Americans had all sorts of models on which to base their national medical system and because of vehement opposition by Republicans to ANY form of nationalized healthcare for American citizens, Americans got a system that leaves the blood-sucking parasites in the insurance and pharmaceutical industries in a place where they can exploit everyone. There's too much profit to be made off the misery of the millions. Profiteering is at the CENTER of the American system whereas in other countries the public good plays a much greater role in how systems work. 
Now Republicans will try to say that the very idea of providing healthcare for all citizens is a faulty idea anyone with half a brain knows their party is the rabid attack dog of the 1%.