UHND.com - Notre Dame Football, Basketball, & Recruiting

HC system saved lives...and money...in one country....here's are a couple of excerpts from the linked article...
--------------------
The novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) was first identified in China at the end of December 2019, quickly spreading worldwide, and there are still no signs of abatement. Its impact on Western countries has been particularly strong; for example, as of February 19, 2021, the total number of people infected and the total number of deaths in the United Sates due to Covid-19 has been reported at about 28,565,929 and 506,596, respectively. The number of cases and deaths per population in Asia is relatively low compared to Western countries, although the reasons for this remain to be explored. Japan is no exception. Being the most aged country in the world (as of 2019, people over 65 years of age make up 28.4 percent of the population),1 and having a high population density in large cities, such as Tokyo and Osaka, are all disadvantageous conditions for Covid-19 control. Despite this, Japan has succeeded in keeping the number of deaths per million population low; as of March 28, 2021, there have been 71.56 deaths/million, while these numbers are 908.75 in Germany, 1,395.70 in France, and 1,659.61 in the United States.
-------------------

and...
------------------
Another factor that has helped keep Covid-19 deaths low in Japan is its healthcare system—a universal insurance system with public health centers.5 Japan has had a universal health insurance system since 1961. Through this system, individuals pay monthly premiums, which are pro-rated on the basis of their income, and then pay only 30 percent of their health expenditure out-of-pocket. The remaining 70 percent is covered through a combination of tax subsidies and the funds collected from the premium payments. In addition, all the prices of healthcare procedures and medicines, both at public and private facilities, are determined by the MHLW. There is also a cap-payment system so that medical expenses above a certain amount are covered by the insurance system rather than the patient. This kind of health insurance system allows people to visit a medical facility whenever they are ill or hurt without worrying about medical costs, making it less likely for patients in Japan who show Covid-19 symptoms from delaying healthcare.6

Alongside healthcare facilities, public health centers play an important role. Japan has a long history of community public health centers, and they have been essential in infectious disease control long before the Covid-19 pandemic.7 If an epidemic breaks out in a community, they are responsible for conducting epidemiological investigations, tracking close contacts with the infected, and coordinating necessary treatment, such as hospitalization. Also, for some infections that significantly impact society, such as tuberculosis, the essential testing and treatment are to be paid for at public expense (tax subsidy) under the Infectious Diseases Control Law. All of this has been true of Covid-19; from the beginning, public health centers have been responsible for conducting epidemiological surveys, conducting detailed analyses of clusters, interviewing close contacts, monitoring home quarantine, etc. Thanks to this combination of tax-based public financing, a universal insurance system, and coordinated roles for public health centers and healthcare facilities, Japan has been able to limit the spread of Covid-19 and avoid overwhelming its healthcare system.
-------------------

In essence, since there will certainly be another pandemic, the U.S. would save a ton of money (see link below) if it moved more toward a federally funded HC system, with private options for those willing to pay more.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7604733/#:~:text=The%20total%20cost%20is%20estimated,GDP%20of%20the%20United%20States.


Link: https://items.ssrc.org/covid-19-and-the-social-sciences/covid-19-in-east-asia/japans-covid-19-strategy/