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I should explain that in Iceland, it's not "free" even when you are paying taxes--and frankly, there is a real shortage of doctors here, which is another problem in itself (and creates the long waiting lists for non-emergency care). I still pay a co-pay when I go to the doctor--though it's never been more than $50, and once I reach an annual cap of paying $200 or so in co-pay, the government will give me a pretty big discount, so that I shouldn't have to pay more than that in any one year. Does that make sense? There isn't a discount in prescriptions, either--but there may be for the elderly (I just don't know enough about that).
But I will say that if I could choose a country in which to get sick and possibly die, the US would not be at the top of my list (unless I had a ton of money to get the best care--but I never assume that that's going to be my case, because it's so rarely the case for the average individual). Sure, it's a great place to work corporate, but what a price to pay! I don't want to have to work for the man just to make sure that I don't go broke taking care of my aging body. That's something that I appreciate about nationalized health care--health care is never something that really impacts your life, here in Iceland. It's just THERE, a net for when you fall. There is no sense of the fear that many Americans have about those life-or-death questions, when someone falls ill--here, you know the state will take care of you. It relieves an immense burden on the psyche, I think.
And yes, I'm willing to pay whatever taxes it takes, to provide that level of national health care, even if I'm in perfectly good health. It's just part of my life philosophy. No man is an island--even in Iceland, they've learned that.
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And think not you can direct the course of Love;
for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
--Khalil Gibran
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