Praise To A National Health System.

Being thankful.

As you know I have lived in South Africa, which as nice as it is, does have certain drawbacks. Health insurance being one of them. Everything to do with overcoming an illness aided by the medical system is jolly expensive. Overly expensive and before you ask, we did have medical insurance ( a huge monthly outlay ) but it only really covered parts of an illness. South Africans on the whole mostly only go to see their GP once they are unable to function, because it costs a lot of money to see your GP. Not so here, where a tummy bug or onset of flu ( not this one! ) will fill a GP's rooms.

Austria is marvelous. We have a national health system but it isn't free of charge. We all pay our dues but then we are covered from minor to major ailments. People always equate a national health service as something they don't want ( Americans tend to see it as socialism akin to communism ) and others equate it with a drop in health care standards. Far from it.

Silly really, and I think right about now , when most of us are confronted with this ugly specter of the corona virus and the implications should we have complications, those with national health care at least don't have to worry about paying for a possible lengthy stay at an I.C.U. or even medication. ( Oh yes, we don't pay for medication except a small handling fee.) Financially crippling for many in South Africa and possibly in America too.

If I were to live in America, I would vote for the guy who offers free healthcare and while we at it, free education too. Maybe this corona outbreak will at least lead to changes in some medical systems, and the peace of mind it affords.

Biggi