duchess,
Here in the US we have to help pay for our insurance needs. Everything we do has to be approved by the insurance companies, and if denied we either have to do without or pay for it out of our pockets. Having been lucky enough to have lived in Asia for 10 years in and 9 in Europe, I can tell you we have the worse insurance programs in the land. I know in Germany, that they pay almost 50% of their income in taxes, but you never have to do with medical, dental or any drugs the docs say you need. I was not a german citizen but I needed to spend over 2 weeks in a Kidney clinic. didn't have to pay for anything, including all the many test and exams I needed. It was nice knowing that they were not going to toss me on the street and let me suffer. Also, europe has some of the best and most advance doctors in the world. They take great pride in what they do and and as they all get paid from the gov.,they care for you and not what your pocketbook can do for them.
Hope that helps
Mary