My aunt-in-law needed hip replacement surgery a couple years ago. She lives in a country that covers all health care, but basically that means they just let you die. They offered her crutches, told her to stay in bed. For people that have heart conditions, they don't pay for heart surgery, not even angioplasty. So those with cholesterol conditions are given aspirin to thin the blood, that's it. People who might live to 80 will die there at 50 because of heart conditions.

The thing I thought was impressive wasn't the government funded health care, that part sucked. What impressed me was that doctors and surgeons worked at reasonable rates. They are just as qualified as American doctors, and the implants and equipment available are just as good too. But, comparing prices to average wages there, instead of charging several years pay, they charged basically a few months pay. Public assistance gave you nothing except aspirins and band-aids but you could save a few months and get good quality care. I paid for hip replacement surgery for this aunt and it cost $4000.00 USD. The implant was a nice German part and the doctors and care was excellent.