Reply #2: The "pay less" part is key

[DaveJ]

There are so many hundreds, probably thousands of insurance companies, each with dozens of executives and dozens of sales people under them expecting to make a mint. Publicly funded healthcare would probably cost half as much.

Another thing that I've found effective is to note that every other modernized country has it, every single one of them. Nobody has been able to argue with me on that point, especially in that it appeals to their desire to keep the U.S. on top. If they argue that it's implemented poorly elsewhere, even though it may not be true, it's worthwhile to note that Americans have the ingenuity to do it better. Then, again, pride in their country keep them from denying the point.