I don't understand how paying for medical care can possibly seem strange. Single-payer systems are merely an arrangement for paying for medical care. In my opinion, it's not a very good arrangement.
Everyone who needs health care should be able to obtain it. Most people in developed countries can already obtain health care. Why insert the government into the situation where it isn't needed? Any time you disconnect the amount paid for goods and services from the receipt of those things, the market (i.e. mass human psychology) will work less efficiently. Perhaps the price the government decides to pay will be less than is needed to convince enough people to provide the services in question, resulting in a shortage.
Subsidize health care for those who can't afford it. Everyone else should pay their own way privately. Similar changes should be made to the other non-public goods we subsidize, like roads, transit and education.
Everyone who needs health care should be able to obtain it. Most people in developed countries can already obtain health care. Why insert the government into the situation where it isn't needed? Any time you disconnect the amount paid for goods and services from the receipt of those things, the market (i.e. mass human psychology) will work less efficiently. Perhaps the price the government decides to pay will be less than is needed to convince enough people to provide the services in question, resulting in a shortage.
Subsidize health care for those who can't afford it. Everyone else should pay their own way privately. Similar changes should be made to the other non-public goods we subsidize, like roads, transit and education.