I have lived under health care in the UK, Canada and the US and there are many differences. In the UK if you are a citizen or equivilent you are covered under the National Health structure for all medical and dental needs. If you so wished you could purchase an insurance plan and opt out of the National Health as required.  I opted out when it came to dentistry as I felt the National Health dentists I dealt with were stonegrinders and opted to pull a tooth too easily. In Canada the major differences are that you do have a medical plan but no dental plan. Dental is covered by an insurance company that you must purchase to get care. The other major difference is that Canadians do not have the option of the private route. This is often why some individuals choose to opt out of the Canadian system and see a reknown specialist in another country. There is a strong lobby in Canada trying to privatize parts of the plan. (MRI clinics are popping up all over the place).

Neither system is perfect and seems to be a black hole when it comes to throwing money at it. It does however cover medical for anyone with any problem (pre existing or not) not requiring them to sell the house if they may not be covered (for whatever reason). Ideologically I support the univerasality of healthcare and the idea of the masses supporting it’s people who do not choose to be ill. 

The current plan offered by the lawmakers is of good intention but comes at a time of massive deficits and high unemeployment. “The path to hell is paved with good intention”.  The other part that would cause me to be upset if I were a US citizen is the method it is being rammed through with incomplete data and ramifications.

All health systems globally are going to be under enormous pressure to support their people in the coming 30 years as the boomers age and it will be interesting the choices we may all have to face.

Looks like most of the bugs on this board are boomers by the vote