I called to get an estimate of the cash cost of an appointment for an annual exam with the doctor I saw last. A few days later they sent it to me in the mail: $546. And that is after a 20% discount for self-paying.

So I guess they won’t be seeing me soon. Meanwhile, a friend has a health problem in another country; the doctor wasn’t available that day but he knew he needed to start on a medication (steroids) right away, so went to the pharmacy and bought his medication. No prescription needed. Russia does this, too, I’ve heard. You can go to a pharmacy and simply buy your blood pressure medicine, for example.

I am looking forward to when this country’s health system is forced to change.