The American Medical Association issued its first health insurance report card at the group's annual meeting Monday.

Medicare performed better than the private insurers in most areas..

"There's no question that administrative costs for doctors and the country would be a lot lower in a single-payer system," Casalino said in an interview after the meeting. But a market-based system has advantages of competition, choice and innovation, he said. "Are the benefits enough to justify the cost?"