This is generally true, but there will always be … fringe? Maybe not the right word … things that ppl enjoy that are more state by state regulated.
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Had an HSA, was $1400/mo. I maxed out of pocket every year. Wasn’t worth it.
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I live in an East European country as well, with GDP similar to Hank’s and can attest to what he says is true. Universal healthcare is available and “free”, although the facilities and service is utter shit and you have to wait months for a minor surgery. But we know nothing is actually free - the money has to come from somewhere, and that’s from the working class which are automatically taxed and the money for healthcare is automatically deducted from their paycheck each month. And of course the state deems it a success when they manage to get the entire country into even more debt at “minimal” interest rates, which our grand children will be paying for to keep the current voters happy.
There exist private medical facilities and clinics which offer satisfactory services and the facilities are quite modern and waiting for service is minimal. You pay everything out of pocket but the prices are more than reasonable - somewhere in the range that Hank mentioned. The specialists working in these private clinics are the same ones working in the state owned hospitals and always “encourage” you to visit them in their private clinics if you dare go to them through your GP. In short, you’re greeted with a sigh while in private you’re greeted with a smile from ear to ear.
Major surgeries like brain or open heart surgery are always done in state owned hospitals because private clinics don’t own the necessary equipment and frankly don’t want to take on this responsibility. If you want to skip the queue and get open heart surgery sooner, there’s a little blue envelope in which you give to the surgeon to show him your gratitude…
What you say is also true as well though. Also, the fact that all of our best doctors, specialists and even nurses in the country are moving to western countries (Germany, Austria, Scandinavian countries, UK, USA…) where they can earn a decent wage instead of peanuts that they earn here means we are being denied the little bit of quality medical service which we are paying for whether we want to or not and still have to pay out of pocket if we want anything done timely and in a professional manner.
So in one hand you have “free” universal healthcare that I described above and in the other you have the USA private healthcare system which can put you in serious debt if you god forbid need any semi-major operation. Take your pick.
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There’s what Switzerland does, which is really the best of both worlds but Switzerland is a special country (not unsimilar to the Nordic countries) which makes a “let’s do it like them” often not feasible.
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Ah, yes, Switzerland. The country that all politicians and common folk wish to emulate - until good ol’human nature gets in the way.