You bring up France as an excellent example.  
 - the World Health Organization rates France at #1 in the world.  America is #37.
 - it's not 'free' in France.  People and their employers pay insurance premiums.  But they're a lot lower than what we pay.
 - Doctor pay in public hospitals averages about $100K.  The US averages $190K.  But they don't need malpractice insurance and med school is free (really competitive to get in).
 - they don't have separate Medicaid/VA/Medicare/IHS/....systems.  They're all consolidated.  Way more efficient.
 - they spend 1/2 per person that we do
 - It's not perfect in France.  They face rising costs too.
 - We could learn a lot from each other if our politicians would pull their heads out of their partisan asses. Lisa made a good first start.  

Here's a good even-handed look at it:  https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/dutton.pdf