If we want Medicare to work we are going to have to raise Medicare taxes and premiums.

[cyclezealot]

23. We live in France most of the year.

Here a night in the hospital cost on average 8 euros.. Just for the room and board .. An MRI costs around $200.. getting an MRI is no problem since they are reasonable.. A doctors visit is set at 22 euros.. Of which the patient only pays 2 euros should you subscribe to the national health care plan.. .. ( Those mentioned above are out of pocket costs , should you not subscribe to the national health care plan.. ) There is no charge for an aspirin during a hospital stay.. Subscribing to the national plan is dependent upon a subscribers income.. Our's cost us only $250 every third month.. What less than 1/10 of what US insurance would cost.. ? And the French plan has no deductibles other than the 2 euro charge for doctors visits and pays often 70% of total hospital costs on Some procedures.. But , consider French costs are about 1/5 of US costs, that will not break your bank account. Should a procedure be life threatening , the system will pay 100%.. AND.. We find far fewer 'surly ' doctors here than we do in the US.. A visit to the doctor at times is like a social event , because many of them are trained to look at the "Whole Patient." What US doctor has the time to look at the 'whole patient.' And a doctor will not be paid unless he spends at least 22 minutes with each and every patient during a doctors visit...
Which cost closer reflects the true cost of health care. the US system or the French system.. ?