4 ms·

> Some are optimizing for better lives Of course. I just hope these people know that for example healthcare in Europe is by no means free.

toomuchtodo 9mo ago
My health insurance for a family of four in Spain is $2k/year. In the US, it was exceeding $25k/year with premiums, copays, deductibles, etc. While not free, it is accessible. There was a time in my life we had to decide in the middle of the night if we could afford to take one of our children to the ER in the US when they were a newborn. I will never have that feeling in Europe, and that is priceless. Tax me more, I will happily contribute to a functioning governance system. I like taxes, with them I contribute to civilization. As an American, I am all in on Europe. It's not perfect, but the bar is in hell. We Asked 300 People About Health Care Costs. The Numbers Are Shocking. - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/opinion/health-insurance-obamacare-subsidies-america.html https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/opinion/health-insurance-... | https://archive.today/MnYz9 https://archive.today/MnYz9 - January 22nd, 2026
- znkynz 9mo ago
  That article is just mindblowing. My countries Health Service is far from perfect, but that is insanity.
  - toomuchtodo 9mo ago
    This is a component of what those who can qualify for some sort of visa are fleeing. The economics are undeniable.
- tick_tock_tick 9mo ago
  I mean the issue here is your arguing on hackernews. The vast majority of people on this site in the USA just don't have these issues. Health care is taken care by the employeer and they are paid more.
- durkie 9mo ago
  i have questions about this! is there a way to get in touch with you?
ceejayoz 9mo ago
It's not free, but it's much cheaper. (And yes, that includes taxation.) https://www.oecd.org/en/data/indicators/health-spending.html https://www.oecd.org/en/data/indicators/health-spending.html https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:OECD_health_expenditure_per_capita_by_country.svg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:OECD_health_expendit... As a bonus, all that spend doesn't make us better in outcomes. https://ourworldindata.org/us-life-expectancy-low#life-expectancy-vs-health-expenditure-over-time-1970-2014ref https://ourworldindata.org/us-life-expectancy-low#life-expec...
jansper39 9mo ago
Nobody in Europe thinks that healthcare just exists for free, but that it should be available to who need it for free and are happy to pay for that via tax.

toomuchtodo 9mo ago

My health insurance for a family of four in Spain is $2k/year. In the US, it was exceeding $25k/year with premiums, copays, deductibles, etc. While not free, it is accessible. There was a time in my life we had to decide in the middle of the night if we could afford to take one of our children to the ER in the US when they were a newborn. I will never have that feeling in Europe, and that is priceless. Tax me more, I will happily contribute to a functioning governance system. I like taxes, with them I contribute to civilization. As an American, I am all in on Europe. It's not perfect, but the bar is in hell. We Asked 300 People About Health Care Costs. The Numbers Are Shocking. - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/opinion/health-insurance-obamacare-subsidies-america.html https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/opinion/health-insurance-... | https://archive.today/MnYz9 https://archive.today/MnYz9 - January 22nd, 2026

znkynz 9mo ago
That article is just mindblowing. My countries Health Service is far from perfect, but that is insanity.
- toomuchtodo 9mo ago
  This is a component of what those who can qualify for some sort of visa are fleeing. The economics are undeniable.
tick_tock_tick 9mo ago
I mean the issue here is your arguing on hackernews. The vast majority of people on this site in the USA just don't have these issues. Health care is taken care by the employeer and they are paid more.
durkie 9mo ago
i have questions about this! is there a way to get in touch with you?

ceejayoz 9mo ago

It's not free, but it's much cheaper. (And yes, that includes taxation.) https://www.oecd.org/en/data/indicators/health-spending.html https://www.oecd.org/en/data/indicators/health-spending.html https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:OECD_health_expenditure_per_capita_by_country.svg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:OECD_health_expendit... As a bonus, all that spend doesn't make us better in outcomes. https://ourworldindata.org/us-life-expectancy-low#life-expectancy-vs-health-expenditure-over-time-1970-2014ref https://ourworldindata.org/us-life-expectancy-low#life-expec...

jansper39 9mo ago

Nobody in Europe thinks that healthcare just exists for free, but that it should be available to who need it for free and are happy to pay for that via tax.