this post was submitted on 08 Oct 2025
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Yeah, but what’s the lie on this context? And it’s stating the obvious that the $0.00 bill is untrue because the $ is “added” taxes, it’s not free for the people there. I’m all for single-payer/socialized care, but this text is kinda crap.
IMO the buried story is that a foreigner got full, quality, unquestioned medical care and was not given a guilt trip or asked to pay. That’s the amazing part.
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BuT bUt BuT tHe TaXeS!!
... I can almost guarantee the taxes are still less than the lost direct compensation from employers that instead goes to your insurance "benefit." :/
Last I checked the US spent more than any comparable country on healthcare/capita, roughly twice the OECD average.
And, they have to deal with medical bankruptcies, using Uber instead of ambulances, insulin rationing, and whatnot
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I naively expected that all of Europe had health care figured out. The bullshit $450 USD bill I got in Sweden for existing in the same room with a doctor for 15 minutes taught me otherwise.
You know how in many poor countries, they'll charge you higher prices because they (rightly) think that you're a westerner and can thus pay much higher prices than the locals? I heavily suspect that was basically that. Swedes aren't paying $450 USD for 15 minutes doctor time.
I figured as much, but it was jarring to receive worse care and for way more money than I would have paid at home (even uninsured).
Yeah, as a German, the quality of care isn't necessarily that great (though I never experience the US healthcare system to compare). Many European countries have been heavily cutting corners in the last 1-2 decades. I've been to several doctors who, after waiting like 3 months for an appointment, have been practically useless. "I tried nothing and I'm all out of ideas" kind of shit, and for several different issues. They're fine with simple/obvious stuff, but once it's slightly difficult to figure out or any kind of mental health issue you're pretty much just going there to be able to tell your employer that you're trying, and maybe get lucky with medication.
I'm sure there's levels of competency, but it seems a large part of the failure of the US healthcare itself is when doctors have to try and convince the insurance corporation that they do have education and experience and the procedure or medication they recommended to help someone is valid. As if the insurance company knows better and is trying to protect the patient... right.
Prior Authorizations as an idea, are just the insurance company playing doctor. They should be illegal, the company doesn't have a medical license.
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Is that for tourists or citizens?
I don’t know about Sweden, but in Canada there is a sign with the prices for non-Canadians next to the check in desk in the Emergency. I’m willing to bet that even though it was expensive, it’s still cheaper than the US.
Which is why many Americans cross the border for healthcare.
For what it’s worth, the language barrier was pretty significant from a written signs perspective. I showed up at what I guessed was the right spot, went inside, gave them my passport, and they returned it with a bill for $450 (it was expressed in kr, but this is what it converted to). I eventually went in and spoke to a doctor who took no vitals, did no tests, and gave me no medicine. And that was the visit.
I’ve seen a doctor as an American with no insurance a number of times. For a basic GP visit, it’s probably half that price and that’s with basic vitals included.
Not sure for Sweden but usually it's for citizens or permanent residents. Populations tend to not appreciate their taxes going toward foreign entities. That said, the drug prices etc. are at their actual value, so an example of a trip to a GP and getting prescription pain relief, it would be about $40-60 USD depending on circumstances.
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Won't somebody please think of the shareholders!?
And all of that collective real cost to administer is a tiny fraction of what an American would pay not only out of pocket, but also the monthly premiums both they and their employer pay to the insurance company. Who will initially deny the claim just as a matter of policy, regardless of whether it's covered or submitted correctly.
Then they will deny again because the ID code they used to bill it isn't "right" or it supposedly falls into some bullshit loophole documented nowhere. So both the patient and doctor's staff have to spend dozens of hours collectively wasting their time fighting to get something simple actually handled like it should be.