Just to be clear, there are NO Country's with "free public health care" but Europe has (mostly) "health care paid by society with compulsory health insurance or taxes and some taxes on alcohol/tabacco etc and some even on sugar ;) ".
Which is colloquially referred to as free healthcare.
No, that's the point, it's called "Universal healthcare" and it's NOT free, since for most country's you need "compulsory health insurance" or it's paid by taxes.
It is socialised healthcare.
Thank you very much, this is exactly the point, americans cheer the "free health care" and do not see the point that for example a swiss family has to pay 15-20% of their income every month for compulsory health insurance this is not a choice..one HAS to pay it, additionally, dental stuff for example is not included if it is not from a sickness.
It's absolutely NOT free and a big burden for most citizens who live in country's with Universal healthcare.
Meanwhile both midwifes and children doctors are severely under-financed, even common treatments require months of waiting time because the reimbursements do not even cover the costs.
Considering that most countries are in a demographic crisis and will go insolvent with 100% certainty due to the mismatch between net payers and their future financial obligations, this is insane.
It's not free beer but universal beer.
The only people who call it "free" are from the US, not a single european would call it "free".
It's stupidity, not cultural difference, when one side talks about free and the other side who has that "free" health care feels it's a massive (but good) burden.
I'm absolutely for this system, as a Swiss citizen I'm incredibly proud of what we've achieved, but man it's hard...really hard, and it's only going to get worse because of the age shift.
Of course there is a cost associated but most places count all that as part of the cost of living in society.
>or you need to pay to see at night when outside.
Yes, please go outside and ask any random person that you have free sidewalks and free streetlights, they will probably look at you like you are a toddler.
Furthermore, it requires some level of national sovereignty. That’s acquired and maintained through military and diplomatic power, such as strong alliances. Again, paid by taxes.
“Free healthcare” is an obvious political term used by people who are in favor of tax funded healthcare. FWIW I come from Sweden where we do have “free healthcare”, and it’s usually referred to as skattefinansierad, which means tax funded…
This is called insurance, sometimes provided by society sometimes by business or a mix of both, but never is it "free".