Well thanks for the answer. The problem here is (in europe)
that the american system is usually portrayed (if mentioned) as if it would totally suck in the media.
So there for it´s hard to get an objective impression on it.
btw. not the generall quality of the existing health care is criticized. But you only allways hear about millions of
working americans who are not able to afford it.
greetings
Oddly enough Canadian leaders, and even a few European leaders, come to the U.S. for crucial treatments (including Cancer treatment).
Have you ever known anyone to go to Canada for medical care?
There is a lot of charity in this country and also, emergency rooms are not allowed to refuse treatment to anyone. I have a relative who had colon cancer and she required a very expensive surgery. When the president of the hospital was told about her situation (out of work for a very long time because of the cancer), he sent word to her that she wouldn't have to pay a penny. She was in tears when she found out about this because she was a wreck worrying about how she was going to pay for it. But, my reaction (privately) was that she was so much more grateful for what she got because she knew that someone was doing it for her voluntarily. When people *expect* others to pay for their health care, they aren't grateful. They just expect it and when they don't get it, they become angry.
The other thing you should know is that the number of people without health insurance thrown around in the media over overinflated. It's far less than what you hear.