Aaron Carroll busts two big ones:
[I]t's true that an emergency room won't let you die if you show up at the door, but short of that, you can't get care for a host of medical issues. And, while they will provide that lifesaving care to you even if you have no insurance and no money, they will send you a bill. And if you can't pay, it may cause you, and your family, financial ruin. That's a far cry from universal health care, and nothing to brag about.
The Dish 