I've seen and experienced healthcare in many countries, national health great, same the Netherlands just switched to a universal premium, no more segregation in insurance at the base, but with the right to buy extra options in class and dental. Those on dole or wellfare are subsidised to get the same.....perfect as its build into the social security system.

Notwithstanding that, how good is the national care? I give you to reflect on what i call health-care commuting. Many of those that retsof sighted needing to take the mars-freighter are i my area where 33 percent of population lives on or below the survival minimum by EU standards. Hence many seek treatment in bologna, imola, even milan.....wherever a capable 'specialist' doctor can be found. Then of course the question of how many private clinics exist in the UK and the US for instance......Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Argentina, probably anywhere there are really 2 medical tracks.....for the regular and the affluent.

One thing though that the land of opportunity has not understood. National quality health care and education is where one builds a prosperous community on......it's though extremely difficult to rectify and unaffordable costly once its become rotten. Any administration going to build that into the tax system is bound to fall thru higher forces...the haves in a country considered the richest in the world, yet having over 10% of the population living in utter poverty. No education, no job to pay the bills, no healthcare......those who are desparate get into the vicious grips of charlatans......they really pay the price.

So this thread sitting in the Fight Aids @ home section.....once we find the cure, pills or innoculation, will the medicine be affordable for the poor countries, some nations in southern half of Africa having 60 / 70% HIV positive populations........I can understand the profound agnostic for reasons like those.