Health care, its cost and how it should be paid for is a thorny issue in the US. President Obama’s health care reform, passed with what can only be described as the use of significant political capital, may ultimately be his signature accomplishment. Republicans made its proposed repeal a cornerstone of their most recent election platform. Affordable universal healthcare is the norm, rather than the exception, for much of the rest of the civilized world. Call it socialism if you like. But, here in Italy, it works!
Italians have some of the best healthcare in the world. As resident aliens, Amy and I have access to all of it at no cost to us. What little we do pay out of pocket for prescriptions and any work we chose to have done privately rather than through the state-run system is covered in full by the insurance plan provided by our US-based employer. The doctor the school uses for routine care of our students speaks wonderful English and has excellent credentials including an internship at Yale University.
Why this post at this time? Unfortunately, when my sister and her companion arrived earlier this week from the US, Max brought with him a case of the flu, which blossomed during their first two days here and laid him out on his back for the two days after that. Concerned that it might be something more, we had our Resident Director call to make an appointment with the doctor. Less than an hour later Dr. B. was at our door, evaluated Max and told us what we needed to pick up at the pharmacy. Total cost, house-call and all. Nothing. Just a smile and a handshake. Sometimes I really like Italy!
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