The government has been interfering in the industry since at least the imposition of wage controls during World War 2 that drove employers to offer non-cash benefits to attract and retain employees.

It is hard to argue against this comment, because it is not even factually accurate if we accept framing as valid ( it isn't ).

Can defend why Obamacare marked government interference and , for example, not medicare?

And not before? This industry exists because of government

Before as well, of course. But prior to the ACA there was no requirement for every individual filing taxes to show they had coverage, or most businesses (even relatively small ones) to offer benefits packages.

It also changed small medical practices because suddenly everyone wanted to use this insurance they were paying for. No longer could it just be a doctor and maybe a couple of medical staff; they needed medical coders, specialized software, and so forth. Some decided to join large hospital networks (for worse, from what I have generally heard).

And this cascaded into multiple sub-industries developing around this revenue stream and the medical system. Everyone trying to sell something and grab their piece of the pie.

It was not great before, but you could go see a doctor and literally pay a small amount of cash for an appointment. Many won’t even accept anyone without insurance now.

Edit: as mburns@ pointed out, the IRS no longer asks individuals about their health insurance status since 2019.

Small correction: No one was forced, and the provision you’re thinking of hasn’t even existed for the last 5 years.

At least since sometime around WWII.