Most european countries have fewer poor people by percentage than the USA. Single payer "works" in europe in the sense that you still end up having to pay out of pocket if you want not-crap (private) care.
I don't see how anyone is worse off in that system?
It's a huge step up for everyone that is unemployed or on crappy minimum-wage insurance. Even if it's "only" on par with the worst of the US system, it still grants you the freedom to switch jobs and a better negotiating position for other benefits. And everyone that has better insurance can presumably just pay out of pocket to get better-than-minimum.
Not true really. Germany has had pretty good success. Wait times even on the public side are reasonable. But govt is actually not very involved in providing care - they are more of a market administrator. 100+ nonprofits compete for patients in various ways. And everyone has to have coverage.
Also, coverage is rationed more in these systems, they would never approve these the $20,000 per bill with limited evidence type treatments.
