Scorpion sting leaves Arizona woman with huge bill

[Richard_uk]

9. Glad I left Arizona

I lived in Arizona for 20 years, the hospital in question is run by Catholic Healthcare of the West, it is a non-profit, I have worked there it is a great hospital. When I lived in Arizona I was paying for family health insurance, prescriptions a co pay every time I wanted service and uncovered costs like the one above.

I now live in England, I pay 7% of my salary on National Insurance. For that I get free access to my doctor, free hospital visits regardless of the treatment required, health check ups (free), prescriptions again free (not everyone gets this otherwise they would cost about $12 a month) and a state pension!!! Also, my student son is covered for no extra cost (so free again) as he would have been covered if he were simply unemployed. While the British national health service is not perfect, it makes the US system look like a cruel joke. Luckily there a no scorpions here, but should I be so unlucky to be stung by something very nasty, the last thing that I would have to worry about is money.

I still find it strange to walk out of my very nice doctors surgery without anyone asking me for money. God bless the British socialists of the 50's (yes we have had this for over half a century) for coming up with the NHS.