I dont have the trust you have in the government running large industries I guess. No doubt they can do it they run the armed forces, the postal system, social security, VA and Medicare. They could all benefit from some private sector approaches IMO.
I dont think you will see death panels at least called death panels in any system we take on, but there are degrees and elements to all insurance systems and it is commonly heard talk of end of life strategies. If you agree or dont with the concept of quality of life and medical treatments, there will always be some amount of it in the treatment process.
As to the insurance companies profits they are somewhat mild in the total cost of healthcare. The biggest drivers are still in the industry of healthcare itself, drugs and medical treatments and salaries for all the above.
I grew up with health care as a kid thru my fathers plan that was paid for as a work benefit and my whole working life I did the same thru my workplace. I never felt like I was held hostage by my benefits. I always viewed it as great place to work offering a great overall benefit package and just one more reason to want to stay and work for them. I can attest in the 50s thru 80s IMO the system worked well.
I think the legal aspect of the cost is very hard to pinpoint and measure as a lot is a hidden cost. Beyond the litigation and cost of another insurance called malpractice. I took my sister to our old trusted family doctor / surgeon a few years ago when she was quite sick. He poked in her belly for about 10 seconds and said you need your gallbladder out and we will do the surgery at 8:00 tomorrow morning. He said until then you will be busy getting a days worth of tests and scans to confirm he was correct and to please the worried legal people that didnt think he knows what he is talking about. He had the OR scheduled first thing and of course the tests proved out she needed it out.
I also know a young ER doc and he tells me the same thing that the vast amount of the tests he orders are required as CYA.
We do agree that healthcare must be paid for by someone and it is an industry.
Here is a good read in Forbes.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/peteru...ive-ruining-american-healthcare/#7162e63637b9