The solution is to get old and go on Medicare, specifically Medicare Advantage if you live a healthy life style and have no chronic conditions. My wife and I have a plan that covers Scripps Clinic in La Jolla (world class) and pay $0 monthly premiums. Annual physicals, including all lab work is free, most generic prescription drugs are free, all preventative care (colonoscopy, etc) is free. We have a $10 co-pay to see our PCP for other than annual physicals, $35 co-pay for a specialist. In a good year we literally pay $0 for medical care (other than the Part B premium that all Medicare recipients pay.) I had hernia repair surgery for a $300 co-pay plus $35 to see the specialist beforehand. And it reimbursed a visit to the ER in Ireland in full (normally an ER visit has a $90 co-pay.) That ER visit cost only 100 €, and there was an ophthalmologist on site in the middle of the night.
If you're not a geezer and have a family, as previously mentioned ACA may be cheap, and if you are so inclined, there are Christian medi-share programs that some friends swear by - they are healthy like we are, and rarely see a doctor.
In short, we love Medicare Advantage, European health care, and would vote for Medicare for all. |
