Take a look at this receipt. It’s my medical bill for 33 sessions of radiation and chemotherapy at the NTU hospital. The total cost is 37,251 NT ($1,195 US or 630 GBP). What I’m paying, however, is a mere 100 NT — $3.20. The rest is paid by the national medical insurance. And remember, we are talking mayor cancer treatment here: super-duper doctors, latest high-tech equipment, at the best university hospital in the country. “Socialized medicine,” I love it! And I love paying the taxes that support it.
In November of this year, Americans have a chance to vote for a president who will put a similar system in place in the US (OK, it won’t be quite as good, but it’ll be something similar). I wonder what Americans will decide? What is best — a system that protects everyone at a minimal cost or a system that only protects some people together with the profits of the insurance companies? How long can they go on cheating you before you realize you’ve been cheated?