True indeed, Ebbie. I should not have included Medicare in my comment about economic bracket. Every American citizen qualifies for it when they reach a certain age. The ravages of writing too fast. . . .

I am well above that "certain age," and although I have the benefit of my wife's health insurance at work, I am sometimes able to use my Medicare coverage as a "secondary." My wife's insurance, as much as they deduct from her paycheck, covers only a percentage of medical bills, and some things it doesn't cover at all.

In the countries I mentioned above, I wouldn't have to be concerned about what's covered or who doesn't want to pay for what.

Don Firth