Earlier quoted context omitted.
> She's been very sick for a long time and publicly struggling with enormous medical expenses (there have been various crowdfunding efforts over the years and she had to sell her `molly.com` domain to pay for treatment). My wife and I were both born in the U.S. and have lived here most of our lives; we love this place. The above is why we have zero intention to retire here.
I understand you, but health care is expensive everywhere. The difference between the US and many other countries is in the distribution of this cost. So, for example, if a young person from the US or elsewhere comes to Germany to study they will get health care basically for free. I think (and I might be wrong) if you move to Germany as retiree the public health care system would not be open to you. You could choose…
The most advanced MRI in Bulgaria costs without insurance cost a fraction of the copay in the States.
Same for labs. I recently got a comprehensive labs including advanced lipid profile (with lipoprotein(A) and ApoB, cholesterol fractions, etc.) for less than $20 out of pocket with no insurance. Same with my wife's thyroid test - full picture, not just TSH for less than $15. All self-ordered by the way! No need for intermediary companies to authorize it - you just go directly to a lab, which keeps the costs low as there's fierce competition for your business unlike in America where Labcorp and Quest keep the prices ultrahigh!
An quantified American (by Abbott) COVID-19 IgM + IgG antibody test in Bulgaria was less than $20 - here a yes/no test starts at $75.
Again, I'm talking about paying pure cost plus hefty private companies' margins here - no subsidy, no insurance, all up-to-date technology and materials.
The margins in America are unimaginable for any humane organization anywhere in the world. Healthcare should never be a business!