Reply #31: In Australia, taxation is fairly high to pay for it but universal health care exists.

[avrdream]

No one MAKES anyone go to the doctor but most people are sensible enough to go when they have a problem. It's amazing how free health care motivates ILL people to get seen and, for the most part, they go before things have gotten to that bloody expensive stage that the OP talks about. Seriously, folks, this system works quite well down here. Women get their pap smears and mammograms, men get their prostates checked and most kids get their vaccines.

The problem with we Yanks is that we haven't seen anything different so we think we have to make check-ups mandatory. We don't understand the value of educating the public about preventive care. That education causes people to get seen early and the government in Oz isn't holding a gun to the people's heads to make them go in.

It took me coming down here and practicing for a few years to see that universal health care is ABSOLUTELY possible and it is irresponsible of the current administration and all the Republican candidates for not speaking about it and working toward it. Despite the trouble with some of the details of the Democratic candidates plans, at least the Dems are working toward this and you all should be very proud of that.