Health Care Reform?

Okay, I realize I'm stretching my Econ 103 with this post, but there's something disturbing me about "health care reform". I don't think it will work, and here's why.

The present system is set up so that TWO entities profit from illness: the health care industry (doctors, hospitals, and other service providers) AND the insurance companies. Insurance companies gatekeep subscribers' access to services, and allow only (or mostly, if you demand a review) those services on which they reserve a profit. How can you "reform" a system with this massive silent entity, the insurance company, who stands by waiting only for its palm to be greased? Why aren't we hearing more about single-pay? I don't even know what the hell single-pay is! That alone concerns me. We can't "reform" a broken system just by spreading the misery amongst more people - the thing needs to be reworked.

Here's some reform. What if there were no insurance companies? What if the health care industry were to regulate itself with supply and demand like any other industry? What if proactive health maintenance activities were free? What if we evolved to the point where illness care was free?

Just the ramblings of a self-described economic novice.