In Spain (or Catalonia at least) even illegal aliens have a sanitary card, they are going to be treated anyhow, so it's better that they have it. As I understand it, their sons at the same odds of being operated by the Government
Da vinci robots than anyone else (but politicians sons I guess).
You can't opt-out of government health care, althought many people pay for private insurance too.
In general, everybody is fond of the health system we have. I don't know if it's completely sustainable though. Once I read an interview with the
head of oncology at a major hospital in Barcelona. He said, IIRC, that cancer treatments are "too expensive", "too" as in "unsustainably". That left me worried of course. For the time being the population keeps getting the best drugs for cancer, though. The public concern is not about quality, only wait time for some issues. However...
2 years ago,my mother was sick, i went to Romania found an good doctor paid him 3000$,+the nurses, blood,drugs, she was operated without waiting, but was cancer , she passed away 3 months later. Thx God here in Canada i didn't need serious care, but my brother has some problems was booked by his family doctor in March to see a specialist , his appointment was set for this week!!! The difference between this 2 countries : in Romania if you have some $$, you'll get assistance in time, in Canada you won't, maybe if you can afford to spend big $$
This is comparing apples to oranges because if you are suspected to have cancer you get urgent treatment, here, and I hope in Canada.
I always wondered what happens in the USA if you are poor need an expensive treatment, or chronical expensive treatment. Do you get a huge debt and but get treated or you just don't get treated and die? Are there instances when people die because they cannot afford it? When I read stories of health care + USA (for example in this forum) I feel a knot in the stomach.
Good health for all.
