Friday Feature: Understanding Free Healthcare (AKA Single-Payer)
You Can Live and Work in Denmark or Cincinnati, Ohio — Which Offers the Better Life?
Music for this Friday’s reading on YouTube.
I wanted this to be free for everyone, but
I thought about it. If you are a paid subscriber and you have this information, your life will change in two ways.
First, you will be able to own every debate and conversation about free healthcare. Regardless of your beliefs, being able to dominate people who are single-issue-broken-record-party-wreckers politely can really improve social settings :).
Second, you will have a framework to compare relocation decisions. This is the most important of the two. When you move, you need to make an informed move. Often, the people who are involved in recruitment do not have the knowledge you need. You need to know about the cost of living, the power your money has, and what kind of chaos mitigation is available if needed.
If You Were Wondering, Here are the Main Types of Healthcare:
Single-Payer Healthcare
Think: “One big government insurance plan for everyone.”
The government pays for most or all healthcare costs, using taxes. You still go to the doctor or hospital like usual, but you don’t get a big bill afterward.
🇨🇦 Example: Canada
“You go to the doctor, show your health card, and that’s it—no bill. Also, no private options. You take what they have. You wait however long you need to wait.”
Private Healthcare
Think: “You’re on your own to buy insurance or pay the doctor.”
People buy insurance from companies, or they pay out of pocket. What you get and how much you pay depend on your plan.
🇺🇸 Example: United States
“You pick your insurance plan, pay premiums, and still might get bills later.”
Mixed Healthcare
Think: “Everyone gets basic coverage, and you can pay extra if you want more.”
The government provides a public health plan that covers most care, but private insurance or services are available for faster access or special treatment.
🇯🇵🇰🇷 Example: Japan and South Korea
“The government helps pay for care, but if you want a fancy hospital room or quicker surgery, you can pay more.”
In this post, we are going to compare life expectancy to healthcare systems. We are also going to financially model living in the USA and Denmark to see what works for most people long term.