Just some comments.
Our blue cross group plan rates increased by 38% with passage of obamacare (new preimiums that went into effect Jan. 2011). Paying the extra premium for myself/spouse didn't bother me so much. However, we also had to pay the 38% increase for our 150 staff, which really takes a bite out of our operating profit. We had to lay off many staff and only recently have begun some renewed hiring.
I expect another +65% in premiums for 2014 after the election. Just a guess. That number may be too low.
From personal experiences of coleagues, if you live in Germany, are retirement age and need cancer surgery, they send you home. I have heard also people who swear by German health care. Maybe it is a question of who you know.
In France, everyone buys a supplementary policy in addition to the govt provided health care.
In Canada, if you need a hip replacement, you wait 13 months. Maybe by then you no longer need a hip replacement.
So, I am not at all convinced about how good the medicine is abroad.
Prescriptions cost so much more in the US because foregin countries don't let the pharma companies leverage their patents. Basically, it is the US consumer that funds the research $ for new drug development for the entire world. We are the patsies. Don't know if that is good or bad.
