Quote: In Europe - at least in the UK and France, free or very low cost medicine is available to everyone. Both my USA grandmother and stepfather have benefited from this and been amazed at both the quality of care and the price. My grandmother was visiting France and became ill on the plane arriving into the country. An ambulance arrived, she was treated on site by excellent paramedics and then transported to hospital and kept overnight. The total charge for her care was about $80USD. She was shocked and delighted at the quality and speed of the treatment she received. Even more so now that she is being used to milk the system by doctors in the USA. My stepfather, also visiting France, was injured seriously after falling through a plate glass window (my French grandmother had a habit of polishing her staircase just a bit too much). He spent a week in hospital enjoying the care of very cute (in his words) French nurses. That cost him about $120USD.

There are some very good health schemes in Europe, many of which provide free or subsidised health care to a high standard. Unquote

Take my word for it there is no such thing as free. It is just paid for differently in the countries you mention and other than on an emergency basis it is rationed. I assure you that you don't want to be of a certain age and need a certain treatment using the NHS of the UK. France is somewhat better in this regard but not much. Even Canada with it's system is a complete shambles with patients on gurneys in hallways for days at a time.

This is not to say that these systems don't have their good qualities but please don't imply that the US system is expensive and the others are free.

Captain One Iron