[Escolte]

Because here in Western Europe, our healthcare doesn't depend on your job/income.

Plus, I've found that on average Americans are more health anxious (for example, if I search in Google Spain in Spanish "I just accidently hit my head with a wall" the treatment results I'll get will be "if you feel fine afterwards, and you didn't black out or anything like that, it's okay" while if I do the same search on google.com/ncr in English the second result tells me to go to the hospital now and demand a CT scan of my brain to check for an internal hemorrhage) than Europeans are.

[lqet]

> Because here in Western Europe, our healthcare doesn't depend on your job/income.

It doesn't? At least where I am from, the cost of healthcare very much depends in your income, as the insurance rates are calculated like taxes (with an upper limit, of course). And this only covers basic medical care. Anything that is viewed as "luxury" or "cosmetic" is either only covered partly, or not at all, for example artificial dentition, and you need additional insurance for that, which not everyone can afford.

I am almost amazed when Americans think that healthcare in Europe is basically free. Nearly 1/10 of my monthly income is spent on medical insurances. The only difference is that it is quite hard to "opt-out" of the insurance.

[Escolte]

Well, when I said free, I of course meant paid through taxes that are adjusted to your income level. Here in Spain your public healthcare quality won't change depending on if you make €1000 or €4000. You won't be put on top of a medical waiting list because you contribute more taxes wise to the system.

Dentistry is another thing altogether.

Also opting out of "public health insurance" is impossible here in Spain, because it's a right. You can however choose to get private insurance/get treated by a private healthcare company.