You started asking a health care system question ,
Then switched to the tax / IRS issue . . .

So what is it ?
You asking health care ? or tax ?

Two DIFFERENT topics .

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US Health care is REALLY messed up.

I'm diabetic among many other health problems, I don't make much $$ and can't get health care.

Government will not help anyone unless they are homeless or about to be.

I think it's a giant rip off. We pay $100 weekly for health insurance and I just had to have a small surgery. I had to call the insurance company to find out if there is a co-pay and they tell me it's $1000. Of course, that was on top of the $50 I had to pay the specialist and the $20 to see my family doctor. I lived in England where they have a National Health system in place. I hear people whining about the waiting lists but I never had to wait on one and they certainly are not going to deny you if you are really sick. You can go and have a big major heart operation and walk out of there never seeing a bill. Sure they take money out of your pay check each week but it's nothing like the price we are paying here. Kids and Seniors get free medicine, dental and eye care, pregnant women get free dental care, unemployed get free medical and dental. If other countries can do it, why not the US?

First you are wrong you can write off your health care costs once they rise above 7% of your adjusted gross income.

Second if it is cost you are concerned about know that countries like Canada that have national health care spend far more for the same basic care.

The US used to be about opportunity not entitlement. Start a business, hire employees and that way you can have the joy of deducting all of those expenses. Don't forget you will have pay them first.

Q. how does anyone think US healthcare is a fair and just system?
A. I am not sure that anyone does think it is fair and just. However, they do not agree on how to fix this. For example, I think everyone thinks either (a) the government is too involved or (b) the government is not involved. They agree changes are needed, but not what changes.

Q. if you pay for your own healthcare its not only going to cost you much much more,
A. At the moment, I am paying $61 per month for my own insurance, when a previous employer had paid approximately $400 per month. (This is from the same insurance company, Blue Cross Life & Health of California, but the deductible and some other details are not the same.)

Q. you cant write off a single cent
A.
1. If your total healthcare costs, including insurance and out-of-pocket, exceed a certain percent of income, you can deduct it.
2. If you are self-employed, there is a special deduction for health insurance, even if you do not itemize.