> Deregulation sometimes works, but here it clearly fails

We haven't had a deregulated healthcare industry/market in the United States for a very long time (in fact, "healthcare" as we know it never existed in the US without massive regulation). I'm not sure anyone can make that claim based on real evidence, at least not in the US.

In most western countries, you don't negotiate a hospital bill. Usually you don't get a bill at all. In most Canadian provinces, governments set prices and their only "client" is the provincial government.

I think you meant "free market", not "deregulated"? and where supporters of free markets will always push for more deregulation because they'll blame whatever little regulation is in place in order to support their utopia. Heard that before.. all watched over by machines of loving grace.