians’ ability to directly control what care is provided would be the first and biggest safeguard I think.