Having lived in Europe for the better part of a decade, I'm interested what I hear about "national healthcare" in the US - people's conceptions - having lived it elsewhere, and I'd like to give a couple of snapshots of what it was like.
Zovirax & Herpes. I get cold sores (herpes) on my lips in a few very well defined situations, mostly whenever I have a flash of light (particularly sunlight on buildings) directly in my eyes. I went to a doctor in Paris, mentioned that my doctor in the US prescribed Acyclovir, and he immediately agreed, gave me a prescription. The visit had a minor fee, and the prescription around US$10 if I recall. In Holland I went through the same routine, except the doctor challenged me, and that I shouldn't treat such a minor thing. I asked him if he thought it was better that I simply let it go on and spread it through inadvertant contact. He said that use of antivirals would make it become resistant. I explained that uniquely Herpes Virus doesn't become resistant to Zovirax. I finally said that if he didn't give me the prescription, I would find a doctor who would, and that he needed to buff up on his research. One NEVER says things like that to a Doctor in Holland I found. The poor guy was shaking. I got my Zovirax. The examination was free, and the prescription was minimal cost - around US$10.
Laser Eye Surgery, and Eye Examinations. I had free Lasik at the Lambeth Wing Eye Hospital in London, for participating in long-term study of the effects of Lasik. That was all free. I also, living in Paris, got a mandatory annual eye exam because I worked with computers in my office situation. The poor opthamologist who gave me the exam the year after the surgery almost had a heart attack trying to figure out how my eyesight suddenly became 20:15. I told her to look a the surface of my eyes with a microscope, and then explained Lasik. Exams were all free.
No Dental. All came out of my pocket! Ouch!
My secretary became pregnant, and it was a wonderful experience for her, great prenatal exams, and support all through the pregnancy. Up to the day of the birth (twins). She asked about the twin's eyes, that they seemed "silvery". They had been premature, and for some reason the oxygen levels in their immediate post-birth environment was not well monitored, and they developed Retinopathy, and had abnormal blood vessel growth in their eyes blocking light. The staff pooh-pooed her, as if she was an idiot. Of course she was right. This is apparently used to be common and is easily avoidable. She was quite bloated but discharged quickly because they wanted the hospital room, even though she was borderline delirious. Unfortunately what had happened was that her kidneys had shut down, and she quickly developed a very high Puerperal Fever. "Rarely Advances to the point of threatening the mother's life", the doctors basically ignored her call for help for a few days and by the time re-admitted, she had major sepsis, and her heart valves were being attacked. Before she was admitted, she had to sign a waiver not to sue them for malpractice due to the premature discharge after giving birth. I think she was able to return to work after a year or so (I had moved on to the US). I found the experience staggeringly unprofessional all the way around. Treatments were free, part of government insurance. Eck!
HIV. A good friend of mine in Paris (Hungarian, actually, did research at the Pasteur Institute) had HIV, and though had normal medications, occasionally got a nasty infection and had to be hospitalized. They treated him wonderfully, and I still don't understand how they let him smoke in his room. I could bring him occasional nice big meals, and there were no issues about visitation "family" and so on. Treatment free, part of his insurance.
So, I have mixed feelings. Socialized medicine itself is not good or bad, it depends on the culture of how it is used and administered. I saw very humane, smart people in Paris who provided healthcare with a focus on how the person was. I saw, well, less that wonderful healthcare in Holland where there was a focus on the Doctor as being a kind of Supreme Unquestionable Being.
Hope stimulates conversation.