There is government health insurance for those who cannot afford it. States and even counties offer discounted dental, medical and vision programs, some limited to children, others to seniors, some to families. And yes, sometimes assistance is available through service providers.

Hospitals do not have a choice in deciding who gets treatment. Anyone admitted is treated regardless of ability to pay. Of course, the cost is passed on to patients with insurance, raising the rates.

To speculate, or rather to state, that your father-in-law's death from cancer was due to not receiving chemo a month earlier is simply speculation. Even with insurance, even with chemo, the cure rate for certain cancers is quite limited. The best insurance and the best medical care cannot always effect a cure.

And insurance is not the answer either. Patients need to be self-aware and interact with physicians. Generally there are symptoms well before a diagnosis. Ignoring the problem creates a delay which may be insurmountable. It's not only lack of insurance that keeps people out of the doctor's office, it's also the way they are treated. Many doctors, especially those who primarily service low cost HMO patients, only spend a few minutes with the patient. The "assembly line" does not give ample opportunity for doctor-patient discussion and diagnosis. Mandating more time won't work, as the payment is capped and the doctors would not be able to afford to stay in business, between overhead and malpractice insurance.

Universal health care is not a solution. More available, better priced private insurance would be much better.