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I live in a "third world" country; Panama. Medical care may not be free but a doctors visit for a person who is working and on Social Security is $0.50US. Hospital care is given first and payment is requested after services are rendered and rates are affordable.
Private doctors and hospitals are affordable and many people I know who moved here from the USA did so because they could no longer afford healthcare in the US. Many are retired and despite the fact they lose medicare they can still afford healthcare in Panama and not in the US with medicare.
A doctors visit here costs less than the copay on the HMO I had in the US and I actually get to see the doctor and discuss the examination.
Before we left the US our doctor closed his practice because he could no longer pay his malpractice premiums, his overhead and still have a life.
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